For the past 11 Mays, the talented young finalists of the national August Wilson Monologue Competition have gathered from around the country to share their performances onstage at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre. This year, with theatres closed due to the public health crisis, the competition hosted its first-ever virtual finals.

Over the course of the May 2–3 weekend, amid speeches and stories from professional artists and AWMC alumni, this year’s regional finalists performed August Wilson’s powerful words from their homes, shared via computer screen.

Theatre gives me hope because… It inspires empathy. Through empathy we find a desire in our hearts to change.

– Kyle Branch `20, LACHSA Theatre student & August Wilson finalist

Below, 2020 finalist Kyle Branch, `20 shares his insights, hopes, and dreams.

Name: Kyle Branch Age: 17
High school: Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Monologue I performed: Levee; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
I chose this piece because: It was the first August Wilson text I had been introduced to. In 2016, I was a freshman and there was a night where all of the students went out to see a production. I don’t remember much else from that night, other than being blown away by the play, and more specifically by the character Leevee. He is a black man who feverishly wants to do what he loves, yet is plagued by racial limitations and struggles to reinstate his identity within a group of people he has to interact with. Ever since I first saw the monologue done, I knew one day I’d try and tackle it.
Something I admire about August Wilson is: His drive and writing style. First, he was a high school drop-out at 15 and not only did he continue learning, he excelled with his knowledge of literature, stories, and most importantly, his people.
Theatre gives me hope because… It inspires empathy. Through empathy we find a desire in our hearts to change.
After high school my dream is to… Sharpen my artistic toolkit (acting, music, writing, directing, fashion, etc.), and then create as much art as I possibly can for however long I am able to.

See the full article and details on all of the 20 finalists in the original article on Playbill by Olivia Clement.