Anyone who enjoys spoken word or live theatre knows that attending The Ill List annual poetry slam at The State Theatre is more than just an evening of poetry. It is filled with poets from all over the nation, sharing their wit, wisdom and observations about the world around them and is one of the most prestigious events of its kind in California. The event, which is coming up on Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at The State Theatre in Modesto, continues to draw talented artists that have performed on shows including HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and NPR’s Snap Judgment.
For 20 years, The Ill List has brought artists together to compete against each other for cash prizes in excess of $1,000 and the coveted title of The Ill List Champion. Sam Pierstorff, Executive Director of Modesto Arts Movement, English Professor at MJC, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Modesto, wanted to spark the interest of his students and show them that poetry doesn’t have to be stuffy or formal, that it can be explorative, emotional and even funny. “We wanted to make the event interactive, inclusive and inspiring,” said Pierstorff.
This year promises to be exceptional with top performers including: Prentice Powell, Mercedez Holtry, Jae Nichelle, Ebony Stewart and Mike McGee from past events returning to The State Theatre to share their musings with the crowd. Angela Drew, former winner of The Ill List, was recently named the Poet Laureate of the City of Modesto and is currently working on a project entitled, “Writing Ourselves In,” which will document the oral histories of African-American elders and residents from Modesto and will open in February 2026.
Pierstorff along with Greg Edwards, former Modesto Arts Promoter, initially used The Prospect Theatre to host the events. As the event grew, they eventually changed venues, relocating to The State Theatre, which can accommodate the large crowds that flock to the shows every December. “Poetry Slam is the punk rock of poetry,” said Pierstorff when addressing how this event brings artists from various walks of life together to honor their gifts and celebrate their diversity.
Pierstorff now hosts the annual event with his wife, Ruhi Sheikh and continues to focus on bringing purposeful, engaging shows to the Central Valley. As new owners of The Queen Bean in Modesto, they also host monthly events such as Slam on Rye, a poetry slam which is open to all and features local artists such as Grammy nominated poet Prentice Powell, who hails from Oakland and is known for his spoken word poetry, which often focuses on issues such as mental health and systemic injustice.
For Chris Murphy, CEO of Sierra Pacific Warehouse Group and publisher of Modesto View, sponsoring The Ill List Poetry Slam was important as Murphy cites the close connection between artistic endeavors and the community. “This event brings more opportunities and more outlets for artists in our area and that is something that deserves to be celebrated,” said Murphy.
To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit: https://thestate.org or call (209) 527-4697.
