Next Narrative Monologue Competition
True Colors’ Next Narrative Monologue Competition™ features True Colors-commissioned works from America’s leading contemporary Black playwrights that engage students in artful exploration of 21st century themes, while instilling confidence in all to find their voices.
ABOUT NNMC
This free program serves high school students, grades 9 – 12. Each participating region holds up to three rounds of competition – preliminaries, semi-finals and finals – with the top two winners of each region’s finals going on to compete in the National Finals in New York City, contingent on travel and gathering guidelines. The all-expense paid trip to New York includes workshops and master classes with theatre professionals, a trip to a Broadway show, the opportunity to perform on stage at the Apollo in Harlem, and cash scholarships for the top three National winners.
The objectives of the Next Narrative Monologue Competition are to introduce students to today’s leading contemporary Black writers, expose students to acting techniques that enhance their knowledge of the art and skill of performance, utilize the arts to support students in making co-curricular connections, investigate how history and culture influence personal perspective through artful exploration, and embolden students to use their voices to inspire social action. The compendium for the program, which has been commissioned by True Colors Theatre Company and published by Theatrical Rights Worldwide, includes original monologues on the themes of Class, Gender, Ableism/Inclusivity, Relationship to technology, Family/Community, Cultural celebration/competency, Global warming/environmental, Immigration/international relationships, Social/emotional/physical health and abstract/non-thematic.
Next Narrative Monologue Competition Workshop
Next Narrative Monologue 2024 Top Three Finalists L to R: Evan Frazier, Adrian Sanchez, and Joud Alkahlifa
2024 Next Narrative Monologue Competition National Champion, Adrian Sanchez.
2023 Next Narrative Monologue Competition National Champion, Sakura Rosenthal.
Information about the Next Narrative Monologue Competition in Boston:
- The Next Narrative Monologue Competition is open to students of Massachusetts in grades 9-12.
- Students interested in competing in the Next Narrative Monologue Competition must register for and attend workshops.
- Registration is closed.
IMPORTANT DATES
- National Finals at Apollo Theater in NYC: May 5, 2025
Dates and workshops for Next Narrative 2026 are TBD. Please check back in the fall for any updates.
For more information on The Next Narrative Monologue Competition in Boston, email nnmc@huntingtontheatre.org.
For more information about True Colors Theatre, please use this link Next Narrative Monologue Competition | True Colors Theatre Company
