Samuel French is releasing a new book titled Dangerous Music: The American Century Cycle Monologues. The announcement was made at the 9th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition, which was held May 1 at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway.

Dangerous Music: The American Century Cycle Monologues was created in consultation with Constanza Romero, the wife of the late, celebrated American playwright. The book begins with a foreword by dramaturg Todd Kriedler, co-founder of the Monologue Competition and one of Wilson’s closest collaborators, and features monologues from all 10 of the playwright’s American Century Cycle plays—a decade-by-decade examination of African-American life during the 20th century.

“Unlike many modern playwrights, August Wilson is regarded as a master of the monologue. The arias that express his characters’ inner journeys, of love, duty, honor, betrayal, are at once universally poetic and culturally specific,” comments Romero in a press statement. “I am thrilled to see Dangerous Music, a comprehensive collection of monologues from The American Century Cycle, come together in one book. My hope is that this book will become an important resource for actors of all ages, and all levels of skill and experience.”

For more information on the book, or to purchase it, click here.

The August Wilson Monologue Competition is presented in New York annually by True Colors Theatre Company and Jujamcyn Theaters. The contest features high school students from across the country performing monologues by Wilson.

The May 1 winners will be announced shortly; for more information on the event, visit augustwilsonmonologue.com.

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