Poetry, spoken word, storytelling and other literary-related productions are going virtual in May. To apply a seasonal maxim, area creatives have plenty of opportunities to bloom where they’re planted, from home.
Here’s a roundup of events and calls:
Friday, May 8
Online Writing Workshop for Middle Schoolers
Murfreesboro poet and actor Cam Mitchell leads middle schoolers in a free online writing workshop through Southern Word. Middle Tennessee youth will work with a mentor to learn and grow in creative writing, which could make a big difference in their being ahead of the game when they return to school. Capacity is limited; register at southernword.org/event/the-write-time-2.
Mitchell also offers for purchase a collection of original writing prompts. Suitable for ages 12 and up, the prompts encourage those struggling with mental health issues, or anyone who wants to embrace creative writing as a positive outlet. Contact him at bookcmitch@gmail.com to learn more about Metanoia: Changing the State of Mind.
Thursday, May 7
Mama Tried
Bloom: The Stage Where Our Stories Grow returns to the Walnut House to live-stream the second show of its 2020 series. The 7 p.m. show, entitled “Mama Tried: From Raising Us Better to Raising a Ruckus” will pay homage to motherhood through spoken word, poetry, storytelling and live music by Mason Nolan. Local creatives are encouraged to submit up to five minutes of video of a personally crafted true story, poem or spoken word piece about motherhood. Recordings must be submitted in an .mp4 format no later than May 4 to karajkemp@gmail.com. Selected submissions will be revealed during the broadcast, which will be from the KJ Kemp Facebook account. Preshow music starts at 6:45 p.m. and the show will start at 7.
Friday, May 8
Submission Deadline for Pandemic Panoramas
Dreamers, poets and visual artists are wanted for a project called Pandemic Panoramas: Dreamscapes In Crisis. The Murfreesboro Arts Laureates want images, and creative involvement, from those in the community in a new project that uses those images in a creative response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The brainchild of poet laureate Amie Whittemore, the laureates are recruiting creatives to contribute their visions and dreams.
“While we are all confined to our homes and neighborhoods, our dreams remain unrestricted, and many have reported dreaming more vividly during this time,” Whittemore states. “A dreamscape can be any place you go to in a dream. It might be one that exists in waking life, or be dominated by features other than landscape.”
Dreams do not have to be from this time of pandemic. Residents of Murfreesboro and the surrounding area are invited to participate. Contribute a dream, or indicate your interest in responding to a submitted dream through art or poetry, by May 8. Poetry and art will be on display in a virtual gallery in June. Visit tinyurl.com/dreamscapetn to submit.
Sunday, May 17
Poetry in the Boro Open Mic
Poetry in the Boro will resume in a virtual format. As of press time, the exact plan for the popular open mic was still pending; however, organizers say that you’ll be able to connect at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 7. As usual, you can share a poem of your own or a favorite by another author, with a four-minute time limit. All styles of poetry and spoken word are welcome. Check out Facebook or poetryintheboro.org for a Zoom link and details.
Also in May
Virtual Spoon River Anthology
Murfreesboro Little Theatre will be streaming a virtual production of Spoon River Anthology, an iconic story of American rural and small town life told through the epitaphs of its residents. Written by Edgar Lee Masters over 100 years ago, the production will include over 50 actors, including some far-flung friends of MLT, each of whom have recorded their monologues in isolation. Watch MLT announcements for the debut date of this innovative production in May.
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An excerpt of “Silas Dement”
from Spoon River Anthology
by Edgar Lee Masters, 1916
It was moon-light, and the earth sparkled
With new-fallen frost.
It was midnight and not a soul was abroad.
Out of the chimney of the court-house
A grey-hound of smoke leapt and chased
The northwest wind.
I carried a ladder to the landing of the stairs
And leaned it against the frame of the trap-door
In the ceiling of the portico,
And I crawled under the roof and amid the rafters
And flung among the seasoned timbers
A lighted handful of oil-soaked waste.
Then I came down and slunk away.
In a little while the fire-bell rang—
Clang! Clang! Clang!
