Danielle Brooks — actress and Greenville native — is in search of the next top talent from the Palmetto State, the same place where her acting aspirations began.
In a partnership between Brooks, Black Women on Broadway, and the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, the Century Cycle Continues Monologue Competition is underway for South Carolina high school students between the ages of 14 and 18.
Three winners will have the chance to win cash prizes of $2,000, $1,000, or $500. Additionally, they will meet film industry stars serving as celebrity judges and explore the possibility of pursuing a career in film and theatre, even from South Carolina.
Candace Dickenson, Drama Department Voice Instructor, left, listens as alumni Danielle Brooks speaks to students September 25, 2025 in the full drama studio at The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities is a prestigious boarding school for the arts located in Greenville, South Carolina.
“I want these students to know that achieving high levels of success in the arts is not just a dream — it’s real and tangible,” said Brooks on the competition website. She graduated from the school in 2006.
The monologue competition is inspired by the works of August Wilson, an American playwright known for a 10-play series entitled “The Pittsburgh Cycle” that chronicled Black life in the 20th century.
The hope is the inaugural competition continues to develop into an annual event for students across South Carolina and at the Governor’s School.
“It’s an experience for students of all backgrounds to be able to engage with these styles of playwrights which come from contemporary Black artists,” said Candace Dickinson, drama department chair at the school.
Cadace Dickinson, voice instructor at the John and Genevieve Sakas Center for Drama building at The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities is a prestigious boarding school for the arts located in Greenville, South Carolina.
“This is such a great opportunity to for students to be exposed to some incredible writers, and that’s part of the goal is to expose them to the possibilities,” Dickinson added.
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How can high school students compete?
To compete, participating high school students will need to complete a one-to two-minute video monologuing a play authored by a Black artist and be free of profanity, derogatory language, and is age appropriate.
Video submissions will be accepted until Jan. 3. A month later, 10 student finalists will be notified of their participation in the final CCC Monologue Competition, which will be held at the Governor’s school on Feb. 28.
The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities front entrance at the Virginia Uldrick Campus in Greenville, South Carolina.
On competition day, the 10 finalists will perform their monologue in front of an audience and three to five “esteemed” artists.
A scholarship for SC Governor’s School students
Special only to students at the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, the Anne Edge Scholarship will be up for grabs — a $5,000 cash award to the student who delivers the best contemporary monologue from a play written by a Black playwright.
Brooks named the scholarship after her godmother, Annie Edge, who helped fund her journey and admission into The Juilliard School.
Ngmenvie Kuuseg, left, a senior student practices Romeo and Juliet with voice instructor Candace Dickinson in The John and Genevieve Sakas Center for Drama building at The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities is a prestigious boarding school for the arts located in Greenville, South Carolina Monday, October 20, 2025.
Similar to the CCC Monologue Competition, three students from the Governor’s School also will be chosen to compete before an audience on Feb. 28 for the $5,000 scholarship.
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How the monologue competition by Danielle Brooks originated?
According to Dickinson, monologues were new for Brooks when she first arrived as a student at the Governor’s School but they later became a strength.
Dickinson said that Brooks had been thinking about a way to give back and stay connected.
Former student Danielle Brooks speaks to students September 25, 2025 in the full drama studio at The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities is a prestigious boarding school for the arts located in Greenville, South Carolina.
“She’s humble, and interested in us, and we were honored that she came to us to ask if we would be interested in this type of event,” Dickinson said. “The scholarship amounts are coming from Danielle herself, and we’re here to provide personnel and resources for the actual event in February.
For details about the competition go to cccmonologuecompetition.com.
Ngmenvie Kuuseg, left, a senior student practices Romeo and Juliet with voice instructor Candace Dickinson in The John and Genevieve Sakas Center for Drama building at The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities is a prestigious boarding school for the arts located in Greenville, South Carolina Monday, October 20, 2025.
“It’s a great opportunity for students to see a tangible and real possibility of what life can look like in the arts,” said Dickinson. “She’s an amazing role model for our students.”
– A.J. Jackson covers business, the food & dining scene, and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at [email protected], and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Actress Danielle Brooks inspires statewide competition for high schoolers
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