The 2021-22 Student Monologue Challenge invited high school students to write an original monologue that responded to the prompt “I Need a Change.” We received 71 entries from students attending 17 high schools on three continents.
We’re thrilled to share here outstanding performances of the most exceptional entries by professional actors!
Cast
Tiana Lee
Playwright
Tiana Lee (she/her) is a recent graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School. Her love of screen writing came from an interest in human psychology. Outside of school, she enjoys writing for herself, using it as a medium to articulate her thoughts.
Sasha Diamond
Actor
Sasha Diamond will be appearing next in Ma-Yi’s production of ONCE UPON A (korean) TIME. She has performed on and off-Broadway at the Public Theater, Roundabout Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and others. Select television credits include Bull (CBS), New Amsterdam (NBC), and NCIS: New Orleans (CBS).
Felix Rowe
Playwright
Felix Rowe (he/him) is an aspiring writer and actors from New Zealand. He is super passionate about theatre, having been involved with it his whole life.
Liam Aiken
Actor
Liam Aiken made his feature film debut in HENRY FOOL at the age of 7. Liam can be seen in independent features BASHIRA, KINGFISH, ELECTRICK CHILDREN, HOW TO BE A MAN, GIRLS AGAINST BOYS, THE KILLER INSIDE ME, LIKE LAMBS, THE FRONTIER, and WEEPAH WAY FOR NOW. As a child actor, Aiken is best remembered as Klaus Baudelaire in LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, where he starred opposite Meryl Streep and Jim Carrey. Aiken was nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award for Best Young Actor for his performance.. He played Owen in GOOD BOY!, directed by John Hoffman, and Sam Mendes directed him in THE ROAD TO PERDITION. He starred with Charlize Theron and Keanu Reeves in SWEET NOVEMBER, and played Kim Basinger’s son in I DREAMED OF AFRICA. Liam co-starred in Chris Columbus’ STEPMOM with Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Ed Harris. On the small screen, Aiken has guest starred on Showtime’s I’M DYING UP HERE, AMC’s MAD MEN, CBS’ A GIFTED MAN, and NBC’s LAW & ORDER and LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT.
Madison Opland
Playwright
Madison Opland (she/they/he) is a 17 year old South African theatre enthusiast who aspires to make a difference both within the world of theatre and our society. Madison has over ten years’ experience in acting, musical theatre, and dance. Madison is currently strengthening her writing and directorial skill sets.
Kaden Kearney
Actor
Kaden Kearney (they/them): Kaden is a trans-nonbinary actor based out of NYC. They are currently performing with the National Tour of The Prom as Emma. Credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck), One Man, Two Guvnors (Rachel), Agent 355 (Mary/Robert) Chautauqua Theatre Co. TV: “Prodigal Son” (Fox) and “Belated” (FX). Kaden received their M.F.A. in Acting from UC Irvine and their B.A. in Theatre Arts from Cal State Long Beach.
Rodoshi Islam
Playwright
Rodoshi Islam (she/her/hers) is a rising junior at Riverdale Country School. She grew up in The Bronx and has a love for New York City. Rodoshi’s interests are mainly different forms of creative writing such as storytelling, poetry, and playwriting.
Frankie Faison
Actor
Frankie Faison is a well-seasoned actor who is best known for his work in “The Wire”, “Banshee”, Coming To America, and Do The Right Thing. Frankie recently received a Gotham Award for his portrayal of “Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr.” in the award-winning, critically-acclaimed Gravitas Ventures and HBO Max film, Killing Of Kenneth Chamberlain, directed by David Midell and executive produced by Morgan Freeman. Frankie was also nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor. Frankie was recently seen in a recurring role in ABC’s “The Rookie” and is returning as a series regular in “The Rookie Spinoff”, “The Rookie: Feds”. He will next be seen recurring in the Apple TV + series, “Hello Tomorrow” and in the upcoming feature film Till; written and directed by Chinonye Chukwu and starring alongside Whoopi Goldberg. Previously, he appeared in a cameo guest spot in CBS’ “Bull”, as the co-lead in the holiday Hallmark movie for television, Redemption In Cherry Springs, and had a supporting role in the Amazon feature I’m Your Woman, produced by Jordan Horowitz and starring Rachel Brosnahan. Frankie also appeared in the Kevin Hart comedy feature Fatherhood for Netflix and was a series regular in the NBC series, “The Village”.
Naiomi Madera
Playwright
Naiomi Madera (she/her/hers) lives in New York City and dreams of living somewhere surrounded by trees. At sixteen, she enjoys rain, the moon, and bagels, all of which inspire her to write. An actor, too, she recently played Lady Macbeth in her school’s production of Macbeth.
Carmen Berkeley
Actor
Carmen Berkeley (she/her/hers) is an actor from Washington Heights and currently based in Brooklyn. Recent credits include Wintertime (Berkeley Rep), Our Dear Dead Drug Lord (WP Theater/Second Stage), Night of the Iguana (LaFemme Theatre Productions) and Our Town (Barnstormers Theatre). She has also worked with New York Theatre Workshop, Manhattan Theatre Club, Shakespeare’s Globe, ArsNova, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Page 73, Normal Ave, and others. TV: Law and Order: SVU. BFA: Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Tiana Lee
Playwright
Sasha Diamond
Actor
Felix Rowe
Playwright
Liam Aiken
Actor
Madison Opland
Playwright
Kaden Kearney
Actor
Rodoshi Islam
Playwright
Frankie Faison
Actor
Naiomi Madera
Playwright
Carmen Berkeley
Actor