Lansing hip-hop group hosts slam poetry competition to win tickets to 'Hamilton'

LANSING — Slam poetry could be one lucky artist's shot at tickets to "Hamilton."

The Broadway hit arrives in East Lansing next month, so Lansing's All of the Above Hip Hop Academy is partnering with the Wharton Center to put together a slam poetry and rap competition called "Be in the Room." 

Ten finalists will perform at the Pasant Theatre on the evening of May 1 at the Pasant for a chance to win tickets to the show at the Wharton. There will be 24 performances of the musical from May 12 to June 2 at Wharton's Cobb Great Hall.

Tickets prices for "Hamilton" initially ranged from $73.50 to $163.50, with a few premium seats available for $398.50. There's still a handful of tickets left for most shows on Wharton's website. 

As part of the slam poetry competition, about 30 people ages 16 to nearly 80 took part in a slam poetry workshop in March with All of the Above where they learned about everything from breaking down rhythms to the nuances of conveying personal stories, All of the Above founder Ozay Moore said.

Slam poetry is written with performance in mind, Moore said. It's more than just writing words on a page. Rhythm and cadence are key elements of the art form, he said. 

“(Slam poetry) is to deliver with passion and in more of a performance context," Moore said. 

All of the Above teaches breakdancing, emceeing and beat-making classes to young people in the Lansing area. Moore started the organization in 2010.

Moore credits "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda for bringing elements of hip-hop culture into mainstream consciousness. 

“He definitely made it appealing to a broader audience and shed light on that culture by incorporating it and making it a central part of 'Hamilton," Moore said. 

MORE: East Lansing has been longing for a chance at ‘Hamilton’

Be In The Room

A slam poetry competition where the winner will receive two tickets to "Hamilton" at the Wharton Center will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, at the Wharton Center's Pasant Theatre. The suggested donation at the door is $5.

Contact reporter Haley Hansen at (517) 267-1344 or hhansen@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @halehansen.

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