Poetry Out Loud Massachusetts
Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest that celebrates the power of the spoken word and a mastery of public speaking skills while cultivating self-confidence and an appreciation of students’ literary heritage as they take poetry from the page to the stage. Poetry Out Loud has inspired hundreds of thousands of high school students to discover and appreciate both classic and contemporary poetry.
New for POL 2021 - the pilot year of two new ways for high school students to participate! In addition to the usual school registration, cultural organizations are now allowed to register and run their own Poetry Out Loud program and contest. Organizations need to follow the same rules, at least two students must participate, they must hold an organization-level contest to determine one winner to represent the organization, and all contestants must select poems following POL’s eligibility requirements.
Individual students may also register to participate in POL. All students in this cohort will be required to participate in an initial contest facilitated by the Huntington’s Education Department.
Students are not allowed to participate in more than one program stream. If your school is participating in POL you must participate with your school.
Please be sure you register using the appropriate registration form - all information for registration is required.
Email poetryoutloud@huntingtontheatre.org for questions.
School Registration Form
Organization Registration Form
Individual Registration Form
Poetry Out Loud Massachusetts 2021 Important Dates
Registration Deadline - Friday December 18, 2020
School/Organization Contest Deadline - Friday January 29, 2021
Semi-Finalist Registration Deadline - Friday February 5, 2021
Semi-Finalist Video Submission Deadline - Friday February 12, 2021
Massachusetts Regional Semi-Finals Broadcast - March 6, 7, 8, 2021
Massachusetts State Finals Broadcast - March 14, 2021
*ALL STATE-LEVEL CONTESTS WILL BE VIRTUAL FOR 2021, AS WILL THE NATIONAL FINALS. ALL SEMI-FINALISTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THREE VIDEO FILES (ONE FOR EACH POEM). MORE INFORMATION ON THIS WILL BE SENT TO REGISTERED SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE SEMI-FINALS.
2020 Poetry Out Loud Champion, Anya Barrett, 3rd Place Kayla Turner from Sacred Heart High School, and 2nd Place Andrew Shapiro from Innovation Academy Charter School; photo: David Marshall
2020 Poetry Out Loud Massachusetts finalists; photo: David Marshall
Poetry Out Loud in Massachusetts: History and Statistics
Why participate in Massachusetts Poetry Out Loud?
Get Involved in Poetry Out Loud
For more information on Poetry Out Loud, visit the official website at poetryoutloud.org. For information about the Massachusetts competition, please email the Education Department at poetryoutloud@huntingtontheatre.org.
"POETRY OUT LOUD helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. By encouraging your students to study, memorize, and perform some of the most influential and timeless poems of the English language, you immerse them in powerful expression and provocative ideas. Although many students may initially be nervous about reciting in front of their peers, the experience will prove invaluable — not only in school, but also in life. Much of the future success of students will depend on how well they present themselves in public. Public speaking is a skill people use every day on both the workplace and the community."— National Endowment for the Arts & The Poetry Foundation
Presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation, in partnership with the Mass Cultural Council and the Huntington Theatre Company.