As WordXWord gears up for the week-long festival in August, it closes out the “preseason” with a quartet of events: Poetry Slams on July 8 and July 29 at the Whitney Center for the Arts; and Story Slams on July 10 at the Whitney Center for the Arts and July 31 at The Mount in Lenox. Admission to all events is free.
A poetry slam is a rollicking, friendly competition in which poets have 3 minutes to perform their work. The content – frequently “edgy” – is as likely to address contemporary social issues as it is to revolve around inner turmoil! To top it all off, volunteer judges from the audience have the futile task of assigning numbers to art.
In a story slam, storytellers have five-minutes to tell their true story, relevant to the announced theme. As in a poetry slam, stories are scored by volunteer judges from the audience. Typical story slams are fast paced and high spirited with widely ranging responses to the prompt.
July 8, 7 PM
Poetry Slam at The Whitney Center for the Arts
42 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA
July 10, 7 PM
Story Slam – “Money” at The Whitney Center for the Arts
42 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA
July 29, 7 PM
Poetry Slam Semi Finals at The Whitney Center for the Arts
42 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA
July 31, 7 PM
Story Slam Semi Finals at The Mount
2 Plunkett St., Lenox, MA
Admission to all events is free. Parents of younger children are advised that these events may contain salty language and content more appropriate for mature audiences. More info at wXw365.org.
WordXWord uses spoken word, poetry and storytelling in shared space and time to celebrate diversity and creativity, empower the individual, foster understanding and empathy, and make real human connections.
