Ian Belknap Set for Chicago Slam Works' THE LITMASH, 5/5

Chicago Slam Works combines the art forms of poetry, comedy, storytelling, music and creative non-fiction into one action-packed slam competition - "The LitMash". Presented on the first Monday of the month, the May 5 "The LitMash" features Ian Belknap among others. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door. "The LitMash" is at the Haymarket Pub and Brewery, 737 W. Randolph Street. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the performance starts at 8 p.m. For more information visit www.ChicagoSlamWorks.com.

The May 5 "The LitMash" line up includes: Ian Belknap (writer and performer ), Gage Wallace (poet and actor), Shannon Matesky (poet and actress), Angela Vela (comedian), Nicole Bond (poet), and Erica Dreisbach (artist and writer).

Moderated by Chicago Slam Works Executive Director J.W. Basilo, "The LitMash" features a variety of performers, poets, comedians, storytellers, and musicians competing for the favors of audience members. Each performer has six minutes to impress the audience and judges. The judges are five audience members chosen at random. The winner of the evening receives a cash award as well as boasting rights.

Chicago writer/performer and founder of WRITE CLUB, the philanthropic competitive readings series, Ian Belknap headlines the May 5 "The LitMash". Belknap is author/performer of the solo shows "Bring Me the Head of James Franco, That I May Prepare a Savory Goulash in the Narrow and Misshapen Pot of His Skull", "Wide Open Beaver Shot of My Heart: A Comedy With a Body Count", "Terminal Ferocity", and "Uncle Dad is Rip-Shit, You Guys". He curated and hosted the monologue shows "Something Wicked This Way Comes", and "Ian's Dog & Pony Show". Belknap's work has been featured in the live lit shows "This Much is True", "Tuesday Funk", "Stories at the Store", "Here's the Story", "Story Club Chicago", "2nd Story", "Essay Fiesta", and the Rhino Theater Festival, among others. He served as Fact Checker for The Encyclopedia Show, and is on the masthead of The Paper Machete as the Dean of Mean. Belknap teaches independently and has appeared as a guest lecturer at Columbia College Chicago, DePaul University and at StoryStudio Chicago. He writes about Live Lit for Chicago Tribune's Printers Row Journal.

Additional May 5 performers include: Gage Wallace, an actor and founding member of Red Theater Chicago and poet who has released two chapbooks and a full-length CD; Shannon Matesky, a long-time slam poet who was in Brave New Voices College Tour and the final season of HBO's Def Poetry Jam as well as author of the solo play "She Think She Grown"; Angela Vela, host of "The Seven Deadly Sins"; Nicole Bond, the newest member of Chicago Slam Works house ensemble and a semi-finalist in the 19th annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards; and Erica Dreisbach, a Chicago website designer, writer and artist.

The Monday, June 2 "The LitMash" lineup includes Keith Ecker, storyteller and curator of "Guts & Glory" and "Welcome to Pleasuretown"; Jasmine Barber, poet and "Louder Than a Bomb Champion"; Eric Sirota, poet and 2013 Chicago Poetry Slam Champion; and Angelique Nelson, poet.

Chicago Slam Works presents the "The LitMash" the first Monday of each month. The next "The LitMash" is on Monday, May 5 at the Haymarket Pub and Brewery, 737 W. Randolph Street. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the performance at 8 p.m. Tickets are purchased at the door. For more information visit www.ChicagoSlamWorks.com.