THEATER
Atlantan wins August Wilson Competition
Saidah Wade of Clayton County’s Mount Zion High School won first place in the 4th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition, held Monday night in New York.

Fifteen high school students from seven cities competed in the finals at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre. Wade’s top finish brought a $1,000 cash prize.

Christian Helem of Chicago took second place, and Tyler Edwards of Los Angeles was the third-place finisher. Each was awarded college scholarship opportunities, cash prizes and a collection of Wilson’s “Century Cycle” plays.

In the national finals, organized by Atlanta-based Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company, students performed a short monologue from one of the 10 plays in the Wilson cycle.

Regional competitions were held earlier this year in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles and New York. HOWARD POUSNER