Triad Stage, in partnership with North Carolina A&T State University, announces the North Carolina August Wilson Monologue Competition, a program of the National August Wilson Monologue Competition. The August Wilson Monologue Competition is a free program for high school students that celebrates the work of American playwright August Wilson and encourages students to learn about his work through performance and competition.
The national competition is presented by True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta and Jujamcyn Theaters in New York City. Greensboro is one of twelve competition host cities around the country, and this is their third year of hosting the competition in the Triad.
From September through November, students are invited to participate in workshops at public libraries in Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem about August Wilson as a playwright, as well as how to select one of his monologues and how to perform for success in the competition.
“This program uplifts the genius of August Wilson’s work, one that is too infrequently represented in American theatre and in school curriculum,” says Lauren Smith, Triad Stage learning director and program coordinator. “We are excited to offer a space for students to engage with the work of this incredible playwright while also honing their performance and collaborative skills.”
The state competition takes place in three rounds: the preliminary competition is on December 1, 2018 at NC A&T State University; the semi-final competition is on January 12, 2019 at Triad Stage; the final competition is on February 2, 2019 at Triad Stage. The first and second place winners from North Carolina will travel to New York City to compete in the national semi-finals and finals in early May, 2019.
“I’m amazed at how young people of all backgrounds come together and immerse themselves in the works of August Wilson,” says Miller Lucky, Artistic Lead of the North Carolina August Wilson Monologue Competition, and Associate Professor of Theatre at North Carolina A&T State University. “But the best feeling for me is seeing students’ eyes open wide when I tell them two students from North Carolina will perform on a Broadway stage, and compete for a national title and scholarship money.”
Aniah Brown of Parkland High School in Winston-Salem and Jack Greenberg of Weaver Academy in Greensboro represented North Carolina as the first and second place state winners of the 2017-2018 competition in New York City in May, 2018.
How to get involved in the North Carolina August Wilson Monologue Competition
All high school students from all schools as well as homeschooled students may participate in the free workshops at public libraries in Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem. Students must attend workshops on at least two of the three workshop topics from September through November in order to participate in the preliminary competition on December 1, 2018. High schools may also request that a program representative visit classrooms, scheduling permitting. Contact awmc@triadstage.org for more information.
To register or to learn more about the North Carolina August Wilson Monologue Competition, visit https://triadstage.org/learning/awmc or email awmc@triadstage.org.