GREETINGS! We're NYC-URBANA!!
We are a weekly POETRY SLAM which currently calls the BOWERY POETRY CLUB (in New York City) its home. Urbana rocks it every Tuesday night at the club and are open to all kinds of poets. Admission is $7 (unless its the night of a semifinal, in which case its $10).
We're a QUIRKY ECCENTRIC series which has spent the last EIGHT YEARS dedicated to showcasing the MOST INNOVATIVE VOICES IN POETRY!
We've featured some of the biggest names in poetry: Billy Collins, Patricia Smith, Galway Kinnell, Sage Francis, Saul Williams, and almost every national slam slam champion EVER!!
And yet we remain a warm and humble venue for all kinds of poetic voices: POLITICAL, CONFESSIONAL, MUSICAL ... and yes, even NERDY and HILARIOUS.
Founded by at age 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 (1997, 2000, 2002). And like the Kracken, we are waiting to consume MORE!
If you've never been to a poetry slam, here's what a typical night is like: poets sign-up for the eight-poet open mic (if we have one that night) or the eight-poet open slam (if we have one that night) 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. Sometimes you must be part of the "great audience that great poetry requires."
At 7:01 pm Shappy, our bartender and hilarious emcee, welcomes everyone and facilitates the eight-poet open mic. Without a break, the feature is introduced to perform a 15- to 20-minute set. [Urbana does not book "local" features; our features are all from out-of-town, and most have made a name for themselves 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 (but it totally helps!). Open slam winners read at quarterly semifinal slams in an effort to reach the finals in May.
To join Urbana's weekly mailing list, write to NYC_Urbana-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
AND THANKS FOR VISITING!!
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NYC-Urbana 10th Anniversary: GROUP PIECES
Containing the best group pieces and music-backed poems to come out of Urbana over the course of its 10-year history! Produced specifically for NYC-Urbana’s 10th Anniversary Show in December 2007, you’ll hear favorite poems from The Suicide Kings, Shappy (with Station Wagon), Alexis O’Hara (and her Loop Station), not to mention all of the best group pieces ever recorded by the most successful poetry slam series in history !
NYC-Urbana 10th Anniversary: The INDIE Pieces
Quite simply, the best individual poems ever recorded at NYC-Urbana, the winningest poetry slam series in the history of the genre. Includes poems by Celena Glenn, Jeffrey McDaniel, Rachel McKibbens, Rives, Beau Sia, Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz, Taylor Mali, Anis Mojgani, and many more!
Best of Urbana 4 CD Set: 2001 to 2004
The first four Best of Urbana CDs (76 tracks!) all together for a bargain price of $30! Particularly useful for forensics teams that are looking for good poems to use in competition. Enjoy some of the best spoken word poets on the poetry slam scene performing at the most successful poetry slam series in the history of slam: NYC-Urbana! Poets include Regie Gibson, Patricia Smith, Jeffrey McDaniel, Celena Glenn, Beau Sia, Alexis O’Hara, Shappy, Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz, Galway Kinnell, Rachel McKibbens, Billy Collins, Dawn Saylor, Mike Henry,Corinna Bain, Sage Francis, Queen Sheba, Rives, Andrea Gibson, Taylor Mali, Kid Beyond, The Suicide Kings, and many more! Also includes several team pieces and duets!
Attack of the Urbanabots! Best of Urbana 2005 to 2006
The newest compilation of spoken word and poetry from the most successful poetry slam series in the history of the poetry slam: NYC-Urbana! A big hit with speech & debate teams and students looking for pieces to cover in the National Recitation Contest. Includes memorable tracks by well known spoken word artists such as Sonya Renee, Buddy Wakefield, Andrea Gibson, Anis Mojgani, Christa Bell, Beau Sia, Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz, Taylor Mali, Iyeoka Okaowo and many more!
