Meet the 35 participants in the finals of the Pittsburgh regional August Wilson Monologue Competition at the August Wilson Center Monday at 6:30 p.m.
The annual competition honoring the late Pittsburgh native and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner is for high school students grades 9-12. The regional competition is administered by the Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project, founded by the actor who died on Sept. 24.
First- and second-place Pittsburgh finalists are eligible to travel to New York City to compete in the national monologue contest at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre. Participants attend workshops and attend a Broadway performance courtesy of Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company in the lead up to the final competition on May 2.
Participants competing to be Pittsburgh champions are:
* Nia Arrington, Pittsburgh CAPA, 11th grade, Ma Rainey, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
* Kirsa Awkward, Brashear High School, 11th grade, Molly, "Joe Turner's Come and Gone"
* Ellie Balk, Pittsburgh CAPA, ninth grade, Harmond Wilkes, "Radio Golf"
* Vinka Bencic, ninth grade, Becker, "Jitney"
* Christian Carter, Pittsburgh CAPA, 11th grade, Becker, "Jitney"
* Bryce Chisom, Obama Academy, 11th grade, Ma Rainey, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
* Sonya Coltin, Pittsburgh CAPA ninth grade, Bernice, "The Piano Lesson"
* Delajah Dennis, Holy Family Academy, 11th grade, Bernice, "The Piano Lesson"
* Kiara Dorsey, Holy Family Academy, 9th grade, Vera, "Seven Guitars"
* Lydia Evans, West Mifflin High School, 11th grade, Bernice, "The Piano Lesson"
* Ariyana Gullen, West Mifflin High School, 10th grade, King Hedley II, "King Hedley II"
* Summer Helvy, Pittsburgh CAPA, 11th grade, Tonya, "King Hedley II"
* Amira Jackson, Pittsburgh CAPA, ninth grade, Tonya, "King Hedley II"
* Jamaica Johnson, Pittsburgh CAPA, ninth grade, Bernice, "The Piano Lesson"
* Elizabeth Katchen, Pittsburgh CAPA, 10th grade, Tonya, "King Hedley II"
* Dara Kovacevic, Pittsburgh CAPA, 10th grade, Mame Wilks, "Radio Golf"
* Mya Lane, Holy Family Academy, 11th grade, Martha Loomis Pentecost, "Joe Turner's Come and Gone"
* Itunu Lawal, Brashear High School, 12th grade, Toledo, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
* Laela Lumsden, Pittsburgh CAPA, ninth grade, King Hedley II, "King Hedley II"
* Alexis Mckenzie, Pittsburgh CAPA, ninth grade, Rena, "Jitney"
* Elizabeth Montgomery-Wofford, West Mifflin High School, 11th grade, Ma Rainey, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
* Casandra Nickelson, West Mifflin High School, 10th grade, Tonya, "King Hedley II"
* Samira Pollard, West Mifflin High School, ninth grade, Rena, "Jitney"
* Riyan Russell, Holy Family Academy, ninth grade, Troy, "Fences"
* Tyler Schuster, West Mifflin High School, 10th grade, King Hedley II, "King Hedley II"
* Ariana Scott, Holy Family Academy, 10th grade, Lymon, "The Piano Lesson"
* Jhaunea Sherr, Holy Family Academy, ninth grade, Louise, "Seven Guitars"
* Qasai Smalls, Woodland Hills High School, 11th grade, King Hedley II, "King Hedley II"
* Cheyenne Squire, Pittsburgh CAPA, ninth grade, Vera, "Seven Guitars"
* Andonetta Trageser, Pittsburgh CAPA, ninth grade, Rena, "Jitney"
* Clarence Turner, West Mifflin High School, 11th grade, Becker, "Jitney"
* Michael Washington, Pittsburgh CAPA, 11th grade, Vera, "Seven Guitars"
* Amaru Williams, Pittsburgh CAPA, 12th grade, Leeve, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
* Angel Wilson, West Mifflin High School, 11th grade, Molly, "Joe Turner's Come and Gone"
* Denise Woods, Pittsburgh CAPA, ninth grade, Rose, “Fences”
First Published: March 6, 2017, 2:35 p.m.
