slam!MADness:

2007 PicNap-Poetry Slam Invitational

A Spotlights Detroit’s Best Performance Poets

Detroit, April 1st, 2007: Spring has sprung with the growth of slam poetry in Detroit. It’s a popular, high-octane form of performance poetry drawing loyal patrons in the city’s coffeehouses and performance spaces. The PicNap-Poetry Series & Slam, produced by NAPS Entertainment L.L.C., presents its second annual slam invitational to ordain the next grand slam champion, and a spot on the 2007 Detroit PicNap Slam Team.

The invitational includes three semi-finals at the Java Exchange Café on April 6th, 13th and 20th. The finalist will perform during PicNap-Poetry’s Final Stage at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Midtown on Friday, April 27th sponsored by Starbucks Coffee. Ticket prices range between $5.00 and $7.00. All shows begin at 8:00 p.m.

“We are extremely excited to be in a position to increase the exposure of slam poetry in our hometown”, said Johnny Jenkins Jr., also known as Jy-Obadele amongst his poetry peers. He also serves as this year’s Slam Master.

Kalimah “LocMama” Johnson, co-host of the weekly series, agrees. “It’s fun and inspiring being able to work with the best emerging performance and literary artist in Detroit”.

The top performances receive are determined by random judges from the audience. Those poets are then invited to become members of the 2007 Detroit PicNap Slam Team. The team will represent the Motor City in the annual National Poetry Slam held in Austin, Texas this year. The Detroit Slam Team won the national slam title in 2002.

For a complete list of open mic poetry, slam features and venues, please visit the official website at www.picnap-poetry.com. The PicNap-Poetry Series, held every Friday evening, is a certified slam venue with Poetry Slam Inc.

NAPS Entertainment L.L.C. is a Detroit-based creative collective, nurturing, promoting and organizing spoken word, music, and the arts in our community.

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