Greenville, South Carolina – A new statewide theater project in South Carolina is moving forward. Danielle Brooks, an actress from South Carolina who has been nominated for an Academy Award, announced the student finalists for the Century Cycle Continues Monologue Competition. The program honors the legacy of Black American storytelling and gives young artists from all over the state a chance to shine.
On Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 3 p.m., ten finalists from different high schools and arts programs will perform live at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville. Brooks, who graduated from the Governor’s School’s Drama Department in 2007, will be the event’s host. Celebrity judges from South Carolina will judge the acts, and anyone can get free seats.
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The selected finalists include Bryce Beasley of Charleston County School of the Arts; Alena Craig of Easley High School; Corian Dawson of South Pointe High School; Madie Grove and Ava Webber of the Fine Arts Center; Noah Lavigne of Sumter High School; Amari Leonard of Southside High School; Jordyn Osbourne of Dreher High School; Bryleigh Reed of South Florence High School; and Jarius Wright of Hillcrest High School.
Along with the main competition, four students from the Governor’s School—Sadie Bridges, Ella Burns, Teagan Johnson, and Justyce Swatzell—will compete for the Annie Edge Scholarship, which honors an excellent student from the school.
The competition requires people to interpret works by important Black playwrights, using August Wilson’s famous “Century Cycle” as a guide. Organizers say that the event is a celebration of Black voices in American theater that have lasted over time and a chance for the next generation of storytellers.
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Brooks stated that the finalists’ energy and creativity show how the story of Black theater continues to evolve, with young artists helping to determine what comes next.
“We’re excited for our finalists to bring energy and talent to the Governor’s School stage,” said Brooks in a release sent to the Florence News Journal. “Their performances remind us that the story of Black theatre is still unfolding—and they are the ones writing the next chapter.”
The initiative is presented in partnership with the Governor’s School and supported by Black Women on Broadway, reinforcing a shared commitment to arts education and cultural legacy in South Carolina.
Free tickets are available here.
