Poetry slams have come a long way since 1985, when members of the Chicago Poetry Ensemble started read-ing their work at the old Get Me High Lounge in Bucktown. Today there are poetry slams in every city large enough to support a coffeehouse or two. The National Poetry Slam began 14 years ago, when Chicago poetry-slam pioneer Marc Smith and some local colleagues went to San Francisco to face off against their Bay Area counterparts. When the event was last held in Chicago in 1999, 48 teams from around the U.S. and Canada took part; this year more than 250 North American spoken-word practitioners will be joined by noncompeting guests from France, Germany, and Switzerland.
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The 14th Annual National Poetry Slam runs through August 9 at various venues around town. Preliminary and semifinal bouts take place Thursday and Friday at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division, 773-296-1500; Filter, 1585 N. Milwaukee, 773-227-4850; the Note, 1565 N. Milwaukee, 773-489-0011; Phyllis’ Musical Inn, 1800 W. Division, 773-486-9862; Subterranean Cafe & Cabaret, 2011 W. North, 773-278-6600; and the Vittum Theater at the Northwestern University Settlement House, 1012 N. Noble, 773-278-7471.
Workshops, Slams, and Showcases
FRIDAY, AUGUST 8
Individual Finals
Nerd Slam
