Overview
The Next Narrative™ Monologue Competition, Vol. 1 features newly created works from twenty of 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. The program objectives 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.
Collected Plays
Monologue Categories
CLASS
- Dreamer (by Star Finch)
- JASMINE (by Jonathan Norton)
GENDER
- COME CROSS THAT LINE TO ME (by Dane Figueroa Edidi)
- DAUGHTER (by Cheryl L. West)
- Not Supposed To (by Donnetta Lavinia Grays)
- A Love Letter to My Queer Pink Dress from a Baby Black Trans Femme Princess (by Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko)
- QUEER BLACK CREATIVE LICENSE (by Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko)
ABLEISM/INCLUSIVITY
- late due to lemonade (by Inda Craig-Galván)
RELATIONSHIP TO TECHNOLOGY
- CONNIE (by Dominic Taylor)
- EVERYONE KNOWS FRIENDS (by Francisca Da Silveira)
- Believe in Crypto, Believe in Me (by Candrice Jones)
- you are here (by Regina Taylor)
FAMILY/COMMUNITY
- A Note Spit from a Native Son (by Psalmayene 24)
- Calling Mama (by Donnetta Lavinia Grays)
- I’M MAGIC, MAN! (by Josh Wilder)
- LAMOYNE (by Dominic Taylor)
- YOUNG MOTHER (by Dominic Taylor)
- CHUCK (by Jonathan Norton)
- SIS (by Jonathan Norton)
- Say No To The Dress (by Stacey Rose)
- WHAT YOU CAN’T HAVE (by Francisca Da Silveira)
- SPARKING JOY (by Francisca Da Silveira)
- No Wonder (by James Anthony Tyler)
CULTURAL CELEBRATION/COMPETENCY
- Upcharge (by Inda Craig-Galván)
- The Icons of Black History want snacks (by Idris Goodwin)
- It’s Aaliyah For Me (by Candrice Jones)
- BALLAD FOR THE LEGENDARY CHILDREN (by Roger Q. Mason)
GLOBAL WARMING/ENVIRONMENTAL
- The Prophet (by Idris Goodwin)
IMMIGRATION/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
- QUEER TRANS POC ASYLUM: a gorgeous rant (by Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko)
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL/PHYSICAL HEALTH
- Happier (by Rachel Lynett)
- Out (by Rachel Lynett)
- THE HUNT (by Star Finch)
- Not giving up my shot (by Idris Goodwin)
- One Second (by Rachel Lynett)
- SHAME (by Cheryl L. West)
- STANDARD PRACTICE (by Cheryl L. West)
- THE UNIVERSE (by Nathan Yungerberg)
- Eat. (by Candrice Jones)
- Friends. Ones We Can Depend On? (by Deneen Reynolds-Knott)
- The Blues (by Star Finch)
ABSTRACT/NON-THEMATIC
- The Recurring Dream, Or Small Baby Hands (by Psalmayene 24)
Casting & Production
About the Next Narrative™ Competition
The Next Narrative Monologue Competition is a national competition for high school students in grades 9-12. Throughout participating regions, have the opportunity to engage in master classes led by industry professionals. These classes are meticulously crafted to enhance their acting skills, shaping these students into elevated artists.
Students progress through three competitive rounds—preliminaries, semi-finals, and a regional final. The top two winners from each region win an all-expense-paid trip to New York City. There, on the legendary stage of the Apollo Theater, they compete for cash prizes in the National Finals against 24 other regional winners. This Next Narrative Monologue Competition not only fuels artistic growth but also provides a national stage for students to showcase their skills, fostering learning, recognition, and advancement in their pursuit of artistic excellence.
