For the past four years, the Palm Beach Poetry Festival’s annual visit to the city of Delray Beach has shown growth in the creative art of poetry while offering informative lectures and tutorials to residents. In September 2008, the Palm Beach Poetry Festival announced that nine national prominent poets would descend on Delray Beach to perform their spoken word and conduct poetry workshops. Even with the economic downturn, Miles Coon, the festival's director, has added three more poets, a total of 12 poets, eight of which are teaching poets. The Palm Beach Poetry Festival will take place January 19 to 24, at the Crest Theatre, 51 N. Swinton Ave.
“In addition to serving the writing community, the fifth annual Palm Beach Poetry Festival will also offer numerous opportunities for the public to hear truly great poetry, written from and for our time, read by poets who engage and enthrall the audience,” Coon said.“They are a diverse group, ethnically, demographically and aesthetically. When people hear them, they will hear America singing.”
The group of poets includes award-winning poets
Denise Duhamel, Martin Espada, Kelle Groom, Kimiko Hahn, Michael Hettich, Laura Kasischke, Thomas Lux, Ann Marie Macari, Taylor Mali, Gregory Orr, Lynne Procope, Victoria Redel and Gerald Stern.
“People who’ve attended in the past will realize we have just a few repeat offenders… We’ve had Pulitzer Prize winners, poet laureates… poet Gerald Stern, 83-years-old, and the first Poet Laureate in the state of New Jersey will read this year,” Coon said.
Tickets are available at the Crest Theatre Box Office at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave. General admission ticket prices per event are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students. Special student group rates are also available. Call 561- 243-7922, ext. 1 or visit www.palmbeachpoetryfestival.org