(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – WordXWord will host the first annual Winter Invitational Poetry Slam on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, at 8 p.m. at yBar at 391 North St.

The six poets invited to perform are drawn from the Berkshire area as well as New York City. The WXW Winter Invitational Slam will pit the six poet/performers against each other for fun and prizes, with a twist. Prior to each round of poems, an audience member will draw a special condition from a hat. The conditions may apply to the poets content or to their presentation. The imposing of conditions or limitations to a round is intended to complicate the poets’ competitive strategizing, forcing them out of their comfort zone.

Berkshire poets include teacher and poet Curtis Asch, a two-time WXW Poetry Slam champion; author, teacher/mentor Elizag, a WXW Poetry Slam runner-up and recent finalist at the Urbana Poetry Slam; and WXW audience favorite Seth Brown, author, member of the Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe, former stand-up comic, and WXW 2010 Poetry Slam champion.

New York poets include WXW alum (2011) Omar Holmon, a four-time grand slam champion (twice Loserslam Grandslam, Nuyorican Grandslam and Urbana GrandSlam); Ian Khadan, poet, editor, producer, performance coach and curator (Urbana Poetry Slam); and Jared Singer, who has appeared on the Indiefeed Performance Poetry Podcast and represented NYC with the Urbana Slam team at the National Poetry slam multiple times.

Berkshire-based poet, mentor and teacher Melissa Quirk will host the WXW Winter Invitational Slam.

Admission is free.