Events › Light Up the Room: Poetry Performance Workshop With Elizabeth Marino and Willa Moore

In this writing and performance workshop, writers of all levels are invited to experiment, interpret and perform their work in new, surprising ways. We will take time to listen carefully, to experience fully the rhythm, timing, cadence of our work – its “felt sense” in the body. Reading out loud, speaking by heart, sitting, standing, with fun simple games and breath work, we will allow cues from our bodies, breath, and each other to deepen the authenticity of our writing and strengthen our performance in a grounded, confident way that truly Lights Up the Room! Encouragement will be served.

Elizabeth Marino is a Chicago poet, born in Englewood and raised in Blue Island, IL. A retired English professor, her poetry has appeared in the hybrid poetry and memoir collection Asylum (Vagabond, 2020), and the chapbooks Debris (Puddin’head Press) and Ceremonies (dancing girl press), as well as over 20 print anthologies. She has performed her work on stages from Cambridge, MA to Los Angeles, and around Chicago.

Willa Moore is a Singer/Songwriter and Performance Poet who worked for many years as a Board-Certified Music Therapist. Most recently, a collaboratively created music video of her song Walk With Us, a protest anthem written after the terrible murder of George Floyd, was screened at over 40 film festivals and received awards including: best musical short, best music video, and best song. Willa also assists efforts to bring college classes and the arts to justice-involved youth; to support and establish bilingual after school family literacy programs; and to help distribute bilingual children’s books to refugee settlements worldwide.

Accessibility
Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.

Top photo by Joel Maisonet. Bottom photo by Iwona Biedermann.