Baltimore – The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre announced the inaugural “Raven‑Off,” a free competition that encourages Maryland adults and college students to submit video recordings of their favorite Poe poem, “The Raven.” The contest, open to anyone 18 and older, aims to promote literary education and improve reading proficiency across the state.
How the contest works
Participants may enter in one of two categories: “College Students” (must be at least 18) or “Lifelong Students” (any adult). Each category’s winner will receive a $100 prize, a featured video on the theatre’s social‑media channels, and a spotlight on an upcoming episode of Poe Theatre On The Air, broadcast on WYPR radio.
Origins and mission
Alex Zavistovich, founder and artistic director of the National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, first tried a small‑scale “Raven‑Off” at the H.L. Mencken House two years ago. “We thought it was funny and maybe a little bit stupid,” Zavistovich told Baltimore Fishbowl. The informal reading drew applause‑based winners and proved that audiences would sit through back‑to‑back performances of the poem.
During the theatre’s May 2026 “Doomsday” event, Zavistovich expanded the idea into a larger contest that aligns with the organisation’s mission to foster literacy, English comprehension and a love of classic literature. He notes a direct link between radio drama and reading skills, saying, “Everything we do in theatre, in radio, and everything is really to promote literacy… we have this platform through National Public Radio that enables us to do largely what we’d like.”
Science backs the approach
Neuroscientist Gorden Rees, writing for Mind, Brain, & Education, explains that social‑learning activities such as radio drama activate neural pathways tied to empathy, understanding and memory retention. Rees adds that participants not only practice language skills but also develop deeper contextual and emotional awareness—key components of reading proficiency.
Reading challenges in Maryland
2024 MCAP data show only 33 % of Maryland’s fourth‑ and eighth‑grade students read proficiently, with more than half of districts reporting that over 50 % of students in those grades fall short of proficiency. The Appalachian Learning Initiative reports that 20 % of Maryland adults read below a third‑grade level, and just 48.8 % read above an eighth‑grade level.
Contests like the Raven‑Off, along with radio dramas and other creative literary experiences, aim to make reading enjoyable, encourage interaction and improve comprehension for both youth and adults.
Submission details
Entries may be submitted in any format, though video is preferred for flexibility. The theatre can extract audio for its NPR show and share the video on social media. Participants need not memorize the poem; they may read from a printed copy as long as the performance is creative and avoids a sing‑song delivery.
The contest is open now, with a submission deadline of Sunday, Oct. 4. Winners will be announced on Saturday, Oct. 31. Submissions are accepted through the Poe Theatre’s website, which hosts the entry form and full contest rules.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
