The BCM Theater Outreach Program is dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about screening for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer, HPV vaccine adoption, and clinical trials. These engaging and informative performances, created by local playwrights, are evidence-based and designed to be culturally and linguistically appropriate to the communities most affected by these cancers.
All English and Spanish performances are offered live (in-person performance by a professional actor/actress in front of an audience) and virtually (using pre-recorded versions of the performances). Videotaped versions of the monologues are available here:
Vietnamese performances are only available to view in the BCM Theater Outreach YouTube Channel Playlist and the Online Health Library. Live performances are not offered at this time. The Cervical and Colorectal Vietnamese Monologue Performances are being shown once per month in VieTV, a Vietnamese language broadcasting television network based in Houston, Texas.
The following are brief descriptions of the available monologues and plays, organized by topic (i.e., breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, HPV Vaccine, and Clinical Trials). Click here to view a printable flyer. Learn more about booking a performance here.
Breast Cancer Monologues
“Beauty from the Inside Out”
“No Será Mi Pesadilla"
"Pink Meets the Wise Wise East"
“Beauty from the Inside Out” is a 12-minute monologue performed in English. Maya has a beauty vlog. In her vlog, she demonstrates how to achieve a beautiful “smokey eye” makeup look while also raising awareness about breast cancer risk factors among African American women. Blending beauty tips with important health information, she emphasizes the importance of starting screening at age 40.
Target Audience: Black/African American women age 40+
Translated to “It Won’t Be My Nightmare”, is a 10-minute monologue performed in Spanish. As Lupita approaches her birthday, her conscience visits her in her dreams reminding her of the importance of breast cancer screening and highlighting that breast cancer remains the leading cause of death for Hispanic women in the United States.
Target Audience: Hispanic and Spanish-speaking women age 40+
“Pink Meets the Wise Wise East” is a 10-minute video in Vietnamese. It is only available for view on the YouTube Channel Playlist and the Online Health Library. In the story, Trinh, a successful middle-aged businesswoman, shares important breast health information to her aunts and several neighbors, raising awareness and educating the community.
Target Audience: Vietnamese-speaking women age 40+
Cervical Cancer Monologues
“A Well-Tuned Engine”
“Mi Decisión"
"My Friend's Health is My Business"
“A Well-Tuned Engine” is a 13-minute monologue performed in English. Becka Jackson, a 27-year-old African American assistant crew chief in the drag racing circuit, speaks to women at a health fair, encouraging them to start cervical cancer screenings at age 25.
Target Audience: Black/African American women age 25+
Translated to “My Decision,” is a 15-minute monologue performed in Spanish. Susana learns her friend Lupe is going to get screened for cervical cancer, prompting her to reflect on the decision to undergo screening herself.
Target Audience: Hispanic and Spanish-speaking women age 25+
“My Friends’ Health is My Business” is an 11-minute video in Vietnamese. It is only available for view on the YouTube Channel Playlist and the Online Health Library. Jenny Mai, a successful 28-year-old flight attendant, learns about the importance of cervical cancer screening at a seminar she attended. Now, she shares important facts about cervical cancer with the community at a local center, helping to raise awareness and encouraging people to take steps towards prevention.
Target Audience: Vietnamese-speaking women aged 25+
Colorectal Cancer Monologues
“The Bottom Line”
“La Vida es un Sueño”
“Uncle Vu Has the Answer”
“Educando a Papá”
“The Bottom Line” is a 17-minute monologue performed in English. Eddie T., a middle-aged grocery store manager, shares memories of his best friend Archie, who passed away from colorectal cancer. Eddie encourages African American women and men to begin screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 45.
Target Audience: Black/African American men and women aged 45+
Translated to “Life is a Dream”, this is a 12-minute monologue performed in Spanish. René, who is over 45, has postponed his colorectal cancer screening. One night, as he sleeps, he faces regret in a vivid dream where he thinks he has passed away due to not getting screened. Throughout his dream, he learns valuable information about the importance of colorectal cancer screening.
Target Audience: Hispanic and Spanish-speaking men and women age 45+
“Uncle Vu Has the Answer” is a 12-minute video in Vietnamese. It is only available for view on the YouTube Channel Playlist and the Online Health Library. Lonnie is a well-respected pharmacist at a major public health hospital. Over the past few years, he has noticed that many of the prescriptions filled for the Vietnamese clients have been for cancer; colorectal cancer specifically. Lonnie’s uncle Vu, who is 74 and actively health-conscious, has asked Lonnie to present much-needed information to a group at his social club.
Target Audience: Vietnamese-speaking men and women aged 45+
Translated to “Teaching Dad”, this is a 30-minute play performed in Spanish in front of a live audience only. Anita’s father is reluctant to get screened for colorectal cancer. Anita and her family work together to persuade him to get screened and share the importance of living a healthy life.
Target Audience: Hispanic and Spanish-speaking men and women age 45+
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Monologue
“Se Acabaron Las Vacaciones”
Translated to “Vacation is Over”, this is a 7-minute monologue performed in Spanish. The English version is only offered in hybrid format. During her vacation, Clara learns that the HPV vaccine can protect against HPV and the diseases it causes, including some types of cancer. Clara shares the importance of getting children vaccinated starting at age 9.
Target Audience: Hispanic and Spanish-speaking parents of young children and young adults
Clinical Trials
“A Win Win for Everyone”
“Todos Ganamos”
“A Win Win for Everyone” is 6-minute monologue performed in English. Ray calls his best friend Darryl to tell him about an exciting new exercise research study. He encourages him to participate by highlighting the importance for African Americans to be involved in clinical trials, emphasizing how their participation can make significant impact on health outcomes.
Target Audience: Black/African American men and women of all ages
Translated to “Everyone Wins,” this is 6-minute monologue performed in Spanish. Marvin calls his best friend Jose to tell him about a new exciting exercise research study. He encourages him to participate by highlighting the importance for Hispanics to be involved in clinical trials, emphasizing how their participation can make significant impact on health outcomes.
Target Audience: Hispanic and Spanish-speaking men and women of all ages