The best monologue competition for high school students, in our opinion, has set a date for its 10th anniversary. The August Wilson Monologue Competition, founded by Kenny Leon & Todd Kreidler is a free arts education program, a celebration of the words of the playwright August Wilson, inspiring high school students to find and express themselves through theatre. It will take place on Monday, May 7, 2018, 7 pm, at where else?, The August Wilson Theater (245 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019). The event is free & open to the public.
Produced in collaboration between Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters. The program is now in twelve cities nationwide, including Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Haven, New York, Pittsburgh, Portland, Seattle, Dallas and Greensboro, North Carolina.
“The competition aims to expose a new generation of creative minds to the life’s work and artistic legacy of this seminal American playwright. Program participants in cities across the country encounter Wilson’s 10-play cycle and receive coaching from teaching artists as they prepare monologues for local, citywide, and national competitions.”
The first place winner will receive a $3,000 cash prize, the runner-up a $2,000 cash prize, and third place a $1,000 cash prize. Each of the winners will also become eligible for college scholarship opportunities, and all finalists receive the gift of TCG’s Century Cycle collection.
A panel of celebrity judges will evaluate the competitors and select a winner. The evening will also include performances by well-known Wilsonian veterans and special musical guests. Among those who have previously lent their support as performers, judges and guests are Phylicia Rashad, Russell Hornsby, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Guy Davis, Lynda Gravatt, Keith Randolph Smith, Tamara Tunie, Katori Hall, Maurice Hines, Chris Chalk, LaTanya Richardson, Heather Alicia Simms, Pauletta Washington, and Mykelti Williamson, among others. In the past, students have had the opportunity to spend time with other prominent Broadway performers over the course of the weekend, including Denzel Washington.
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