Next Narrative Monologue Competition

New Voices. New Truths. New Discoveries.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

True Colors’ Artistic Director Jamil Jude conceived of the Next Narrative Monologue Competition^TM (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

DOWNLOAD THE 2022 ATLANTA REGIONAL COMPETITION DIGITAL BROCHURE

TRUE COLORS ANNOUNCES THE 2022 ATLANTA REGIONAL COMPETITION WINNERS

DOWNLOAD THE 2022 NATIONAL FINALS DIGITAL BROCHURE

Next Narrative National Finals 2022 Winners

2022 National Finals Winners

1st Place: Jola Olojede representing Dallas Region
2nd Place: LaNiyah Simone K. Grovell representing Atlanta Region
3rd Place: Alexandria L. Woods representing Milwaukee Region

Nick Marston (Seattle Region) and Arissa Collymore (New York Region) were recognized with the New Leader Awards to recognize their embodiment of the Next Narrative Monologue Competition’s values: new voices, new truths, new discoveries.

DOWNLOAD THE 2022 NATIONAL FINALS WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT

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

True Colors Education

Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company’s Education Department strives to be a premier organization that adds theatre into the daily educational lives of students; therefore, promoting respectful dialogue among cultures and fostering an appreciation for diverse viewpoints. We achieve this vision by educating students using a standards-based arts integrated curriculum that preserves both the rich canon of African American classics and world drama through our all-encompassing 3 Ps: pedagogy, partnerships, and performances.