New Voices. New Truths. New Discoveries.
Next Narrative™ Monologue Competition
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
True Colors’ Artistic Director Jamil Jude conceived of the Next Narrative Monologue CompetitionTM (NNMC) in the context of his desire to center the Black artist in an environment that understands the context of their work. As part of the Next Narrative program, Jamil has reached into his professional network to commission work from fifty Black playwrights that reflect the rich diversity of the Black community, thereby providing an inclusive portal to new worlds and the truths therein.
NNMC serves high school students, grades 9-12. In each participating region, students progress through three rounds of competition: preliminaries, semi-finals, and a regional final. The top two winners from each regional competition participate in the National Finals, receiving an all-expense paid trip to New York City that includes:
- Workshops with theatre professionals
- Performance at the Apollo Theater
- Ticket to a Broadway show
- Cash prizes for the top three winners
Program Objectives
1. Introduce students to today’s leading contemporary Black writers
2. Expose students to acting techniques that enhance their knowledge of the art and skill of performance
3. Utilize the arts to support students in making cocurricular connections
4. Investigate how history and culture influence personal perspective through artful exploration
5. Embolden students to use their voices to inspire social action
Diverse stories that reflect our diverse world
Monologue Themes
- Class
- Gender
- Ableism/lnclusivity
- Relationship to technology
- Family/Community
- Cultural celebration/competency
- Global warming/environmental
- Immigration/international relationships
- Social/emotional/physical health
- Abstract/non-thematic
Monologue Themes
- Class
- Gender
- Ableism/lnclusivity
- Relationship to technology
- Family/Community
- Cultural celebration/competency
- Global warming/environmental
- Immigration/international relationships
- Social/emotional/physical health
- Abstract/non-thematic
Contributing Playwrights
click images for professional biographies