They're at it again. Teenagers from all over Washington state will declaim, recite, spout and vent this Saturday at the University of Puget Sound. Teenage angst? No, the state finals of the annual Poetry Out Loud contest.
Poetry Out Loud is an NEA-cosponsored competition encouraging students around the country to read more poetry. Around 225,000 kids competed this year, including six Pierce County high schools. Of the thousands from Washington, 12 finalists will get up onstage at Schneebeck Hall and recite selections from classic and contemporary poems. The winner will receive $200, with an extra $500 for his/her school to buy poetry books, and go on to the national finals in Washington, D.C. on April 26-29 to compete for $50,000 in prize money and scholarships.
The two local state finalists this year are Olivia Seward of Stadium High School, and Amanda Welch from Puyallup High School. Seward, 16, is a former State winner (2007), and traveled to Washington, D.C. last April in that capacity to present for the NEA to the House Appropriations Committee. A local actor and singer (Tacoma Little Theatre, Lakewood Playhouse, Tacoma Opera), Seward will compete this year against last year's state champion BreAnna Jones, of Yakima, and 2008 competitors Sara Pittman (Yakima) and Kevin Ma (Spokane). Special guests will include Washington State Poet Laureate Samuel Green and the Kareem Kandi Band.
Poetry Out Loud is co-sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, Washington State Arts Commission, and the Poetry Foundation.
Why read poetry?
“Reciting poetry brings it to life!” explained Seward, in a story I wrote last year. “I love English class, but reading poetry in a book can be immensely boring. It’s just like Shakespeare – it’s meant to be read aloud.”
The state Poetry Out Loud finals will be held from 1-5 p.m. at Schneebeck Hall at UPS, off Union Street at North 15th, on March 7. Entry is free. There's a performance afterward by hip-hop artist Bruce George at 7:30 p.m., tickets $5.