The National AWMC is a celebration of the words of the playwright August Wilson, inspiring high school students to find and express themselves through theatre.

About the Competition

The National August Wilson Monologue Competition was founded in 2007 by True Colors’ then-Artistic Director Kenny Leon and then-Associate Artistic Director Todd Kreidler. Kenny and Todd, both of whom worked very closely with August Wilson, conceived of the program to honor his legacy and to ensure that his work remained alive across the generations. Since its introduction in one school in Atlanta, the program has grown to include nineteen regions, including Atlanta (GA), Boston (MA), Buffalo (NY), Chicago (IL), Dallas (TX), E. Lansing (MI)*, Greensboro (NC), Hampton Roads (VA), Las Vegas (NV), Los Angeles (CA), Maryland*, Milwaukee (WI), New Haven (CT), New York (NY), Pittsburgh (PA), Portland (OR), San Diego (CA), Seattle (WA), and Urbana-Champaign (IL)*.