Theodore Taylor III, left, Samantha del Rey, Jayla Jones, Nailah Shorter, David Kwon, Onnie Williams, Kyle Branch, Daniel Cuasay, Milan Lapesarde, Miko Alicia Mariscal, Fletcher Jones and Tyla Uzo are the regional finalists for the 2020 August Wilson Monologue Competition. (photo by Ericka Kreutz)

Center Theatre Group has selected 12 local high school students to participate in the regional finals for the 2020 August Wilson Monologue Competition at the Mark Taper Forum on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

The competition is designed to inspire and educate Los Angeles youth using monologues from August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle,” a 10-play cycle that details the complexity of the African-American experience in the 20th century.

Those selected to participate in the regional finals are Kyle Branch (Los Angeles), Daniel Cuasay (Moreno Valley), Fletcher Jones (Los Angeles), Jayla Jones (Sunland-Tujunga), David Kwon (Fullerton), Milan Lapesarde (Los Angeles), Miko Alicia Mariscal (Los Angeles), Samantha del Rey (Sylmar), Nailah Shorter (Pasadena), Theodore Taylor III (Los Angeles), Tyla Uzo (Gardena) and Onnie Williams IV (Alhambra).

Training and rehearsal sessions are provided by Center Theatre Group leading up to the competition, allowing the students to refine their performances while mastering valuable acting techniques.

On Feb. 25, the 12 regional finalists will perform their monologues in front of an audience and a panel of judges. The top two performing students will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City for the chance to perform in the AWMC national finals; the third-place student will serve as alternate.

The national finals will take place on May 4 at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway. As preparation for the national component of the competition, all three students will receive masterclasses to workshop their monologues.

The Mark Taper Forum is located at 135 N. Grand Ave. For information, visit centertheatregroup.org.