LAST POET STANDING IV Returns to Aronoff Center This Month

Last Poet Standing IV (LPS) returns to the Aronoff Center! Last Poet Standing IV is a head-to-head spoken word competition which will be featured as a part of the tenth season of the Off-Broadway Theatrical Revue The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show. This 'Unorthodox SPOKEN WORD Competition' has brought the best performing artists across the Midwest to the stage! Last Poet Standing IV has a large individual grand prize of $1,000, and this summer OFP Productions will collaborate with several organizations to present LPS in the Aronoff Center's intimate and beautiful Jarson-Kaplan Theater in downtown Cincinnati at 650 Walnut Street on Friday, August 25 from 8:00 PM-11:00 PM. The Signature Lounge opens in the lobby at 7:30 PM, featuring live music and a full bar.

OFP created this style of competition in Dayton thirteen years ago. The LPS Poetry Competition will feature the word-play, story-telling, fiery aesthetic of spoken word. The one-night-only, head-to-head competition will highlight performers from across the Midwest. Competitors will perform original work and the event host is nationally-renowned Philadelphia 'Brave New Voices' coach Just Greg. Live music will be infused into the competition, highlighting music from all genres (Reggae, Jazz, Funk, Blues, R&B, and more) and decades. Come out to enjoy the Signature's third production of the Decade season and watch the best poets in the region battle to be the last poet standing and win ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS! Six of the competitors this year are from Cincinnati.

General admission tickets are $26.00 and are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], or at the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. Student discount tickets are $16 and are available ONLY at the Aronoff Center Ticket Office with student ID.

The winner of Last Poet Standing IV will receive a grand prize of $1,000 and the second-place winner will be featured during the 2018 season of The Signature. This event is designed to spotlight the word-play, story-telling, fiery aesthetic of spoken word and will be hosted by DJ Vader and nationally-renowned performing artist Just Greg Corbin.

"Last Poet Standing IV is a universal platform that bridges all ages and communities," said Sierra Leone of Oral Funk Poetry Productions. "It opens the door for everyone to come together and share the same space. It takes a lot of heart to be a part of this. Past years' competitions have been amazing and even featured high school students from Wordplay Cincy and Stivers School for the Arts [Dayton, OH]. The production serves as an homage to the spoken word genre and will be a night of exciting, fast-paced, engaging, and spontaneous fun."

Host for the evening, Greg "Just Greg" Corbin, is a poet, writer, teacher, hip hop artist, and community activist. He has performed across the globe from England to South Africa and shared stages with India Arie, Mos Def, Nikki Giovanni, and Saul Williams, among others. Founder of the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement (featured on the HBO program Brave New Voices), Greg is a socially and politically engaged artist, frequently conducting workshops in prisons and schools, and tackling controversial topics including religion, the politics of education and love, bullying, racism, and parenting in today's world.

DJ Vader and Baoku Moses will be the featured entertainment during Last Poet Standing IV. Cincinnati-based on air radio personality, DJ Vader, has been recognized as "Best DJ/Radio Personality" by Best of Black Cincinnati. You can hear him spinning your Old School favorites on Cincinnati's 100.3, or on his podcast, WTFU Radio. Baoku Moses is a multi-talented performing artist, who is well rounded as an actor, drummer, dancer, teacher Afro-beat singer, songwriter, producer, band leader, and a composer. Baoku's creative use of percussion with strains of American jazz to create his Afro-beat music is a masterpiece. In addition, Cincinnati Visual Artist Ryan Nichole will display original art work. For more information about Ryan's art, visit https://www.facebook.com/ryannicholestudios/.

"Last Poet Standing IV is a great opportunity for the community to support urban creative arts," Leone said. "It is a wonderful theatrical option for those who love the arts and want to experience all the genres within spoken word and poetry."

The Signature is supported by the Cincinnati Arts Association, Signature Educational Solutions, University of Dayton IACT, Oregon Printing, Delish Café, Bold Creative Solutions, and Tripple Croxx. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for local businesses interested in increasing their visibility while investing in the arts in Cincinnati. For sponsorship information, contact Oral Funk Poetry Productions at (937) 241-4957.

The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show has earned a reputation across the Midwest for being edgy, thought provoking, groundbreaking, funny, engaging, sexy, diverse, and spontaneous. More information and details are available online at www.tripplecroxxent.org, the home of Urban Creative Arts.

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