How to go
What: Metaphorically Speaking: Stanza 365
Where: Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St., Dayton
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, May 17
Cost: $20.75-$24.75
Tickets: Call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit online at www.ticketcenterstage.com
Metaphorically Speaking, another entertaining, thought-provoking example of Dayton’s budding slam poetry scene, celebrates its first anniversary Saturday at the Victoria Theatre with a production titled Stanza 365.
Producing “gritty, energetic, sexy, diverse” poetry slam competitions the fourth Friday of each month at Therapy Cafe in downtown Dayton, Metaphorically Speaking eagerly anticipates the opportunity to be showcased in a larger context. The artistic team includes Jay Martinez, Tripp Fontane and Tony “Ace Metaphor” Nalls, a community-driven trio that firmly believes poetry can defy expectations and connect on a very personal, intimate level across various demographics.
“Poetry has so many different faces,” said Nalls, a 2007 Trotwood-Madison High School graduate. “When I was in high school, I had one concept of what poetry was and I stuck to that but ultimately became disinterested. Later I discovered what poetry can really be, the many shapes, shades and sizes it can have. Poetry allows someone to tell secrets they wouldn’t tell their best friend. Poetry is a comfort zone, an enlightening source of therapy. I really want the audience to feel every emotion possible when they attend our anniversary show. I want them to feel sad, happy and mad. I want them to feel alive.”
“It’s great to see a group of young men doing something that none of their peers are doing in the 90-minute market surrounding Dayton,” said Natasha R. Moreland Spears, a local marketing consultant who has also served as a judge for the troupe’s poetry slams. “Stanza 365 is going to begin to open up dialogue and conversation about what’s happening in our community in love, rage and passion.”
Stanza 365 will be headlined by Black Ice, a Philadelphia native who appeared for five consecutive seasons on HBO’s Russell Simmons’ “Def Comedy Jam” in addition to the Tony Award-winning “Def Poetry Jam on Broadway.” He has also appeared on “Showtime at the Apollo” and BET’s “Rap City” and “Lyric Cafe.” In 2006 he released his debut album, “The Death of Willie Lynch,” and has also opened for R&B favorite Mary J. Blige on her world tour. Saturday’s event will also feature comedian Mark Gregory, Indianapolis-based spoken word artists Gabrielle Patterson and Januarie York and members of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
“The poetry you’ll hear at Stanza 365 will reflect the state of America today,” said Spears. “You’ll hear poetry ranging from the funny to the sexual to the political. If you pay attention to what is happening in the spoken word community, spoken word artists are bringing life to what is happening in the world around us. I think as people become more exposed and hear what is happening around them in a language they can understand, I feel change will begin to happen.”
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