PlayhouseSquare Announces Slam U 2011

Slam U, a series of performance poetry workshops presented by the Community Engagement & Education Department at PlayhouseSquare, is a unique opportunity for high school students to speak their minds, hone their poetry-writing and performance skills and compete for a place on Cleveland's National Youth Poetry Slam Team that will travel to San Francisco for Brave New Voices, the 14th Annual National Youth Poetry Slam Festival, in July. Philanthropic support received by PlayhouseSquare provides for the team's travel and expenses.

Poetry slam is the competitive art of performance poetry. Emphasis is on both writing and performance. At a poetry slam, poets perform their work and members of the audience serve as judges.

"Slam U is about giving teens a voice, building their writing and speaking skills and encouraging them to be self-confident," explained Colleen Porter, director of community engagement & education at PlayhouseSquare. "Over the past few years, we've added more structure to the program which enables students to take on leadership roles in paid positions. We are proud to see them grow with us."

A writing workshop will be held on Friday, January 28 and a performance workshop will be held on Friday, February 25. At the workshop, teens will work with a teaching artist and peer coaches to develop their skills and prepare for the competition that will be held on April 8 and April 15 (semi-finals), and April 29 (finals). Six finalists will be chosen to represent Cleveland at the National Youth Poetry Slam.

To complement Slam U, the Community Engagement & Education Department is offering after-school drop-in sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6:30 p.m. during February and March. Adult and peer coaches will be available, and students can write, practice performing, learn to use a microphone and share ideas.

The public is welcome to attend the Slam U Semi-Final and Final events. Admission is free.

PlayhouseSquare Slam U Calendar

January 28, 2011
6:30 - 7:00 p.m. Free Pizza
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Writing workshop

February 25, 2011
6:30 - 7:00 p.m. Free Pizza
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Performance workshop

April 8, 2011
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Semi-Finals Part I

April 15, 2011
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Semi-Finals Part II

April 29, 2011
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. FINALS

PlayhouseSquare understands its vital role as an educator in our community, and is committed to providing arts learning opportunities of the highest quality to enrich the lives of students, families, teachers and adults. PlayhouseSquare's Community Engagement & Education Department is unique in the performing arts industry for the variety of programs it offers, the partnerships it initiates and the access it provides students, educators and aspiring artists to performing arts professionals. Since its inception in 1998, the Community Engagement & Education Department has offered thousands of events, workshops, classes and more, most with minimal or no fees, to people of all ages from all areas of Northeast Ohio. The generous support of individual and corporate donors and foundations makes it all possible.

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