Word Power! Open Mic

press release:

Word Power Grand Slam Finals | Friday, April 28, 2017, at 7 p.m. | Overture Center – Promenade Hall

This event is free and open to the public but space is limited. Seating will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Two round poetry slam with 18 Madison student poets in the first round with the top ten advancing to the second round. Students must perform two original poems (maximum three minutes and thirty seconds). Their poems will be judged be a panel of five people on a scale of 0-10 with the highest and lowest scores dropped and the three in the middle added together. Top six students in the slam will earn spots to represent Madison at the Brave New Voices International Poetry Festival in San Francisco, California.

On various Fridays during the school year, the JVN Project will be hosting the Word Power! Open Mic/Poetry Slam. This year's locations include the Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St. (Oct. 14, Dec. 9, Feb. 24, May 26); Lussier Community Education Center (Nov. 4, Jan. 20, March 24); and Overture Center (April 28), all from 6:30p-9:00p.

The event is for youth between the ages of 13-19, but of course adults are more than welcome to come watch and support. There will be an open mic where youth will be able to get on stage and share poetry, songs, play an instrument, do a dance, etc. There will also be a two round poetry slam. Where students must perform two original poems that are no longer than three minutes and thirty seconds. Their poems will be judged be a panel of five people on a scale of 0-10 with the highest and lowest scores dropped and the three in the middle added together. A perfect score being 30.0. The top four students in the slam will earn spots to compete for a chance to represent Madison at the Brave New Voices International Poetry Festival. This is the first chance to qualify for a spot in the Madison Finals happening in April at the Overture Center!

The event is FREE! Even if you do not wish to compete or share a poem we need judges and audience members. So please come out and support these talented and amazing young artists!