FLORENCE-Calling all poets, writers, comedians and actors, Boxcar Voices has poetry meetings every other Thursday at the end Theatre in Downtown Florence.
People go to Boxcar Voices to open mic their writings and acts.
Boxcar Voices was initially started by Andy Thigpen and Juliann Losey, English majors and graduates of UNA. They saw a need for a writing community to develop in the Shoals. They did it mainly for the students. In their absence Patrick Lindsay and Jared McCoy have taken over the meetings.
McCoy explains, โBoxcar Voices is about fostering and encouraging creativity in writing. A lot of people in the area who write on a regular basis (myself included) started here and kept going because of the encouragement they felt in this community.โ
McCoy is proud of everyone who comes and speaks, โIt’s always incredibly cool to see someone do something new or unexpected. When someone who doesn’t normally read in front of the group gets up and delivers something that blows your socks off, I imagine that’s what a parent’s pride feels like.โ
Teah Montanique, a newcomer and poet tells us about her experience reading, โI’ve been to Boxcar Voices three times now and the atmosphere is awesome! It’s really low-key, no pressure which is great because speaking in front of people terrifies me.โ
Boxcar Voices is excited to see newcomers.โI would tell newcomers to at least just try sitting in on an event. They’ll know pretty quickly how they feel about it,โ said McCoy
There are many reasons to come to these meetings. McCoy enjoys it because, โIt keeps me writing. If I don’t keep writing, my skill falls apart. It is how I grow as an artist, and it is just as rewarding to watch others grow that way.โ
The end Theatre has a welcoming energy. Everyone there wants to hear your voice. The next meeting will be May 29th.
