11th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition Set for May 6th

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters announce that the 11th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition will take place on Monday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street).

The event, which is free and open to the public, features high school students from Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; Buffalo, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, California; New Haven, Connecticut; New York, New York; Greensboro, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Seattle, Washington performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright. There will be a special performance by American Blues musician and actor Guy Davis.

Founded in 2007, the Annual National August Wilson Monologue 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 ten-play cycle and receive coaching from teaching artists as they prepare their monologues for local, citywide and national competitions.

A panel of celebrity judges will evaluate the competitors and select a winner. Among those who have previously lent their support as performers, judges and guests are Phylicia Rashad, Russell Hornsby, Scott Rudin, Guy Davis, Lynn Nottage, Lynda Gravatt, Keith Randolph Smith, Tamara Tunie, Katori Hall, Maurice Hines, Crystal Dickinson, Chris Chalk, LaTanya Richardson, Heather Alicia Simms, and Mykelti Williamson, among others. The 2019 celebrity judges will be announced at a later date.

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 and Daniel Radcliffe. This year's competition will afford students from these cities around the country the opportunity to attend a Broadway show, The Prom, work closely with one of Wilson's closest collaborators - director Kenny Leon - and explore popular Manhattan attractions before making their Broadway stage debuts. Regional finalists will compete on the August Wilson Stage on Monday evening, May 6th.

The top three contestants from the national competition receive monetary awards. The first place winner will receive a $3000 cash prize; the runner-up, a $2000 cash prize; and the honorable mention, a $1000 cash prize. Each of the winners will also become eligible for college scholarship opportunities. All finalists receive the gift of TCG's Century Cycle collection.

The Monologue Competition is featured in "The Start of Dreams", a documentary directed by The Horne Brothers. Featuring A-list actors like Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson and Phylicia Rashad, "The Start of Dreams" is packed with Hollywood's elite weighing in on this important art form and what it means to the United States. The documentary has been screened at 9 festivals across the country including the Atlanta Film Festival, the Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles, and the UrbanWorld Festival in New York.

The Annual National August Wilson Monologue Competition is presented by Delta Air Lines and Aetna.

For more information, visit www.AugustWilsonMonologue.com

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