The 10th annual L.A. Get Down Festival, celebrating Los Angeles’ spoken word community and honoring National Poetry Month, will take place from April 10-26 at the Greenway Court Theatre. The festival features a variety of events including performances, workshops, and competitions, showcasing diverse voices in poetry and hip-hop.
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Opening the festival on April 10 at 8 p.m., the Wordsmith Achievement Award will be presented to L.A. native Pam Ward, who recently published her poetry anthology "Between Good Men & No Man At All."
On April 11, Tyne Daly will present "American Voices" at 8 p.m., a curated collection of her favorite poets directed by Alan Myerson.
A workshop titled “Our Words are Our Monuments,” led by former West Hollywood poet laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace, will take place on April 12 at noon. Sonia-Wallace is also known for his works, including "The Poetry of Strangers."
On April 17 at 8 p.m., “The Joy Who Speaks Up” will feature storytelling and improv, including performances from L.A.’s theater scene and UCB’s all trans/nonbinary improv team, QTs.
The Youth Slam Show, hosted by Get Lit and featuring Sofia D’Annunzio, will occur on April 18 from noon to 3 p.m. This event highlights youth voices, inviting students to share original spoken word pieces related to the theme “If I Awaken in Los Angeles.”
On the same day at 8 p.m., Ayanna Florence will lead a workshop on creating imagery in poetry titled “Synesthesia and the Art of Imagery.”
The festival's culminating event, the InkSlam Invitational, will be held on April 25 at 8 p.m., where eight top slam poets will compete for $2,500 in cash prizes.
Additional events are planned for April 19, 24, and 26. The Greenway Court Theatre is located at 544 N. Fairfax Ave. An all-festival pass costs $52, while individual event tickets range from $10 to $20 for the InkSlam Invitational. For more information, call (323) 655-7679 or visit greenwaycourttheatre.org.