Close-up of a gold trumpet on a dimly lit concert stage, with a bass drum visible in the background.

Password: Poetry

A BIMA PRISM PROGRAM

Some nights call for something different. Password: Poetry is an after-hours speakeasy experience at BIMA, unlike anything you’ve seen. Part poetry showcase, part night out, entirely a night to remember.

Inspired by the atmosphere of a New Orleans jazz den, guests will enter the “Speakeasy” via password, receive a complimentary glass of champagne, and step into the transformed galleries for the evening. Throughout the night, local poets will take the floor across three intimate sets, with jazz and blues music sprinkled in between each set.

You won’t want to miss performances from local poets, Gentleman Dro, Ms. Taz, Faraji, and Sharon Nyree Williams!

Wander the art, lose yourself in the music, and let the night unfold.

Tickets include one glass of champagne, with a cash bar available throughout the night. Plus, enjoy food from Taste of the South! Standing and seated ticket options are available.

When

Sep 4, 2026
8:00pm – 9:30pm

Where

Frank Buxton Auditorium

Tickets

Event Categories

MEET THE POETS

Gentleman Dro

Hello it’s Gentlemen Dro, Tacoma born. An aspiring entertainer, artist, and author of a book of poetry, dubbed the Gentlemen’s notebook. He’s had the honor of performing frequently around the greater Seattle area. Hoping to not only entertain, but give the audience something to think about. Reaching for deeper understanding within self, and inviting the audience to embark on that journey. Poetry that has been curated through rap’s rugged consciousness, Dro’s flow, is about bars. Hoping to rouse an applause, and lift an eyebrow. Look for him online, in person, and in the future.

Performance Description: The audience can expect poetry that hold a moment, betwixt layered wordplay and imagery. To bring pause, hoping to leave you thinking about something that was said, and a want to have it deciphered.

Follow Gentlemen Dro: @gentlemen_dro

Ms. Taz

Ms. Taz is a spoken word artist whose voice is- gentle when it needs to heal. fierce when it needs to shake the room

Her poetry lives at the crossroads of revolution and reflection. weaving stories of identity. resistance. mental health. and the politics that shape our everyday lives.

At the heart of it all. her words are anchored in her own experiences and the way she sees the world-honest. raw. and deeply human. Through her work, she hopes to make an impact on evervone who listens. to stir something real

and lasting.

Follow Ms. Taz: @ms.taz_

Emergent Creative Expressions

Faraji is a multi talented human who using his voice to advocate for the voiceless and invisiblized humans that get shuffled through the many systems of oppression. He does most of his work through trauma informed yoga with Yoga Behind Bars as the Community Engagement Director.

Performance Description: Spoken word poetry and empowerment through presence

Follow Faraji: @yifelyfe

Sharon Nyree Williams

Sharon Nyree Williams is an Emmy Award–winning voiceover artist, award-winning solo performer, and arts & culture leader who bridges community through storytelling. Rooted in her Southern upbringing, she has shared her work across the United States and internationally in Rwanda. Her solo show LEGACY premiered at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall through the Seattle Symphony’s Community Stages Fund before traveling to Los Angeles and New York. At the United Solo Festival, the world’s largest solo theatre festival, LEGACY received the 2025 Spring Award for Best Spoken Word and the Fall Award for Best Encore Performance.

Sharon is also the creator of the solo works Dare to Claim the Sky, Circles of Life, and Plight: I Am My Brother’s Keeper, along with three spoken word albums and the book Dare to Claim the Sky. In 2025, she was named an official nominee by the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS). Her mission is simple yet profound: to change the world one story at a time. Learn more at EsterbrookCreativeHouse.com.

Inspired by real-life experiences, Sharon Nyree Williams uses storytelling and spoken word to explore family, social issues, and belonging. Sharon’s stories remind us that every story has the power to bring people together. Her mission is to change the world one story at a time.

Follow Sharon Nyree Williams: @sharonnyreewilliams

BIMA’s PRISM programming is where art comes alive, off the walls and onto the stage. From films and concerts to artist talks and community celebrations, PRISM expands what it means to be an art museum through regular, engaging live events on BIMA’s stage, in its galleries, and outside the museum.