emchy

Queer Open Mic: Featuring Andrea Gibson & Katie Wirsing on the SF stop for their National Tour

Jan 12
8pm show
7:30pm sign up

Queer Open Mic is a rousing performance space for poets, musician, comedian, belly dancers and other circus freaks to come and ply their artsy wares. Co-hosted by Cindy Emch and Sherilyn Connelly. QOM happens on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month. Donations of $1 -$5 benefit QOM, the featured performers and Bitch Magazine.

The magic happens at @ Three Dollar Bill Café
1800 Market St
SF CA
www.threedollarbill.com

Katie Wirsing, author of the acclaimed classic play Romeo and Juliet, decided she'd try her hand at poetry as a member of the 2003, 2004 and, national champion 2006 Denver slam teams, following a near death bout with Iambic Pentameter. She was propelled into her new found fame after winning the world championship medal in Jell-o wrestling. But when she's not writing bios, she usually just sits at home watching Audrey Hepburn movies and pondering the mysteries of the universe, while drinking chocolate soy milk. (and she really does kick ass at Jell-o wrestling)

Andrea Gibson has been rousing audiences throughout the United States and Canada with her poignant message and her genuine interest in generating change, her words are powerful, compassionate, and inspiring. She is a queer poet/activist who is "political, opinionated, and partial to the big issues" (The Westword).
Andrea began making her mark with the 2000 Denver Slam Team at The National Poetry Slam in Providence, Rhode Island. In the same year, Andrea joined Vox Feminista, a multi-passionate performance tribe of radical, political women bent on social change through cultural revolution. She went on to become a four-time Denver Grand Slam Champion. Andrea took 4th place out of 350 poets in the individual finals at the 2004 National Poetry Slam in St. Louis, while simultaneously leading Team Denver to a 2nd place title in the team competition.
Andrea has headlined everywhere from the Nuyorican Poet's Café, to Pride Fests and Lady Fests, to high schools and universities throughout the country. She has been showcased on Free Speech TV, Dyke TV, the documentary Slam Planet, and Independent Radio Stations nationwide. She is featured on New York City's 2004 Best of Urbana CD, and is currently a member of the prestigious Bullhorn Collective "comprised of 30 of the highest ranking slam poets and most accomplished performance poets in the world." She has shared the stage with such names as Leslie Feinberg, Amy Goodman, Dennis Kucinich and KRS1.
Andrea's poetry deconstructs the foundations of the current political machine, highlighting issues such as patriarchy, gender norms, white-supremacy, and capitalist culture. Her words are honest, humble and "oh my god, I can't believe you said that in public!" (ex-girlfriend #4).