Legacy Rising Monologue Competition
For the past three years, Support Black Theatre has proudly served as the Los Angeles home for the national August Wilson New Voices (AWNV). We are excited to announce the next evolution of this beloved program: Legacy Rising, a Los Angeles–based monologue competition celebrating the legacy of classical Black playwrights for high school students across Los Angeles County.
The inaugural 2026 season will honor the works of Lorraine Hansberry, Philip Hayes Dean, Alice Childress, and August Wilson. Legacy Rising Monologue Competition (LRMC) invites students of all ethnicities and abilities to explore the power, beauty, and cultural significance of the Black theatre canon through performance. More than a contest, our Legacy Rising Monologue Competition is an educational journey that includes an outreach program with teaching artists where students study the craft of acting, explore their own creative voices, and learn about four great playwrights who shaped the American Theatre. Through this competition, we cultivate appreciation for the enduring legacy of Black playwrights, deepen students’ understanding of theatre as both art and social force, and empower young people to see themselves as storytellers, culture bearers, and contributors to the future of American theatre.
Eligibility
Current high school students from Los Angeles County are eligible to participate. Students must be enrolled in high school the whole school year and may not be older than 19 on the day of the regional finals (July 2026) to participate in all stages of the competition.
Participation
Legacy Rising Monologue Competition is open to all Los Angeles high school students. To participate, students engage in the competition by performing a 2-3 minute monologue from one of the approved plays in the LRMC 2026 Compendium. Participants are adjudicated by a panel of theatre professionals on the basis of preparedness, understanding of the text, emotional connection to the material, and commitment to the performance. Students may perform any monologue in the compendium regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender identity.
Monologues
2026 Legacy Rising Monologue Competition Compendium
Registration
Sign up here to receive more information and a link to the Registration Form for the 2026 Legacy Rising Monologue Competition. We will follow up with you by email to confirm receipt of your interest and to verify that all provided information is correct. In order to participate in the Preliminary Audition, you must complete the Registration Form provided to you by Support Black Theatre and attend orientation at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center.
Key dates:
- Online Registration Deadline: April 24, 2026
- Orientations: April 18, 2026
- Preliminary Audition: April 25, 2026
- Semi-Final Audition: May 16, 2026
- Finals: July 11, 2026
LRMC Outreach Program
Support Black Theatre’s 2026 Legacy Rising Monologue Competition Outreach Program is a training intensive that prepares young artists to participate in the Legacy Rising Monologue Competition. Participants will explore the history of Hansberry, Childress, Dean, and Wilson, gain greater understanding of their work and contributions, and receive coaching from professional artists as they prepare for their performance.
This fully funded program, open to all, is provided at no cost to participants, however, there is limited capacity. For students interested in receiving this additional support, email [email protected].
Meet the Team
The Legacy Rising Monologue Competition is led by a team of highly qualified and experienced industry professionals.
Our Partners
Support Black Theatre is proud to be in partnership with Ebony Repertory Theatre for the 2026 Legacy Rising Monologue Competition.
