This workshop runs July 20 through 23 from 9:30AM – 12:30PM at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Tuition is $300 and includes a composition notebook and performance T-Shirt. The Ridgefield Playhouse is launching its first Slam Poetry Summer Workshop led by Performance Poet Mikumari Caihye (M.C.) for young people going into grades 5-8. Spots are limited, sign up now! M.C.’s Philosophy This workshop is not about teaching poetry, it’s about unleashing it. The goal is to encourage young people to see language as a playground, to trust their inner voice, and to celebrate the power of words to tell the truth, heal, and connect. Core Values threaded throughout: Imagination over imitation. There are no “wrong” poems. Community over competition: SLAM Poetry is a conversation, not a contest. Progress over perfection: truth and presence matter more than polish. Courage of comfort: Every voice belongs. For scholarship opportunities, or any questions, please contact our Arts in Education Department at artsed@nullridgefieldplayhouse.org. Scholarships are generously donated by Faye & Jerry Walton. About the workshop Daily Breakdown Monday: Awakening the Voice Theme: Finding our voice and the courage to use it. Goals: Build trust and community. Encourage self-expression through creative exercises. Begin individual free-writing. Tuesday: Power and Perspective Theme: We see the world through different lenses and that’s ok. Goals: Develop ideas. Discuss poetic structure and literary device. Explore empathy poetry. Continue individual and group writing. Wednesday: From Page to Stage Theme: Own your story. Goals: Build performance confidence. Rehearse both individual and group poems. Prepare for Thursday’s show. Thursday: The Stage is Ours Theme: Celebration, connection and courage. Goals: Rehearse and perform for an audience. Experience the power of spoken word as a community. M.C.’s Bio For over two decades, Mikumari has dedicated himself to arts education—teaching poetry, creative writing, and performance technique to students of all ages. His workshops and residencies blend artistry with empowerment, helping participants find their voice and tell their stories with confidence. He has taken his talents across the globe, using artistic expression as a means to heal, inspire, and save lives. Originally from Washington, D.C., Mikumari honed his passion for the arts at Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts, majoring in Acting. He continued his training at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, England. The evolution of Mikumari Caiyhe continues to reveal new dimensions: Award-winning Actor, Published Author, Grand Slam–winning Poet Laureate, Accredited Songwriter, Grammy-nominated Musician and Producer, Arts Educator, Philanthropist, and most recently, Entrepreneur.
