Giving Voice

I absolutely LOVED Giving Voice, a new documentary about the annual August Wilson Monologue competition and the thousands of high schoolers who enter the competition for the opportunity to perform on Broadway. Some of Wilson's friends started the monologue competition as a way of coping with Wilson's death at age 60 from liver cancer. Yes, I am totally biased as August Wilson is my absolute favorite playwright (ok, maybe he is tied with Shakespeare). I miss live theater madly & this had quite a few clips filmed in actual NYC theaters that I totally know & love and miss.

This uplifting, inspiring, & brilliant film had me crying tears of joy more than once. The 6 competition finalists featured were all amazing & I was rooting for each and every one of 'em. And, as an added bonus, 2 of my favorite actors (who I have had the privilege of experiencing perform live), Viola Davis (who also donned an executive producer hat for the film) & hottie Denzel Washington, add some commentary about Wilson, the competition & art in general. Another bonus was some film clips of Wilson himself & his wife explaining the choices he made after learning of his cancer diagnosis. Thumbs way, way, way, way up! Inspirational doc that evidences August Wilson's brilliance & spirit through amazing young actors!