Urbana Poetry

eatured some of the biggest names: Billy Collins, Patricia Smith, Galway Kinnell, Sage Francis, Saul Williams, Rachel McKibbens, Willie Perdomo and almost every National Slam Champion EVER!! Yet we remain a warm and welcoming venue for all kinds of poetic voices: POLITICAL, CONFESSIONAL, and yes, even NERDY and HILARIOUS. Founded at age of 19 by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (the youngest Slammaster ever!) in the wake of Mouth Almighty Records, the series has actually won the National Poetry Slam championship a record THREE TIMES. We were also the FIRST EVER National Poetry Slam Group Piece Champions!

::2012-2013 URBANA POETRY SLAM SCHEDULE::

09/04/12 Invitational iWPS Qual No Feature
09/11/12 Open Slam 1.1 PATRICIA SMITH
09/18/12 Open Slam 1.2 EBONI HOGAN
09/25/12 NO SHOW OFF No Feature
10/02/12 Open Slam 1.3 JEFFREY MCDANIEL
10/09/12 Open Slam 1.4 DERRICK BROWN
10/16/12 Open Slam 1.5 KEN ARKIND
10/23/12 Semifinal S1 LYNNE PROCOPE
10/30/12 NO SHOW OFF No Feature
11/06/12 Open Slam 2.1 ETHAN RIVERA
11/13/12 Open Slam 2.2 SOPHIA HOLTZ
11/20/12 Open Slam 2.3 SAM SAX
11/27/12 NO SHOW OFF No Feature
12/04/12 Open Slam 2.4 MIKE MCGEE
12/11/12 Open Slam 2.5 CHRIS AUGUST
12/18/12 Semifinal S2 ROGER BONAIR-AGARD
12/25/12 NO SHOW OFF No Feature
01/01/13 NO SHOW OFF No Feature
01/08/13 Invitational WOWps Qual No Feature
01/15/13 Open Slam 3.1 STEVIE EDWARDS
01/22/13 Open Slam 3.2 SUZI Q
01/29/13 Open Slam 3.3 ADAM SHADOKAT BOWSER
02/05/13 Invitational W&YI SIMONE BEAUBIEN
02/12/13 Open Slam 3.4 OCEAN VUONG
02/19/13 Open Slam 3.5 SARAH KAY
02/26/13 Open Slam 3.6 HOUSTON HUGHES
03/05/13 Semifinal S3 CRISTIN O'KEEFE APTOWICZ
03/12/13 Open Slam 4.1 WILLIAM EVANS
03/19/13 Open Slam 4.2 FRANNY CHOI
03/26/13 Theme Slam Decathlon No Feature
04/02/13 Open Slam 4.3 MARTY MCCONNELL
04/09/13 Open Slam 4.4 MIKUMARI
04/16/13 Open Slam 4.5 AL ORTOLANI
04/23/13 Open Slam 4.6 RACHEL WILEY
04/30/13 Semifinal S4 OMOIZELE OZ OKOAWO
05/07/13 MegaQuasi MQS No Feature
05/14/12 Finals FNL No Feature Here's what a typical night at Urbana is like (sometimes we mix up the format, but this is usually it): poets sign-up for the eight-poet Open Mic or the eight-poet Open Slam between 6:30 PM and 7:00 PM. At 7:00 PM exactly, all slots are filled randomly by computer. Signing up is *not* a guarantee that you will be able to read. We typically have more poets than open slots so sometimes you must be part of the "great audience that great poetry requires." At 7:01 PM we begin the Open Mic which is immediately followed by our feature who performs a 15- to 20-minute set. (Urbana does not book "local" features; our features are all from out-of-town, and most have been enlisted from their appearances at the National Poetry Slam.) After a break (during which five audience members are chosen randomly to serve as judges) the slam begins. SLAMS: They're competitive, sure, but URBANA SLAMS are also supportive and inclusive. All kinds of poetry are welcome. Memorization is not required. New work is hugely supported (and required if you make it to Round 2 in an Open Slam!). Open Slam winners move on to Semifinal Slams and Semifinal winners move on to compete in Finals in an effort to earn a slot on the NYC-Urbana NPS Team. For specific rules and information on earning points, please contact our Slammaster, Jeanann Verlee at [jeaverlee (at) hotmail (dot) com] or at [urbanaslammaster (at) gmail (dot) com]. Is there a prize for winning an Urbana Poetry Slam? Each Open Slam WINNER will receive a GOLDEN TICKET! (Well, what the heck is that good for?) FREE ADMISSION to Urbana Poetry Slam...for the rest of the season! (Winner must present the Golden Ticket at the door for every slam.) ONLY slam winners qualify for the Golden Ticket – they are NOT for sale! So get your best poems ready, come out to Urbana and SLAM to WIN!! Have more questions? Reach out to our Slammaster, Jeanann Verlee at [jeaverlee (at) hotmail (dot) com] OR at [urbanaslammaster (at) gmail (dot) com]. Thanks for your interest in Urbana Poetry Slam!!