Theater News

August Wilson Monologue Competition Announces Winners

Kenny Leon hosted the 11th annual event at the August Wilson Theatre.

Editorial Staff
Broadway New York City
Kenny Leon (second from right) with the three top prize winners at this year's August Wilson Monologue Competition: Katara Willis (second place), Trajan Clayton (first place), and Abad Viquez (third place).
Kenny Leon (second from right) with the three top prize winners at this year's August Wilson Monologue Competition: Katara Willis (second place), Trajan Clayton (first place), and Abad Viquez (third place).
(© Gustavo Monroy)

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters have announced the winners of the 11th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition National Finals. The event was held on Monday, May 6, at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre. The first place winner was Trajan Clayton from Atlanta, followed by Katara Willis from Buffalo in second place, and Abad Viquez from Chicago coming in third place.

The evening was hosted by Tony-winning director Kenny Leon with special musical guest Guy Davis. The panel of celebrity judges included Narda E. Alcorn (production stage manager of Choir Boy), Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Marys Seacole), Danielle Brooks (Tony nominee for The Color Purple), Roslyn Ruff (Fairview), and Pauletta Washington (Beloved).

The top three contestants from the national competition received monetary awards. The first place winner received a $3,000 cash prize; second place, a $2,000 cash prize; and third place, a $1,000 cash prize. Each of the winners will also become eligible for college scholarship opportunities, and all finalists received the gift of TCG's Century Cycle collection.

Founded in 2007, the 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 encountered Wilson's 10-play cycle and received coaching from teaching artists as they prepared their monologues for local, citywide, and national competitions.