Judges for 2018 August Wilson Monologue Competition Announced

Stephen McKinley Henderson, Roslyn Ruff, and more will be among the judges at this year’s celebration of the seminal American playwright.

Kenji Fujishima
Stephen McKinley Henderson will be a judge at this year's August Wilson Monologue Competition.
Stephen McKinley Henderson will be a judge at this year's August Wilson Monologue Competition.
(© David Gordon)

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters have announced the judges for this year's 10th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition, taking place on Monday, May 7, at 7pm at the August Wilson Theatre.

Kamilah Forbes (Apollo Theater executive producer), David Gallo (Tony Award-winning set designer), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Between Riverside and Crazy), Roslyn Ruff (X: or, Betty Shabazz v. The Nation), and Pauletta Washington (Beloved) will be this year's judges for the final round. Shariffa Ali (Detroit '67), Nehassaiu deGannes (Is God Is), and Russell Hornsby (Fences) will judge the semifinals. Hornsby will also join Leon as a supporting emcee during the finals.

Founded in 2007, the 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 10-play cycle and receive coaching from teaching artists as they prepare monologues for local, citywide, and national competitions.

The evening will feature a performance by blues musician Guy Davis. The winner will receive a $3,000 cash prize, with all finalists receiving the boxed set of Wilson's Century Cycle collection.