Heights Arts
2175 Lee Road
Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118
Phone: 216 371 3457
Email: Heightsarts@Heightsarts.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Patsy Kline — Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Phone – 216-371-3457
Email – pkline@heightsarts.org
Contact:
Rachel Bernstein, Executive Director
Phone: 216- 371-3457
Email – rbernstein@heightsarts.org
HEIGHTS ARTS HAIKU DEATH MATCH RETURNS, SATURDAY, APRIL 21ST
April in northeast Ohio: the Home Opener and the Haiku Death Match. The Haiku Death Match? Yes, it’s back. Just when you thought it was safe to go outside and warm up your pitching arm, maybe bat a few, you have to worry about the 2018 Haiku Death Match!
Can your experience be expressed in 17 syllables? Will the audience like it? Who will win the 2018 Haiku Death Match Master title? And most important, will the show sell out before you purchase your tickets?
The Haiku Death Match is a who’s got Haiku talent, a live poetry reading, and a wrestling match with words, rolled into a one-of-a-kind show. Pairs of poet contestants face off, and the audience votes for the poems they like best. In the first half of the show, all eight contestants will read their contemporary Haiku on five subjects: personal relationships, politics, animals in our life, the daily grind, and all things Cleveland. In the second half, the four poets with the highest scores advance to the semi-finals, in which they will read only classical, nature-oriented Haiku. The two highest scorers from this round then battle to the “death,” with the audience deciding the 2018 Haiku Death Match Master.
The eight poet/contestants this year are Michael Ceraolo, Lorraine Cipriano, Christine Donofrio, Cordelia Eddy, Azriel Johnson, Ray McNiece (defending champion), Pat Robertell-Hudson, and Bill Schubert. Four are new contestants, and four competed in last year’s match. The well-known musician and poet, Vince Robinson will be the Haiku Death Match master of ceremonies.
“The audience always has a great time Haiku Death Match,” said Rachel Bernstein, Executive Director of Heights Arts. “It’s becoming a very popular event; last year, it sold out.” The Haiku Death Match is a Heights Arts celebration of National Poetry Month and raises funds to support Heights Arts literary programming.
This year, the Haiku Death Match – the sixth annual — will be staged at Ensemble Theater on April 21 at 7 p.m. Ensemble Theater, on the Coventry PEACE campus at 2843 Washington Blvd. in Cleveland Heights, is a new venue for the Haiku Death Match.
Celeste Cosentino, Executive Artistic Director of Ensemble Theatre, said, “I am really excited to have the Haiku Death Match here. What a great new audience it will bring to our theatre!” Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets are available through Heights Arts at 216-371-3457, or online at www.heightsarts.org
Members: $10.00; General Admission: $15.00
DAY OF EVENT: Admission: $15. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door, however, we encourage on-line purchase, as THE HAIKU DEATH MATCH sells out.
About Heights Arts
Heights Arts is a nonprofit community arts organization in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Our mission is to celebrate the region’s literary, musical, and visual artists, and share their contributions with the community. Heights Arts cultivates a strong, collaborative arts community by inspiring people of all ages to engage in the arts; supporting the arts through education; providing exhibition and performance opportunities; and fostering public appreciation for the arts.