Next Narrative™
Monologue Competition

The Next Narrative™ Monologue Competition is a national program for high school students featuring the work of contemporary Black playwrights. The competition, created by Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company of Atlanta, GA, gives students the opportunity to deliver powerful, contemporary monologues from modern playwrights including Robert O’Hara, Candrice Jones, Josh Wilder, James Tyler and more.

Milwaukee Rep is one of many regional cities participating and is offering workshops across the city and virtually to prepare students in the selection and rehearsal of their monologue. At the regional competition on February 15, two students will win cash prizes and the opportunity to represent Milwaukee on an all-expense-paid trip to New York City. Students will compete against other regional city competitors at The Apollo Theatre in Harlem for additional scholarships and prizes.

2022/23 Milwaukee Regionals Winners

Congratulations to our Next Narrative Monologue Competition Milwaukee Regionals Winners! Ryon Davis (First Place; Pius XI Catholic High School) and Sanaiah Hibbler (Second Place; Oak Creek High School) who will be representing our city in the National Finals at New York City's Apollo Theater this May.

2022/23 Milwaukee Regionals Finalists

Congratulations to all of this year's finalists who competed for cash prizes and the chance to represent our city on an all-expense-paid trip to the national finals at New York City's Apollo Theater later this spring!

About the Competition

Milwaukee Regionals Schedule

Milwaukee’s Regionals will be held in Milwaukee Rep’s Quadracci Powerhouse Theater at 7:00pm on Wednesday, February 15.

Audition Registration	Opens November 7, 2022
Auditions	January 3, 2023
Semi-Finals	January 10, 2023
Student/Parent Orientation	January 14, 2023
Milwaukee Regionalist Workshop	January 21, 2023
Milwaukee Regionalist Workshop	January 28, 2023
Milwaukee Regionalist Workshop	February 4, 2023
Milwaukee Regionalist Workshop	February 11, 2023
Milwaukee Regional	February 15, 2023

After Milwaukee Regionals, the Milwaukee Regionalists will be invited to continue training with Milwaukee Rep to build an ensemble that will create potential theater pieces to be performed in the community throughout the summer. Milwaukee Regionalists will be hired as part-time staff during the summer to rehearse and perform their pieces in the community.

Training for Milwaukee Regionals

Free training opportunities leading up to auditions will be offered in partnerships with schools and organizations throughout the city.

Monday Night NNMC Workshops will take place at Milwaukee Repertory Theater every Monday night at 5:00-6:30pm from October 17 to December 19 (no class on 11/21 to observe Thanksgiving week).

Saturday Afternoon NNMC Workshops in partnership with First Stage will take place at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (MYAC) every Saturday from 1:30-3:00pm from October 15 to December 17 (no class on 11/26 to observe Thanksgiving week).

You do not have to participate in training to audition, but it is highly encouraged! Training will include acting, choosing a monologue, developing your character, audition tips and tricks, and more.

Auditions and Semi-Finals will be held to select ten Milwaukee Regionalists to move on to the competition. Milwaukee Regionalists will participate in REQUIRED training on Saturdays leading up to the competition. Saturday trainings will include ensemble work, monologue coaching, understanding the text, auditioning with a monologue, deep exploration of the judge’s criteria, and more. Meals will be provided.

Student/Parent Orientation	January 14, 2023
Milwaukee Regionalist Workshop	January 21, 2023
Milwaukee Regionalist Workshop	January 28, 2023
Milwaukee Regionalist Workshop	February 4, 2023
Milwaukee Regionalist Workshop	February 11, 2023

Milwaukee Regional Auditions

Audition Registration is now open! CLICK HERE to register.

Auditionees must select a monologue from the approved compendium. Contact Jarvell Williams at jwilliams@milwaukeerep.com to get the monologue options.

Ten participants will be selected to move on to Milwaukee’s Regional Competition. There will be two rounds of auditions.

The first round will be the initial audition for a group of judges that will move up to 20 students to semi-finals. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, January 3. An addition audition date may be available if needed.
The second round will be semi-finals on January 10, where a group of judges will select the ten Milwaukee Regionalists.

2021/22 NNMC Competition Results

National Finals – Monday, May 8 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem

The 2021/22 National Finals were held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. All Milwaukee Regionals winners received cash prizes and the first and second place winners received an all-expense paid trip to New York City that included:

Workshops with theater professionals
Performance at the Apollo Theater
Ticket to a Broadway show
Cash prizes for the top three winners

2021/22 Regional Winners

First Place Milwaukee Regionals; Nationals Third Place Winner: Alexandria Woods, 11th grade at Rufus King IB High School, monologue – “One Second” by Rachel Lynett
Second Place Milwaukee Regionals: Terynn Erby-Walker, 11th grade at Golda Meir High School, monologue – “Why Am I Returning the Dress?” by Stacey Rose
Runner-Up Milwaukee Regionals: Ana Gutierrez, 12th grade at Ronald Reagan IB High School, monologue – “The Blues” by Star Finch