Two Milwaukee area High School students off to the Big Apple!

Milwaukee Rep Hosted the Next Narrative Monologue Competition Regionals on Monday

Sending Two Local High School Students to Nationals in New York City

March 21, 2024 (MILWAUKEE) —On Monday, March 18, 2024, Milwaukee Repertory Theater (Milwaukee Rep) held the 2024 regionals for the Next Narrative Monologue Competition, a national program for high school students featuring the work of contemporary Black playwrights created by Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company. Milwaukee Rep is one of many regional cities participating, offering free workshops across the city to prepare students in the selections and rehearsal of their monologue.

Raichel West from Milwaukee Marshall High School was awarded First place for her performance of One Second by Rachel Lynett. In Second place was Dayanara Sanchez from Dominican High School who performed Say No to the Dress by Stacey Rose, and runner up Lex V. Crump from Milwaukee High School of the Arts performed Sparking Joy by Francisca Da Silveira.

All three winners were awarded a cash prize and the First and Second place finishers will get the opportunity to represent Milwaukee on an all-expense paid trip to New York City where they will compete against other regional city competitors at The Apollo Theatre in Harlem for additional books, scholarships, and prizes.

“The National Next Narrative Monologue Competition is an incredible opportunity for young artists to engage with the work of leading Black playwrights across the country,” said Jenny Toutant, Milwaukee Rep’s Chief Education and Engagement Officer. “It is so much more than a competition as the students build community with one another while building confidence within themselves.”

To learn more about the program and hear from participants from the 2022 competition including Milwaukee finalist Alexandria Woods who took 3^rd place in the National Competition click here – Next Narrative Monologue Competition at Milwaukee Rep.

About Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Milwaukee Rep is the largest performing arts organization in Wisconsin with three unique performance venues in the Associated Bank Theater Center. For over seven decades, Milwaukee Rep has been a centerpiece of Milwaukee’s vibrant arts and cultural scene with productions ranging from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare to American Classics and New Works that are entertaining, inclusive, and impactful. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mark Clements and Executive Director Chad Bauman, Milwaukee Repertory Theater ignites positive change in the cultural, social, and economic vitality of its community by creating world-class theater experiences that entertain, provoke, and inspire meaningful dialogue among an audience representative of Milwaukee’s rich diversity.

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