Performing arts troupe Lyrical Quest headlined at the Naked Bean Caffe in Shreveport last Friday. The group is creating a buzz throughout the state and began networking nationally when they slammed against established slam poetry group, Productive Poets. The organization performs constantly throughout each semester on Grambling State University’s campus and hosts several free shows in the community.
The artists have blessed microphones at clubs, schools and other venues throughout Louisiana as group and throughout the nation individually.
In a collaborative effort with poets and musicians from Southeastern University (P.O.E. People), they performed at Club LA in Hammond to a packed house.
Members of the organization cross geographic locations, classifications, organizational affiliations and majors. The all black cast prides itself on being intellectually and artistically diverse enough to transcend bias and cliché subject matter.
The Quest began as a dream for organization president, Jerome Williams, a senior therapeutic recreational major from New Orleans.
He honed his skills as a spoken word artist in a previous performance group, the Black Hand Side. After the departure of Harold Green, who began the Black Hand Side, Williams recruited consistent performers from open mics.
After dozens of applications were submitted and auditions were completed for the Quest, they selected additional talent for the team roster.
They now have male and female poets, instrumentalists and a band.
The members ask for support as they are slated to host an open mic, also at the Naked Bean, on Sept. 17.
Students who are interested in joining the organization must show consistent support of the group and express interest to members. Dr. Mica Gould is their advisor.