The 11th Annual IRA Poetry Olio Extravaganza
Fairmont Royal York - Ballroom
Wednesday, May 16, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Presenter(s): Sara Holbrook;
Allan Wolf; John Archambault; Karen Alexander; Nile Stanley; Lee Bennett
Hopkins; Jane Yolen
Join us for a wonderful
evening of verse presented by a variety of voices, old and
new, from the world of children's poetry. The 11th Annual IRA
Poetry Olio will showcase a line-up of featured presenters
interspersed with open mic readings by members of the
audience. This year we will also honor Lee Bennett Hopkins and
Jane Yolen for their significant contributions to the world of
young people's poetry. This year's Olio celebration will
include poetry book giveaways, a cash bar, and a few
surprises.
Those who have attended past
Olios will notice a few new faces and a lot of new poetry. The
event will be MCd by poets Sara Holbrook and Allan Wolf. Olio
founders and past co-chairs, Nile Stanley and Karen Alexander,
will be presented with a special gift. All featured slots are
determined in advance. A limited number of open-mic poets will
be chosen randomly from a hat. |
Poetry
Olio
o-li-o Pronunciation: (O'LE-O) n., -pl. o-li-os.
- a
dish of many ingredients.
- a
medley of potpourri, as of musical or literary selections;
miscellany.
a. a specialty act performed
downstage while the upstage set is changed.
b. a performance, as a musical number, presented between
scenes or acts.
c. a variety of program acts, especially the second half
of a minstrel show.
At
the 1997 Annual Convention of the International Reading Association
in Atlanta, Georgia I and poet Karen Alexander organized the
first Poetry Olio, a celebration of children's poetry. The
olio continues to grow in popularity as does the national
poetry scene of open-mike nights at coffee houses and bookstores.
Now a tradition, the olio continues to do what it started -
provide an open forum for the celebration of poetry. Poetry is
best received when it is heard and experienced as performance.
The olio brought together a variety of cross-cultural people
passionate about poetry. From the accomplished, road weary
performer, to the famous author, to the classroom teacher, the
librarian, and the dabbling writer--all came for the love of
poetry.
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