The August Wilson New Voices Competition (AWNVC) is a nationwide public speaking contest hosted by the August Wilson Estate, The Goodman Theatre, and Juilliard Director Derrick Sanders. Testing high schoolers on their ability to eloquently perform monologues written by playwright August Wilson, AWNVC is a prominent, celebrated contest.
Wilson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1945. He wrote notable plays such as The Piano Lesson and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. His creative work drew heavily from his experiences as an African American man in the United States; he wove these experiences, along with historical events, into fascinating plays for audiences to enjoy. Wilson’s most successful project was American Century Cycle, a series of ten plays written at various points in his life. While all ten pieces are set in Pittsburgh, each one takes place in a different decade of the twentieth century, serving as an exploration of culture and racial dynamics throughout the years. This project was a great success, earning Wilson several Pulitzer Prizes and a Tony Award.
AWNVC is a competition open to all students in grades nine through twelve. Its primary purpose is to spread Wilson’s work among high schools, cementing his legacy as a great American playwright. Participating students attend weekly acting workshops in late fall and early winter, where they read through American Century Cycle and select one of Wilson’s monologues to read aloud. Participants then perform their monologues at showcases throughout the country, granting them the opportunity to pay tribute to Wilson’s work while simultaneously adding their own creative spin. The best speakers at these showcases earn a spot in the semi-finals; the winners of the semi-finals are then invited to the finals, where they perform on stage for a large audience.
CRLS student Evan Frazier ’26 has participated in the AWNVC for three consecutive years; in 2024, he even made it to the regional finals. He recalled the initial workshops, explaining to the Register Forum, “Starting in November, teaching artist Keither Mascoll comes to work with students.” Frazier particularly appreciated that students were able to choose from Wilson’s body of works, telling the Register Forum, “We choose our monologues based on what speaks to us.” Overall, AWNVC had a big impact on Frazier, who told the Register Forum, “I’ve done [the program] since freshman year, and it’s become pretty important to my theater identity. Keith [Mascoll] is a great coach, and he really believes in everybody.”
The final rounds of AWNVC are coming up, and they will take place right here in Boston. Wilson worked closely with Boston’s Huntington Theatre for many decades, with the company hosting seven different plays from American Century Cycle from the 1980s through the 2000s. After a series of significant renovations, the theatre has reopened, and they are set to honor Wilson’s legacy by hosting the regional finals of AWNVC on Monday, March 24, 2025, with tickets available on the Huntington Theatre website. There will also be a workshop beforehand, hosted at the same location. If you are interested in watching the next generation of speakers—as well as hearing Wilson’s wonderful stories—consider attending the final rounds this coming month.
This article also appears in our February 2025 print edition.
