If you look like the Bard, or can transform yourself into him, there are some SERIOUS CASH prizes for this NOT-SO-SERIOUS competition. Hemingway is EASY! The Bard is hard (unless you’re Paul Giamatti)!

There will be two categories: Genuine Will (that means you actually look like him), and Creative Will (that means you can do wonderswith makeup and costumes)!

“Baldness, be my friend.”
                                                  – Julius Scissors, Act I Scene vi 

Entry Date for Contest:  Submissions accepted February 17th through February 28th 11:59 pm, Eastern Time. See contest rules below.

Main Event (sponsored by DoubleTree by Hilton and Cigars of Tally)

Where:  DoubleTree by Hilton, 101 S. Adams Street

When:   Tuesday, March 29, 2016 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm EST

Cash Prizes (sponsored by Sachs Media Group)
Genuine Will First Place: $500
Genuine Will Second Place: $150
Genuine Will Third Place: $100
Creative Will: $250

Creative Will Runner-up will receive some awesome Southern Shakespeare Company swag!

Food & Drink
Hors d’oeuvres and cash bar

How to Enter
Submit one “Shakespeare Selfie” from February 17th through February 28th at 11:59 pm Eastern Time via email towill@southernshakes.org. See Contest Rules below.

Program
5:00 – 5:30 pm     Meet ‘n Greet with music
5:30 – 5:45 pm     Guest presenters
5:45 – 6:30 pm     Contest
6:30 – 6:45 pm     Scenes from the Southern Shakespeare Company and The Bardlings
6:45 – 7:00 pm     Music

About the Contest

1. Email submissions will be accepted from February 17th through February 28th at 11:59 pm (Eastern Time). Submissions should be sent to will@southernshakes.org. Each entry needs to include a short bio or amusing story about yourself as you relate to the Bard (100 words or less).

2. Contestants must be able to attend the March 29th event at the DoubleTree by Hilton.

3. The top eight will be selected from the email submissions, and posted on the Southern Shakespeare Company Facebook page and Website. Each one of the finalists will be featured on SSC’s Facebook page for 24 hours.

4. The final 5 finalists (three Genuine Wills and two Creative Wills) will be determined by popular vote from Facebook (Likes). Online voting will be March 7 through March 18, and winners will be notified via email by March 22 that they will be attending the March 29th event for the final round of the contest.  Winners will be required to sign photo release and eligibility forms.

Official Rules

1. ENTRY:  No purchase necessary to enter or win. Contestants will enter by submitting a photo and 100-word summary towill@southernshakes.org by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 28, 2016. Entries containing nudity, profanity or other material deemed inappropriate by Southern Shakespeare Company will be immediately disqualified.

1. ELIGIBILITY: This contest is open only to legal U.S. residents, over the age of 18. Employees of and third-party contractors/vendors of Southern Shakespeare Company are not eligible. Void where prohibited by law.  Contestants residing in those areas where the contest is void may participate in the contest but may not win any prizes.

1. WINNER SELECTION:  Representatives of Southern Shakespeare Company will judge the contest. Submissions will be judged on their authenticity and creativity. All decisions of the judges are final.

1. PRIZES:  Winners will be given cash prizes in U.S. currency (dollars) as follows:

• Creative Will Runner-up, if applicable, will receive Southern Shakespeare Co. merchandise.
• Creative Will: $250
• Genuine Will Third Place: $100
• Genuine Will Second Place: $150
• Genuine Will First Place: $500
• WINNER NOTIFICATION: Winners will be notified on March 22, 2016 and must be present at the announcement event to win. Inability to contact winner may result in disqualification, and selection of an alternate winner.
• GENERAL CONDITIONS:
  1. 1. Participants hereby grant Southern Shakespeare Company a non-exclusive, perpetual, worldwide license to broadcast, publish, store, reproduce, distribute, syndicate, and otherwise use and exhibit the entry and any included imagery (along with their names, voices, performance and/or likenesses) in all media now known and later come into being for purposes of trade or advertising without further compensation. Participants represent and warrant that they have full legal right, power and authority to grant Southern Shakespeare Company the foregoing license and if applicable, have secured all necessary rights from any participants in, and contributors to, their entry in order to grant such a license.
     2. Southern Shakespeare Company is under no obligation to use any entry.
     3. Winners will be required to execute and return photo release and eligibility forms within 14 days of notification. Non-compliance within this time period may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Any income tax liability is the sole responsibility of the winner.
     4. USE OF CONTEST INFORMATION: All entries become the property of Southern Shakespeare Company. Southern Shakespeare Company reserves the right to use any and all information related to the contest, including submissions provided by the contestants, for editorial, marketing and any other purpose, unless prohibited by law.
     5. NOT ENDORSED BY FACEBOOK: By participating in this contest, you acknowledge that this contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook and release Facebook from any and all liability arising from or related to this contest. The information you are providing for this contest is being provided to Southern Shakespeare Company and not to Facebook, and will be used to notify you if you have won, and to inform you about special offers, products and news from Southern Shakespeare Company.
     6. CONDUCT: All contest participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules. Southern Shakespeare Company, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person it finds to be tampering with the entry process, the operation of its website or is otherwise in violation of these rules.
     7. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: Southern Shakespeare Company is not responsible for late, lost or misdirected email or for any computer, online, telephone or technical malfunctions that may occur. If for any reason, the contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures of any sort, Southern Shakespeare Company may cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the contest. Entrants further agree to release Southern Shakespeare Company from any liability resulting from, or related to participation in the contest.