Poetry Champions From 86 Massachusetts High Schools Compete At Four Regional Poetry Events

Student poetry champions from 86 high schools across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will participate in four regional semi-final contests this weekend in Boston, Framingham, South Yarmouth and Springfield, as part of the annual Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest (POL). Now in its 13th year, the state contest is facilitated by the Huntington Theatre Company's Department of Education in partnership with the Mass Cultural Council.

Contestants recite poems selected from the program's online anthology. Two rounds of poetry are adjudicated by a panel of judges. Emotions run high as students compete to be named one of 25 contestants that will advance to the state finals and a chance to be named the 2018 Massachusetts State Poetry Out Loud Champion.

Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest run by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation that celebrates the power of the spoken word and a mastery of public speaking skills, while cultivating self-confidence and an appreciation of students' literary heritage as they take poetry from the page to the stage. 86 Massachusetts semi-finalists are school champions represent more than 22,700 students across the state who participated in contests at 90 schools. Top scoring contestants from each regional semi-final (25 total) will participate in state finals March 11 at 9:30am at Boston's Old South Meeting House. The state champion receives an all expenses paid trip to Washington, DC in April. Full schools list and other info: huntingtontheatre.org/pol.