The competition will not be open to the public, but will be live streamed over Stuart’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

Free to view virtually!

Stuart’s Opera House announces a school contest for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. The competition, presented in partnership with Ohio Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. Since the contest’s inception, Poetry Out Loud has reached more than 3 million students and 45,000 teachers from 10,000 schools nationwide. On February 13, students from Tri-County Career Center, Nelsonville-York, Buckeye Local, Rock Hill Sr., River Valley, John Glenn, and Logan High Schools, will participate in the Poetry Out Loud Regional Semifinal contest at Stuart’s Opera House. The competition will not be open to the public, but will be live streamed over Stuart’s Facebook and YouTube channels. The winner and runner up of this competition will advance to the state Poetry Out Loud contest. The Ohio champion will advance to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.

Featured speakers and participants will be:
Guest featured poet Kari Gunter-Seymore, Poet Laureate of the State of Ohio
Master of Ceremonies Micah Covert President, Board of Education Nelsonville York City Schools
Guest Judges: Jadey Gilmore, Federal Hocking Schools; Becca Lachman, Athens Public Libraries; Renard Phillips, Athens Public Libraries