Friday, December 16 from 6-7pm @ The Wealthy Theatre Annex (1110 Wealthy St. SE)
The middle school students have been hard at work in their collaboration with Triumph Music Academy for next Friday’s spoken word event.
“That sounded great,” James Hughes, the owner of Triumph Music Academy, said following the rehearsal in the first week of December. And he wasn’t kidding–the Triumph students created musical pieces to highlight the mood created in each of the CYC kids’ spoken word poems, featuring a sleigh bell in one poem where a student wishes to “rain Poptarts over the homeless,” while the subject of bullying received more ominous tones from a guitar.
This collaboration explores how the combination of poetry and music can create a more powerful experience for an audience than either art form might accomplish on its own. The project has drawn the eye of Michigan Radio which will feature pieces by reporter Dustin Dwyer, who hopes to improve economic opportunities for low-income children. Dwyer sat in on the rehearsal session to get a behind-the-scenes look (and listen).
With all the publicity surrounding the event, excited murmurs filled the CYC the night of the rehearsal. “We’re gonna be famous!” one student exclaimed.
Local poet Annie Livingston even made an appearance to provide examples of how to perform a spoken word piece, reciting from her own work. When asked by one student if she gets nervous before performing, Livingston replied, “This is the most nervous I’ve been in a long time.” Though the response was in good humor, it shows the guts it takes for these kids to perform their poetry for an audience, which is all the more reason to come enjoy this event.
Needless to say, these kids have been working their butts off. So spread the word, and come check out this FREE event next Friday! You won’t want to miss it. (There’s also limited seating. Race your neighbors to the show.)
Friday, December 16 from 6-7pm @ The Wealthy Theatre Annex (1110 Wealthy St. SE)