The mission of the Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project (BNTOP), founded by the late film and stage actor Bill Nunn, is to create a platform for under-served public school students in the Pittsburgh region to gain access to theatre arts and work with seasoned professionals within the field.
The Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project is the presenter of the Pittsburgh Regional NEXT NARRATIVE Monologue Competition which is open to high school students, 9-12, celebrating the works of contemporary Black playwrights.
NEXT NARRATIVE
Monologue
Competition.
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Today.
High School Students: Sign Up Now for NEXT NARRATIVE Monologue Competition
The Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project (BNTOP) is proud to present the Pittsburgh regional True Colors Next Narrative® Monologue Competition (NNMC) — an acclaimed national education and performance program that centers the voices, stories, and brilliance of today’s youth.
NNMC is the signature education program of True Colors Theatre Company and leverages the power of monologues to enhance both academic learning and social-emotional development. The program celebrates the works of Black, contemporary playwrights, using theatre as a tool for self-expression, confidence-building, and critical thinking.
What makes NNMC truly unique is that each monologue is specially commissioned by True Colors Theatre Company for this program, written on themes that deeply resonate with 21st-century teens. The contemporary Black playwrights whose work makes up the NNMC compendium represent the vast diversity of the African diaspora — including Afro-Latine, LGBTQIA+, multigenerational, women, Indigenous, immigrant voices, and more.
WHAT STUDENTS CAN WIN
Selected winners of the competition will receive:
Cash prizes up to $2,000
Eligibility for a scholarship to Point Park University
Travel to New York City to perform their winning monologues on the historic stage of the Apollo Theater as part of the national competition
This program is designed to inspire confidence, creativity, and career pathways in theatre and the performing arts.
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Deadline:
đź“… Friday, January 30, 2026
đź”— Apply online at BillNunnTOP.com
Pittsburgh Regional Competition:
đź“… Monday, March 30, 2026
📍 Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild
1815 Metropolitan Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15233
National Competition:
đź“… Monday, May 4, 2026
đź“Ť Apollo Theater, New York City
APPLICATION FORM
NEXT NARRATIVE MONOLOGUE COMPETITION
2025 Pittsburgh Regional Monologue Competition at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild
2025 Pittsburgh Regional Winners: Dayton Jackson, KenNyrah Woods, Layla Sewell-Wilson and Darnell Peak
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, October 20, 2025, 7PM
Row House Cinema
4115 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Bill Nunn Day: Do the Right Thing
Presented by the Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project in collaboration with Row House Cinema
Join us on Monday, October 20, 2025, 7PM at Row House Cinema for BILL NUNN DAY in the City of Pittsburgh—a special celebration honoring the late, great Pittsburgh native and acclaimed stage and film actor Bill Nunn. Best known for his unforgettable role as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, Nunn also made a lasting impact offscreen as the founder of the Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project, which expands access to theatre arts for under-served public school students and presents the Pittsburgh regional NEXT Narrative Monologue Competition and August Wilson New Voices.
This annual event launches our educational programming for the school year while paying tribute to Nunn’s extraordinary legacy. The day features a special screening of Do the Right Thing at Lawrenceville’s Row House Cinema—Spike Lee’s iconic exploration of race, policing, and human empathy, set against the backdrop of a Brooklyn pizza shop on a sweltering summer day.
A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project, supporting our mission to provide transformative theatre education and opportunities for young people across the Pittsburgh region. For every ticket sold to Do the Right Thing, $4 will go directly toward sustaining this important work in our city.
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 5, 2025
Apollo Theater
New York, NY
SAVE THE DATE! The 2025 National NEXT NARRATIVE Monologue Competition will be held on May 5th, 7PM at the Apollo Theater. Additional information is forthcoming.
Events
Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild
1815 Metropolitan Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
AUGUST WILSON NEW VOICES
APRIL 15, 2024 6PM
Welcome to the August Wilson New Voices Competition presented by Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project! Join us at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild on Mon Apr 15 2024 at 6:00 PM for a night of talent and creativity. This event celebrates and honors the legacy of August Wilson through the voices of our youth. Don't miss this opportunity to support Pittsburgh youth and celebrate the power of storytelling. Refreshments will be served. See you there!