Listings For July

Listings After July

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Weekly or Monthly Events

The Nebraska Center for Writers

American Life in Poetry: A column by Ted Kooser

The Nebraska Arts Council

The Nebraska Humanities Council

Nebraska Center for the Book

Nebraskans For The Arts

Plains Humanities Alliance

The Lincoln Arts Council

John H. Ames Reading Series

Omaha Healing Arts Center Poetry Events:
OmahaSlam.com

Tuesdays With Writers

The Creighton Reading Series

the Clean Part Reading Series

the no name reading series

Nebraska Shakespeare Festival

The Backwaters Press

Logan House Press

Sandhills Press

Bradypress

Nebraska Literary Heritage Association

The Nebraska Library Commission

Omaha Public Library

A Novel Idea Bookstore

The Neihardt State Historic Site

The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City

PS Collective

Brownville Lyceum

Nebraska Writers Guild

Poetryslam.com

The Morpo Review

Poets Against The War

For US and worldwide poetry listings, go to The Poetry Kit

Whisper From The Heart poetry club (from Africa, mostly student-centered)

Prairie Moon Reading & Music News (Lincoln-area readings)

InTheO.com Omaha events

Omaha Nightlife

Slam Omaha
with Poetry discussion on the Art board

MidVerse.com

July

Event of the Month:7/26, The First Annual Last Bash At Kuzma's, A Fundraiser for The Backwaters Press at The Fabled Greg Kuzma residence

• 7/3-7/6, Th-Su-- 7pm, The Nebraska Shakespeare Festival's Shakespeare on the Green in Elmwood Park (south of 60th and Dodge, Omaha). Much Ado About Nothing June 19-22, July 2 & 5 and King Lear June 26-29, July 3 & 6. Towne Square Music and Greenshow begins at 7pm, Performance at 8pm.

• 7/7, M-- 7pm, The Crescent Moon Reading Series at Crescent Moon Coffee (816 P St, Lincoln, 402/435-2828). There will be an open mic as well as featured readers TBA. If you need further info on Crescent Moon reading events, contact Jeff Martinson at crescentmoon@inebraska.com. (every Monday)

• 7/8, Tu-- 9pm, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off II at Shea Riley's (320 S 72nd St, 504-4434). An evening of poetry, comedy and chaos the way it was meant to be seen: in a bar with 50 of your closest friends! See why our regulars think this is the best free show in Omaha. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Bad Andy and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's SLAM scene and free drinks prizes await you. (every Tuesday)

• 7/9, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 7/10, Th-- 6:30-8:30 (poetry at 7:30), "Tunes in the Town Square" in downtown Ralston, featuring live music, hotdogs, as well as a featured poet each week. This week features Marissa Gill.

• 7/10, Th-- 7pm, the Star City Slam at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (16th and South Streets, Lincoln). Poetry: the full-contact Olympic sport. Open signup begins at 6:30pm. Show up early as we will be denoucing poet time and starting the slam promptly at 7pm. (I'm serious.) Admission is FREE - donations encouraged. Call 570-1619 or go to www.myspace.com/starcityslam for more information. (2nd Thursday)

• 7/11, F-- 7pm, Open Mic Poetry Night at A to Z Books (507 North Jeffers, North Platte) -- ultra large bookstore. It's a fun, funny, widely varied group. Poems can be short or long, funny or touching, rhymed or free verse. Musicians too. George Lauby of The North Platte Bulletin emcees and makes you feel comfortable. (2nd and 4th Friday).

• 7/12, Sa-- 2-4pm, Its a family event at Love's Jazz & Arts Center (24th & Lake Streets). This one-of -a kind venue is geared around the needs of our seniors & children who have as much to contribute to the Spoken Word stage as any of us. Join us for "G" rated poems and Fun, Fun, and more profound inspiration from some of Omaha's legendary wordsmiths. For more information: Neville Murray, director of LJAC 402-502-5291 OR Empowerment Services for Youth, Director -Mrs. T. Nedds 402-612-0986. (2nd and 4th Saturday)

• 7/12, Sa-- 7:30pm, the Omaha Healing Arts Center Poetry Slam and open mic (1216 Howard, Omaha). It's the longest-running slam in Omaha, often featuring some of the best performance poets in the nation. Open mic starts at 7:30 followed by the slam, show early as signup is limited. Hosted by Matt Mason. $7 suggested donation. Call 345-5078 or go to OmahaSlam.com for more information. (2nd Saturday of every month)

• 7/14, M-- 7pm, The Crescent Moon Reading Series at Crescent Moon Coffee (816 P St, Lincoln, 402/435-2828). There will be an open mic as well as featured readers TBA. If you need further info on Crescent Moon reading events, contact Jeff Martinson at crescentmoon@inebraska.com. (every Monday)

• 7/15, Tu-- 5pm workshop, 6pm reading, the High School Ink Slingers' Slam at the Omaha Public Library's Swanson branch (9101 W. Dodge Rd., 402/444-4852). There will be a workshop from 5-5:45pm, the slam will start at 6pm. The first 6 poets that sign up will be guaranteed a spot to perform, the rest will be chosen using a lottery system. (Max. 12-14 poets) SO GET THERE EARLY!!! This is for grades 9-12 only, 2 rounds, 3-minute time limit, a trophy, refreshments, good people. Expression Is Powerful, so utilize this opportunity to express yourself, affect your peers, or to just entertain them! Hosted by Kayla Ostronic. If you have any questions, e-mail KaylaO410@aol.com. (3rd Tuesday of every month)

• 7/15, Tu-- 9pm, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off II at Shea Riley's (320 S 72nd St, 504-4434). An evening of poetry, comedy and chaos the way it was meant to be seen: in a bar with 50 of your closest friends! See why our regulars think this is the best free show in Omaha. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Bad Andy and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's SLAM scene and free drinks prizes await you. (every Tuesday)

• 7/16, W-- 7-8:30pm, The Champions' Club: an open mic followed by a four-person invitational slam at Mick's Music & Bar (5918 Maple Street, Omaha). This event is free. (1st and 3rd Wednesdays)

• 7/16, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 7/17, Th-- 6:30-8pm, "Poetry In Motion," a Spoken Word, Open Mic, Jazz Music, Spiritual experience at Love's Jazz & Art Center (2510 N. 24th St, Omaha), hosted by Michelle Troxclair. Free tickets are available to members of the Love Jazz & Art Center, otherwise only $4. For membership info call 502-5315. Food and beverages served. (3rd Thursday)

• 7/17, Th-- 6:30-8:30 (poetry at 7:30), "Tunes in the Town Square" in downtown Ralston, featuring live music, hotdogs, as well as a featured poet each week. This week features Shalah Dare.

• 7/17, Th-- 7pm, Poetry Slam at Jones Coffee (11th & G Streets, Lincoln). Tryst the Assassin and your friends at the Star City Slam present a second occasion every month to prove once and for all that you're better than your friends by getting better scores from strangers in a coffee shop who decide to skip Grey's Anatomy and suckered into being judges at a poetry slam. Come join us as we double the size awesomeness by slamming our faces off! (3rd Thursday)

• 7/19, Sa-- 1-3pm, Mojo's Saturday Poetry Magazine at Mojo's Coffee House (4826 Dodge St, Omaha). Led by David "The Professor" Hufford, bring your new poems, seasonal poems, topical poems, summer poems, incidental poems, experimental poems, hot, sweaty poems, funny poems, academic poems, form poems, and other poems with "juice." For more information, email DavidPHufford@yahoo.com. (3rd Saturday)

• 7/21, M-- 7pm, The Crescent Moon Reading Series at Crescent Moon Coffee (816 P St, Lincoln, 402/435-2828). There will be an open mic as well as featured readers TBA. If you need further info on Crescent Moon reading events, contact Jeff Martinson at crescentmoon@inebraska.com. (every Monday)

• 7/22, Tu-- 9pm, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off II at Shea Riley's (320 S 72nd St, 504-4434). An evening of poetry, comedy and chaos the way it was meant to be seen: in a bar with 50 of your closest friends! See why our regulars think this is the best free show in Omaha. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Bad Andy and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's SLAM scene and free drinks prizes await you. (every Tuesday)

• 7/23, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 7/24, Th-- 6:30-8:30 (poetry at 7:30), "Tunes in the Town Square" in downtown Ralston, featuring live music, hotdogs, as well as a featured poet each week. This week features Omaha firefighter and cowboy poet David Mann.

• 7/25, F-- 7pm, Open Mic Poetry Night at A to Z Books (507 North Jeffers, North Platte) -- ultra large bookstore. It's a fun, funny, widely varied group. Poems can be short or long, funny or touching, rhymed or free verse. Musicians too. George Lauby of The North Platte Bulletin emcees and makes you feel comfortable. (2nd and 4th Friday).

• 7/26, Sa-- 4pm-?, The First Annual Last Bash At Kuzma's, A Fundraiser for The Backwaters Press at The Fabled Greg Kuzma residence (118 South Boswell, Crete) with 4 Poets Laureate in attendance (former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser; Poet Laureate of Kansas, Denise Low; Susan Firer, the Poet Laureate of Milwaukee; and Aaron Anstett, the Pike's Peak Area Poet Laureate!). Our goal is to raise at least $5,000 to cover production costs for 20 books in 2008 in order to keep on bringing great poetry to a poetry-hungry nation! Friends, you've seen them sitting dejectedly in their cubicles, or staring blankly at the traffic lights, forlorn looks on their faces-you know what they need-Poetry! And you know how you can get poetry to them-The Backwaters Press! For nearly 12 years The Backwaters Press has been waging the fight against the POETRY VOID that threatens to engulf our nation. The National Society for Filling Poetry Voids, or NSFPV, has recently completed painstaking studies that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that HELPING THE BACKWATERS PRESS MEET ITS FUNDRAISING GOALS will be instrumental in disabling the Void! Yes, YOU can make a difference! How to do this remarkable feat, you might ask-well, easy: PARTY! Simplistic as it may sound, the NSFPV has determined through rigorous research, conducted at our secret underground Poetry Laboratory, that if you go to The Backwaters Press website at www.thebackwaterspress.com, get your checkbook out and send in a check for at least $50, ($75 for couples) or, donate at least $50 (couples rule applies) with our secure DONATION BUTTON, that you will be able to receive tickets from the press, and a map to Greg Kuzma's house, where you will be able to FILL THAT ACHING IN YOUR HEART FOR POETRY-RELATED PARTIES and also help The Backwaters Press meet its fundraising goals. If you would like to donate any amount to help CRUSH THE POETRY VOID and stand side-by-side in spirit with others who would also like to help The Backwaters Press meet its fundraising goals, the researchers at the NSFPV will understand-But if you can come to the party, we would love to see you there!! Party highlights include: Free, signed copies of Greg Kuzma's All That Is Not Given is Lost, Poetry reading by Greg Kuzma and others, Music provided by Satchel Grande, Full spread of party food in the Greg Kuzma party tradition, Full array of liquid refreshments, Poetry and prose readings from The Seven Doctors Project for UNMC, Silent auction of rare literary articles, artwork from renowned artists, and other valuable items.

• 7/26, Sa-- 2pm, Poetry roundtable at Blue Bottle Coffeehouse (508 N. Main St. Fremont, 402/941-2583). (Last Saturday)

• 7/26, Sa-- 6-8:00pm, it's an open mic event with the X Poetry CommUNITY at Malcolm's House on the Malcolm X birthsite grounds (35th and Malcolm X Ave. Bedford Gate). There will be an open mic as well as a poet feature. Hosted by prahduct. and God's Gift. Admission: $5 w/o canned good, $3 with two canned goods. For further info contact God's Gift at ywright08@yahoo.com or prahduct. at productoftha88@yahoo.com, (402)659-8353. (Every 2nd and 4th Saturday)

• 7/28, M-- POSTPONED, No Naked Words Open Mike this month at the Benson Grind (6107 Maple Street, Omaha, 932-4040). Email prairie.sky@gmail.com for more information. (last Monday)

• 7/28, M-- 7pm, The Crescent Moon Reading Series at Crescent Moon Coffee (816 P St, Lincoln, 402/435-2828). There will be an open mic as well as featured reader Michael Neddermeyer, reading from his new book Poetical Imperfections. Books will be available for purchase. For questions or info on the book, email Michael at viciouspoet@live.com. If you need further info on Crescent Moon reading events, contact Jeff Martinson at crescentmoon@inebraska.com. (every Monday)

• 7/29, Tu-- 9pm, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off II at Shea Riley's (320 S 72nd St, 504-4434). An evening of poetry, comedy and chaos the way it was meant to be seen: in a bar with 50 of your closest friends! See why our regulars think this is the best free show in Omaha. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Bad Andy and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's SLAM scene and free drinks prizes await you. (every Tuesday)

• 7/30, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 7/31, Th-- 6:30-8:30 (poetry at 7:30), "Tunes in the Town Square" in downtown Ralston, featuring live music, hotdogs, as well as a featured poet each week. This week features Roy Reichle.

• 7/31, Th-- 7pm, Poetry Slam in Vermillion, SD at the Coffee Shop Gallery (24 W Main Street). $5 at the door. Sponsored by the Vermillion Literary Project. For more information, see http://www.usd.edu/orgs/projlit/vlpslam.cfm (last Thursday of the month)

• 7/31, Th-- 7-8:30pm, the Park Teen Center Underground Open Mike Coffeehouse Night. Open mic/slam poetry/hot cocoa/coffee/acoustic music for Grades 8 thru 12 at Park School (855 S 8th St (basement of the school), Lincoln). For more info, call 402/441-9471. $1 cover. (last Thursday of the month)

Coming Up:

• 9/12-13, F-Sa-- 7:30pm, Opera Omaha presents The Blizzard Voices, Friday at the Holland Center (1200 Douglas St., Omaha) and Saturday at the Iowa Western Art Center (2700 College Road, Council Bluffs, IA). During his tenure as Artistic Director, Stewart Robertson became intrigued by Ted Kooser’s account of the Blizzard of 1888, the Children’s Blizzard. Resulting in the kind of work that only Stewart could conceive, The Blizzard Voices is a dramatic oratorio for orchestra, chorus and six vocal soloists. Ted Kooser’s poetic retelling of this powerful story forms the basis for the libretto that composer Paul Moravec crafted into a gripping and poignant evening of music theater.Tickets go on sale July 1.

• 9/14, Su-- the Omaha Public Library's Cash for Your Words Poetry Bash for Teens at the W. Dale Clark (Main) Library (215 South 15th St., 444-4800). Details coming soon on these annual contests for written and performed original poetry by students grades 7-12.

• 9/19-20, F-Sa-- the (downtown) Omaha Lit Fest. Panel discussions will include: writing about art in contemporary fiction; songwriting; writing about music; print vs. web; etc. We'll also have some satellite events through the month of September that we'll let you know about soon. (Website updated soon, too! Promise!)Schedule of events coming soon, check omahalitfest.com for details.

• 10/9-11, Th-Sa-- the 13th Annual Plum Creek Children's Literacy Festival at Concordia University (Seward). "Each year thousands of children and adults arrive on the campus of Concordia University, Nebraska to find nationally known award-winning authors, illustrators and literacy experts, dozens of activities and lots of books ..."

• 10/17-18, F-Sa-- the Nebraska Book Festival 2008. Sessions will be held in the same buildings as in 2007, plus some sessions will be held in rooms in the Nebr History Museum. The keynote speaker will be Kent Haruf. More details TBA.

• 11/1, Sa-- 9am-3:30pm, Women at the Spring, a New Women's 2008 Workshop Series to be offered at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center (20 minutes southwest of Lincoln (follow SW 98th Street south out of Denton for three miles)). This year there will be two workshops designed especially for women. Writers Marjorie Saiser, Lucy Adkins, and Amy Plettner will facilitate the morning session, “The Bowl of the Prairie: Writing from the Land.” Humorist T. Marni Vos will lead the afternoon session, “Creativity and Living Well: Expanding Our Horizons.” Fee for each workshop is $40 per person, which includes all materials and lunch. Each workshop is limited to 25 participants. Participants in all sessions should dress for outdoor activities. Interested individuals should call (402) 797-2301 or download a copy of the registration form from our website at www.springcreekprairie.org.

• 12/14, Su-- the 6th annual winter solstice at the Louisville Art Gallery (From the East: just 12 miles off I-80 Exit 440, from the West: just 6 miles off I-80 Exit 426). In the past this unique winter celebraton has included bellydance, drumming, poetry, food and drink. Escape the holiday shopping madness in an exquisite setting. Cost: freewill donation to charity of Steve's choice. Info at www.louisvilleartgallery.com and prairie.sky@gmail.com.