Three generations of local Norwich poets to be featured this year at Colorscape Poetry Slam
NORWICH – The 21st Annual Colorscape Chenango event is fast approaching, as is the poetry slam, a popular event among Colorscape attendees.
This year the annual Colorscape festival in downtown Norwich will happen on the weekend of Sept. 12-13. The poetry slam will take place on from 2-5 p.m., Saturday Sept. 12 at the Park Place Restaurant and Lounge.
“No registration deadline. Slots will remain open until we fill the maximum number, which is 15. Poets may even register at the slam if there is still space. I strongly encourage local poets to register. There are still slots available,” said Richard Bernstein, founder of Colorscape’s Poetry Slam and Norwich High School English teacher.
This year’s annual Colorscape Poetry Slam will feature three poets, along with many other participants. The three poets featured will be William Stratton, Kristen Tomanocy, and Richard Bernstein, each of which will be reading for about 30 minutes.
“I am expecting members of the SUCO slam team, as well as student poets from Colgate University and perhaps SUNY Morrisville. Kristen Tomanocy said she may be bringing a few from New York City. I have spoken with representatives from the three aforementioned schools,” said Bernstein.
The three featured poets:
-Richard Bernstein: Founder of Colorscape’s Poetry Slam, Norwich High School English teacher for 30 plus years, 11-time recipient of Bright Hill Press NY High School Teacher of the Year Award. Bernstein’s poems have appeared in many journals, and his book of poetry was published by Finishing Line Press, “To the Occupant of Apartment 6X”.
-William Stratton: Teaches poetry and creative writing at Burlington College and St. Michaels. His first full-length collection, “Under the Water was Stone,” was nominated for the Kate Tufts Discovery and Eugene Paul Nassar Awards, along with a wide variety of publishing credits.
-Kristen Tomanocy: Teaches english and theater in Brooklyn, and has taught acting at FIT. Former president of the SUNY Oneonta Slam Association, as well as has been a member of multiple collegiate slam teams. Her focus is on combining performance poetry and theater.
“Both Bill and Kristen are my former students. Kristen Tomanocy graduated in 2007 and William Stratton graduated from NHS in 1997,” said Bernstein.
This year’s poetry slam will have no major changes to speak of. Just like years past, there will be two 3.5 minute rounds, with the second round for finalists only. Poets are allowed to perform one poem per round. Top prize is $100. Total prize money will be roughly $400.
Poets will be judged 50 percent on the quality of their poem and 50 percent on performance, with scoring open and immediate.
“Colorscape’s competition has become one of the fastest growing poetry slams in this part of the U.S., as performance poetry continues to grow in popularity,” read a press release from Brian Kamsoke, Colorscape Publicist.
Park Place welcomes all to attend this poetry slam, as it will be “audience friendly” and “appropriately intimate.” IDs are required to purchase alcoholic drinks. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, as mature language may be used.
“I am looking forward to this annual opportunity to keep poetry in the public ear. In the words of William Carlos Williams, ‘It's difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there,’” said Bernstein.
This year the annual Colorscape festival in downtown Norwich will happen on the weekend of Sept. 12-13. The poetry slam will take place on from 2-5 p.m., Saturday Sept. 12 at the Park Place Restaurant and Lounge.
“No registration deadline. Slots will remain open until we fill the maximum number, which is 15. Poets may even register at the slam if there is still space. I strongly encourage local poets to register. There are still slots available,” said Richard Bernstein, founder of Colorscape’s Poetry Slam and Norwich High School English teacher.
This year’s annual Colorscape Poetry Slam will feature three poets, along with many other participants. The three poets featured will be William Stratton, Kristen Tomanocy, and Richard Bernstein, each of which will be reading for about 30 minutes.
“I am expecting members of the SUCO slam team, as well as student poets from Colgate University and perhaps SUNY Morrisville. Kristen Tomanocy said she may be bringing a few from New York City. I have spoken with representatives from the three aforementioned schools,” said Bernstein.
The three featured poets:
-Richard Bernstein: Founder of Colorscape’s Poetry Slam, Norwich High School English teacher for 30 plus years, 11-time recipient of Bright Hill Press NY High School Teacher of the Year Award. Bernstein’s poems have appeared in many journals, and his book of poetry was published by Finishing Line Press, “To the Occupant of Apartment 6X”.
-William Stratton: Teaches poetry and creative writing at Burlington College and St. Michaels. His first full-length collection, “Under the Water was Stone,” was nominated for the Kate Tufts Discovery and Eugene Paul Nassar Awards, along with a wide variety of publishing credits.
-Kristen Tomanocy: Teaches english and theater in Brooklyn, and has taught acting at FIT. Former president of the SUNY Oneonta Slam Association, as well as has been a member of multiple collegiate slam teams. Her focus is on combining performance poetry and theater.
“Both Bill and Kristen are my former students. Kristen Tomanocy graduated in 2007 and William Stratton graduated from NHS in 1997,” said Bernstein.
This year’s poetry slam will have no major changes to speak of. Just like years past, there will be two 3.5 minute rounds, with the second round for finalists only. Poets are allowed to perform one poem per round. Top prize is $100. Total prize money will be roughly $400.
Poets will be judged 50 percent on the quality of their poem and 50 percent on performance, with scoring open and immediate.
“Colorscape’s competition has become one of the fastest growing poetry slams in this part of the U.S., as performance poetry continues to grow in popularity,” read a press release from Brian Kamsoke, Colorscape Publicist.
Park Place welcomes all to attend this poetry slam, as it will be “audience friendly” and “appropriately intimate.” IDs are required to purchase alcoholic drinks. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, as mature language may be used.
“I am looking forward to this annual opportunity to keep poetry in the public ear. In the words of William Carlos Williams, ‘It's difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there,’” said Bernstein.
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