Slam U

We’re pleased to announce a new format for our Slam U program. To make it possible for more teens to participate, our focus will be on helping schools create and develop their own slam poetry programs. The structure may be changing, but the goal is still the same: to give teens the opportunity to speak their minds, build skills for the future and affect change.

If you are an educator at a high school and would like to create a slam poetry program at your school, or build upon the one you already have, we can help! Contact us at 216-348-7909 or at artseducation@playhousesquare.org. Participation is completely free and includes professional development for you, workshops for your students, materials and, if you are part of a Partners in Performance school district, the potential for transportation subsidy.

Are you a high school student interested in slam poetry? Encourage your favorite teacher to give us a call about getting your school involved! We will be holding workshops in January and February that you will be able to participate in regardless of whether or not your school has become one of our Slam U partners.

We know what you’re thinking: “this sounds great, but what about the team that PlayhouseSquare sends to Brave New Voices?” Each Slam U partner school will hold its own competition to determine the student that will represent his or her school at the Slam U Finals at PlayhouseSquare. We will host a Semi-Final round of competition for teens (ages 14-19) not affiliated with a school team. As always, at the Finals, six teens will be chosen to represent Cleveland at the International Youth Poetry Slam, Brave New Voices.