Poetry Out Loud Update

Dear Poetry Out Loud lovers, judges, volunteers, and aficionados,

Get thy poem on! Poetry Out Loud season will soon be upon us! This will be the Arts Council’s sixth year sponsoring this wonderful literary event! Yowza! Can you believe it?

We never forget that this program’s success is in large measure due to the generous, lively cadre of POL community volunteers who’ve immersed themselves in poetry and in judging (or tallying) at our participating high schools since 2009! Thank you for helping out all these years! You guys rock! Naturally, I’m hoping that all of you are still game to participate again for our 2016 Poetry Out Loud competition!  Please say YES!—that you wouldn’t miss it for the world!

Since I recognize that you are all awash in emails and holiday solicitations, I’ll do my best to be brief and to the point here:

First, if you wish to participate in Poetry Out Loud this year, please fire off a quick email to me saying that you’re on! Or you can call me at the Arts Council: 530.295.3496.

Second, if you want to sign up for a refresher training course, or if you’ve never participated in Poetry Out Loud before but wish to do so, please sign up for one of the following training dates & times:

1.       Monday, December 15, 2:30 to 5:00 pm @ the Fausel House, 772 Pacific St., Placerville.

2.       Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2:30 to 5:00 pm @ the Fausel House, 772 Pacific St., Placerville.

3.       Monday, Dec. 22, 6:30 to 8:30 pm @ the Fausel House, 772 Pacific St., Placerville.

As of today, four high school programs have committed to this year’s Poetry Out Loud competition—Oak Ridge High School, Charter University Prep, El Dorado High School, and Golden Sierra. I’m waiting to hear back from Ponderosa, South Lake Tahoe, and Union Mine. The juvenile hall facilities—Golden Ridge in Placerville and Blue Ridge in Placerville—are also on board, but they recruit their judges from the inside. And thus far, El Dorado High School has been the only school to sign up for a date: Tuesday, February 4, probably from 1:45 to 3:00 in the afternoon.

As soon as I hear back from the other schools, I’ll let you know!

Third— our county final will be held on Tuesday, February 10, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Imagination Theater! Come one! Come all!

Fourth—our California state POL competition will be Sunday-Monday, March 15-16 in Sacramento, probably in the Senate Chambers.

Fifth—the National Finals will be Saturday-Sunday, April 28-29, in Washington, D.C.

And there you have it, all the Poetry Out Loud news that’s fit to print!

Do let me know if you wish to participate and if you wish to sign up for a Poetry Out Loud training. And, if you’ve any friends or family who might be interested in participating as well, send them my way!

Poem on!

Moira Magneson
Poetry Out Loud Coordinator
El Dorado Arts Council

Poetry Out Loud Season Here

Calloo! Callay! Poetry Out Loud season comes our way once again! The Arts Council is seeking out judges, tabulators, and prompters for California's 2015 Poetry Out Loud competition.  If you wish to learn about poetry, poems, and participate as a judge in our local high school and county Poetry Out Loud contests, we invite you to sign up for one of our FUN 2 ½ hour workshop trainings at the Fausel House in December:

Monday, December 15, from 2:30-5:00 pm

Tuesday, December 16, from 2:30-5:00 pm

Monday evening, December 22, from 6:00 - 8:30 pm

And . . . save the date-the Poetry Out Loud 2015 County Competition-our sixth year--will be on Tuesday, February 10, 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Imagination Theater! Woot!  Vintage Poetry Out Loud judges looking to refresh their poetry chops are also invited to these workshops. 

To sign up for the POL workshops, please call or email Moira Magneson @ 530.295.3496 or edac@eldoradoartscouncil.org 

Poem on, people!

Make Oliver part of your plans this holiday season

Imagination Theater is proud to present the musical Oliver! coming to Imagination Theater this holiday season.  Set in London in 1853, Oliver! tells the story of a young orphan who falls into a gang of thieves.  He meets several larger-than-life characters who aren’t always looking out for his best interests. Along the way, he encounters a man who just might be able to help unlock the secrets of his past.  “Food Glorious Food” and “Where is Love?” are just two of the popular songs from this Tony Award-winning lively musical by Lionel Bart. 

Shows are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:00 p.m., and Saturdays, December 6 and 13, and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.  There are two evening shows on Saturday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m. (due to two shows that day) and December 20 at 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are $15.  Thursday shows and groups are $12.  

Tickets can be purchased online 24/7 at www.imaginationtheater.net, or at the theater box office (530-642-0404) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  

The theater is also offering a fundraising Gala event on Saturday, November 22 at 5:30 p.m.  This full preview show includes dinner, wines from Madrona Vineyards and Cantiga Wineworks, and elegant desserts for $75.  A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible and can also be purchased at www.imaginationtheater.net.    Make some memories this holiday season and join us at the theater!

Get over the holiday hump at 36 Handles in El Dorado Hills.

You know it is coming soon. . .the holidays!  Some would say we're already there with red and green decorations displayed well before the back to school clothes during the heat of the summer.

Take a deep breath and take the afternoon or evening off on November 19 to enjoy time with your family and friends before the hustle and bustle.  Dining out at 36 Handles would be a great opportunity to try one of their specialty brews (you know you want to) and make your lists for the upcoming festivities.   Print this flyer and show your server for the theater to receive 20%.  Thanks!