The Poetry Society of New York's Spring Gala

This year’s theme is Bronze Age Feast & Cabaret.

We’re mesmerized by myths passed down over millennia—from ancient memory to the modern day—stories that surface whenever someone needs meaning, guidance, or wonder. We also pay homage to the origins of oral-formulaic poetry: generations of rhythm, repetition, and rhyme that continue to manifest each year on Governors Island at The New York City Poetry Festival (NYC PoFest).

PSNY’s Spring Gala raises funds for NYC PoFest, the largest free event for poets in the country. For one weekend each summer in Nolan Park, poetry returns to its roots: not gated or ticketed, but shared freely—proudly, out loud—beneath open skies. If NYC PoFest is a journey toward shared meaning, creativity, and return—an Odyssey, one might say—then this Gala is the moment to gather strength and build the vessels necessary for the voyage ahead.

By attending the Gala, patrons enact poetic metallurgy—working metaphorical fire, transforming raw material, and helping build structures sturdy enough to hold a community together.

Poetry truly takes a village. PSNY relies on collective support, care, and coordination to keep poetry thriving in public. This evening invites poets, poetry lovers, and poets-to-be to:

• Invest in a living literary community
• Support free public space for creativity
• Build cultural infrastructure that lasts
• Help ensure poets have a safe place to land each summer

Guests will enjoy:

• A three-course seated feast
• An open bar
• Immersive cabaret performances, including poetry, music, drag, and dance
• Live and silent auctions supporting PSNY’s work

We will also honor Anne Waldman with our annual Vicious Circle Award, recognizing her visionary performance, activism, mentorship, and community-building in New York and beyond. Her work embodies poetry as both art and infrastructure—made collectively, carried forward, and continually renewed.

6:00 PM — VIP Cocktail Hour

Typewriter Poets · Open Bar · Photobooth by Human Flower Productions · Tarot Readings

6:30 PM — General Admission Cocktail Hour

7:30 PM — Bronze Age Feast & Cabaret

A firelit cabaret featuring poetry, music, tap dance, drag, & more, plus a brief live auction and the honoring of Anne Waldman!

9:30 PM — End of Night

Black tie or festive formal—anything you can wear with a glass of champagne in hand.

Join us for this iconic soirée devoted to the shared labor of forging a poetic future!

The Players Club is a historic venue, and due to its 19th-century architecture, there are some physical accessibility limitations. There is currently no elevator access to the second floor, and attending the Gala requires climbing one flight of stairs. We deeply value accessibility and want to support all guests in having the best experience possible. If you have questions or specific needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re happy to assist. For more information or to discuss accommodations, contact Tova at [email protected].

A special thank you to our Gala Committee:

Claire Schiffman

Chris Riggs

Kim Barke

Max Denler

Info: Typewriter Poets · Open Bar · Photobooth by Human Flower Productions · Tarot Readings

Info: A firelit cabaret featuring poetry, music, tap dance, drag, & more, plus a brief live auction and the honoring of Anne Waldman!

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Host or Publisher The Poetry Society of New York