Sign-up for the Readings Against the End of the World 24-hour open mic at the 2019 Word Fest is now open!
To kick off the 2019 Word Fest Albany Poets and the UAlbany Writing Center are presenting Readings Against the End of the World, a 24-hour read-a-thon to benefit the South End Children’s Cafe.
All word-lovers and writers are invited to share readings – original work or favorite passages, poems and rants, raps and stories, spoken word and personal visions- enough to fill twenty-four hours the power of words. The event will begin Friday, April 12 at the Husted Hall Café on the UAlbany Downtown campus, and will continue until Saturday, April 13.
This year’s event will host several special segments including midnight theatre, a morning youth reading, and a performance by The Unbearables.
Players in Search of an Audience, A Theatrical Potluck
Saturday, April 13 Midnight – 2:00 a.m.
Readings, Theater Games, Impromptu Performances, Bewitching Fun for the Witching Hour!
The second annual Midnight Theatre event is a tribute to the power of storytelling and collaborative art. Our 12:00 am reading will leave you asking many questions including, “How far would you go to protect your stories?”
Young Writers Make a Difference!
Saturday, April 13 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Parents sign up children under 16 for one half-hour block between 9 and 11 (6 readers per half-hour). Young writers may read prose, poetry, or a favorite author. Please make sure your young writer’s material is appropriate for a youth audience. Sign-up by sending an email to prose.poetry.and.more@gmail.com with parent’s name, writer’s name and age, and a first and second choice of time slots.
The Unbearables
Saturday, April 13 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Unbearables, the legendary New York City poetry group, will be closing out the 2019 Readings Against the End of the World with a special spoken word performance. Founder Ron Kolm will be joined on stage by members Sparrow, Jim Feast, Carl Watson, Bonny Finberg, and Jill Rapaport.
Poets who want to participate in the open mic can sign up by CLICKING HERE, starting today, Monday, April 1 until Thursday, April 11. Each poet will have 10 minutes to share their work.
Performers may also have a limited opportunity to sign up at the event itself. The open mic is open to all poets and spoken word artists with no style or content restrictions.
Questions, trouble signing up? Email albanypoets@gmail.com and we will be happy to help.
