On Saturday, Feb 8th, seven Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Half Day theater students traveled to New Haven to compete in the national August Wilson Monologue Competition. They, along with other participants from around the state, performed monologues from August Wilson’s plays in front of a panel of judges from Connecticut’s professional theatre community. The students taking part were Seniors Kiara Burgos, Serenity Lawrence and Kayla James, Juniors Charlie Hartel, Soleil Walcott, and Sophomore Vanessa Meole. Serenity, Kayla and Vanessa were selected to move on to the Regional Semi-Finals, and Soleil was selected as an alternate should one of the 15 statewide semi-finalists be unable to compete. The Regional Semi-Finals will be held at Long Wharf Theater in New Haven on February 24th. Two finalists will be selected to compete in the National Finals at the August Wilson Theater in New York City in May.