Marathon Center for the Performing Arts will host the Northwest Ohio Poetry Out Loud Regional Semifinal, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3. Students from the following schools will be participating- Cory Rawson High School and St. John’s Jesuit High School. Participants will be reciting poems in two rounds, and one will be selected to move on to the Ohio Poetry Out Loud Finals in Columbus on February 27, 2026. The event is free and open to the public.

Poetry Out Loud lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Through this program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach them about literary history. A partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies, Poetry Out Loud provides free lesson plans and other educational materials to teachers and organizers, including an online poem anthology. In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud program will focus on poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture.

This is the eleventh year that Marathon Center for the Performing Arts has served as the Northwest Ohio Regional Partner for this program which is sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council.