Whisper & Shout: Open Mic for Poetry

Thursday, July 16th, 2026 ~ 8:00 - 10:00 pm

When checking in at the door, be prepared to share your table and seat number.

Tickets in Advance Online: $5-members, $8-nonmembers, $3-poets + fees (till 6pm day of event)

If an event is not sold out, tickets will also be sold at the door.

Tickets at the door*: $9-members, $12-nonmembers, $5-poets

(*No money will be taken at the door unless we don’t reach our max capacity)

Choose a member or nonmember level ticket. ONLY Members of Contemporary Art Center may purchase member level tickets. A member purchasing tickets on behalf of a nonmember must choose a nonmember ticket. Buying Member tickets for nonmember friends is not a benefit of membership. A ‘Friend’ membership is for an individual, entitling only that individual to receive a discount. A ‘Family’ membership or higher-level memberships entitle the Individual and a Spouse and children under16 years of age of their household to purchase member level tickets. Household is defined as those living at the same address.

*Please Note that purchasing a Poet Ticket is a commitment to share your poetry on stage.

If you don't plan to read, then don't purchase a poet level ticket.

Water and Pop for $1.00 is offered at the bar.

Attendees may bring their own food and drink or bring in food and drink from the Rhythm Kitchen.

Experience a diverse open mic with artists from all backgrounds in a positive and inspiring atmosphere.

Peoria’s Open Mic for Poetry is held on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month.

Hosts: Ryan Lowry and Whitney Jensen with DJ YV

Featured Poet: Cassius “Reality” McPherson

Reality of St. Louis was born Cassius McPherson and raised in Chicago. Early influences include watching his father perform in Mel & Tim, with a string of Stax record hits. After watching “Roots” in 1977, he was inspired to begin writing. In 1998, he was introduced to open mics and started performing his poetry. Until 2019, McPherson produced and hosted open mics “Wednesday Wine and Words”, and “Tuesday’s Up ‘N Smoke” and more recently the open mic, “Legendary Old School Poets”.

He spent 20 years in the US Army as an infantryman, rising to the rank of E5 Sargent, his career ending in 2004 with a torn ACL and shattered meniscus from a mortar attack while serving in Iraq. Writing “Mere Words” was a way to cope with his P.T.S.D. and the senseless loss of life. To deal with the pain from his injury, he briefly became addicted to cocaine. As his release valve, he wrote, “Thoughts from an Addicted Mind”. Published in 2015, the book was built on the struggles and tears needed to find his path to recovery with the hope of helping others also. 

How to Choose Seats on www.309tix.com

Click on any blue dot. (blue dots = available seats, gray dots = sold seats)

Hold mouse over any blue dot on the floor plan.

Click on the seat of your choice.

Choose a member or nonmember level ticket. ONLY Members of Contemporary Art Center may purchase member level tickets. A member purchasing tickets on behalf of a nonmember must choose a nonmember ticket. Buying Member tickets for nonmember friends is not a benefit of membership. A ‘Friend’ membership is for an individual, entitling only that individual to receive a discount. A ‘Family’ membership or higher-level memberships entitle the Individual and a Spouse and children under16 years of age of their household to purchase member level tickets. Household is defined as those living at the same address.

After clicking on the seat, the floor plan indicates your choice with a √.

Choose another seat or proceed to ‘checkout’