Theatre allows us to explore who we are, who we have been, and who we are becoming. Every person changes over time through experiences, relationships, successes, failures, and discoveries. Sometimes we look back at an earlier version of ourselves with pride, regret, gratitude, or even disbelief. Through performance, we can examine the journey of personal growth and transformation that shapes our lives.
This year’s Winter Challenge invites students to write and perform an original 3-minute monologue inspired by the prompt “The Person I Used to Be” (Note: Students are not required to use the exact phrase in their monologue.)
This prompt encourages students to explore change, growth, and self-discovery. The monologue may focus on a character reflecting on their past, confronting a former version of themselves, or recognizing how a significant experience transformed their identity. The story may be personal or fictional, realistic or imaginative, humorous or dramatic. What matters most is the character’s journey and the truth they discover about themselves.
A monologue is a dramatic speech delivered by one character to another character or directly to an audience. It may be realistic, poetic, comedic, dramatic, or experimental, but it should reveal a character wrestling with who they once were and who they have become.
Awards
Winning students will be notified by email and will have their written work and performance video published on the NEHS Museletter blog. All winning students will be candidates to receive Creative Challenge Champion prizes at the end of the year.
Eligibility
Applicants must be NEHS student members enrolled in a school with an active NEHS chapter.
Submission Requirements
- Students should write an original monologue no longer than 3 minutes in performance length.
- The monologue must be inspired by the prompt “The Person I Used to Be.”
- Students must create a high-quality video recording of themselves performing the monologue.
- The performance should be memorized.
- The video should be filmed against a simple, neutral background.
- Students should dress appropriately for performance and ensure clear audio quality.
Submission Process
- All submissions must be made via the NEHS AwardSpring platform during the Winter Awards Cycle.
- Student members must upload a Microsoft Word file (.doc/.docx) of the monologue written by the applicant.
- Student members must upload video of the poem being performed by the author (the sound quality must be high) in the AwardSpring platform in .MOV or .MP4 format. Any videos that cannot be immediately accessed by our evaluation team will be disqualified from the competition.
- Applicants must complete demographic data questions prior to submitting their documentation.
- All student writers must include a 150-word (max.) third-person biography and high-resolution portrait photo.
- Applicants must agree that they are willing to provide a written report and photos detailing the impact the creative process and award has had on them, which can be used by NEHS to promote this and other opportunities in future years should they win an award.
Evaluation Process
All submissions will be evaluated by at least three members of the NEHS evaluation team.
The written part of the submission will be evaluated against a rubric containing (but not limited to) the following categories
- Purpose
- Unique point of view
- Formatting
- Variety of speaking techniques
- Script-writing techniques
The audio-visual part of the submission will be evaluated against a rubric containing (but not limited to) the following categories
- Purpose/Connection
- Use of monologue performance conventions
- Theatrical forms used
- Acting and vocal techniques included
- Originality
Notes and Guidance on Creating and Performing a Monologue
- Consider what has changed in your character’s life and why.
- Give your character a clear objective. What are they trying to understand, justify, celebrate, or overcome?
- Think about who your character was before a pivotal event and who they are now.
- Strong monologues often reveal both strengths and flaws.
- Use specific memories, details, and experiences to bring the character to life.
- Allow the character’s emotions and perspective to evolve throughout the speech.
- Look for moments of surprise, vulnerability, or self-realization.
- By the end of the monologue, the audience should better understand the journey from the person the character used to be to the person they are today.
