August Wilson Monologue Competition
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View Upcoming EventsPlease join us for the Portland August Wilson Monologue Competition presented by World Stage Theatre. Welcome the 2020 semi-finalists from local area high schools as they compete for a chance to represent Portland in the National August Wilson Monologue Competition at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway in New York City.
The National August Wilson Monologue Competition 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. Founded in 2007 by nationally recognized and award winning director Kenny Leon and Todd Kreidler, Wilson's Dramaturg at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta, the program is produced in collaboration between Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters.
The program is now in fourteen cities nationwide, including Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Los Angeles, New Haven, New York, Norfolk, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle. The Portland region program is made possible in part thanks to the support of Ronni Lacroute, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Regional Arts & Culture Council, Oregon Cultural Trust, The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and our community partner, Portland Center Stage.
This event is free and open to the public but you must register to attend. Please RSVP at the link below.
The National August Wilson Monologue Competition was founded in 2007 by Kenny Leon and Todd Kreidler at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta. The national program is produced in collaboration between Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters. The program is now in fourteen cities nationwide, including Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Haven, New York, Norfolk, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle, Dallas, and Greensboro.
Through Wilson’s plays, high school-age actors learn about the American experience from the African-American viewpoint, an important thread often missing from history lessons or poorly portrayed in lesser works created for the stage and screen. Guided by professional actor and director mentors, and working with local teachers and community leaders, students will perform monologues from Wilson’s plays at publicly viewed Portland Regional Finals. Two finalists will perform at the national finals held at the August Wilson Theater in New York City.
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