Bianca Mikahn is shown at Off-Center’s season-opening launch party in September, where audiences got a first taste of “How I Got Over: Journeys in Verse” – five celebrated slam poets weaving an interconnected story about womanhood, self-discovery and adversity. Mikahn is the director of the piece. She also appears in the live performance via simulcast because she gave birth on Sunday. Photo by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter.

MEET BIANCA MIKAHN
How I Got Over: Journeys in Verse

• Hometown: Denver
• Fun fact about you: I am birthing this show and my first child at the same time! (Note: Bianca gave birth on Sunday, March 20.)
• A favorite quote: One of my favorite lines is actually from Suzi Q. Smith: “if you’re scared, you should be.”
• Why is the voice of the female poet important in today’s society? Poetry, especially spoken word, is such an outlet for humanization, connection and growth. This is a phenomenal vehicle for us to speak untold truths, identify our counterparts, and potentially reach and affect those who may not offer us much margin in society. 


​Suzi Q. Smith: Opening doors that had been slammed shut


• How does it feel to perform your own writing in front of a live audience? Performing is a lovely double-edged sword. I feel called to speak out, use and share my voice, and exchange with my community. I also feel sensitive, curious and exposed. Overall, there is nothing like knowing you’ve spoken a personal truth and experienced it’s reasonation in the mind of another.
  
• What do you hope audiences take away from How I Got Over … ? First, I really hope anyone who gets to experience this show sees themselves in the words and themes. Often when we come from a varying viewpoint, it’s easy to write sentiments off as “other” when really everything in this show is on some level truly universal. Second, I hope people are more inclined to explore the experimental aspects of this style of show. Poets can do theatre. There is room for intersectionality here.
• How would you encourage people to see this show? There has never been anything like this show in Denver, from the cast to the styling to the subject matter. Anyone attending will truly be a part of history.
• What was your favorite part of developing this show? I am completely smitten by my castmates and having the joy of directing their genius with Suzi Q’s support. This has been deeply invigorating. This process has run most of the length of my current pregnancy and to be growing a baby girl while working with this cast makes me enthralled with all the power that is woman.

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

How I Got Over: Journeys in Verse: Ticket Information

• Remaining performances: 8 p.m. Friday, March 25; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 26
• Tickets: 303-893-4100 or BUY ONLINE
• Also: Purchase in person at The Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby.

Previous 2015-16 ‘Meet the Cast’ profiles:
Meet Adeoye of Lookingglass Alice and All the Way
Meet Kevin Berntson of The Nest
Meet J. Paul Boehmer of As You Like It
Meet Molly Brennan of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Courtney Capek of A Christmas Carol
Meet Todd Cerveris of All the Way
Meet Brian D. Coats of The Nest
Meet Tad Cooley of Tribes
Meet Paul DeBoy of All the Way
Meet Allen Dorsey of A Christmas Carol
Meet Kevin Douglas of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Napoleon M. Douglas of A Christmas Carol
Meet Brian Dykstra of The Nest
Meet Isabel Ellison of Tribes
Meet Mariana Fernandez of FADE
Meet Kate Finch of Tribes
Meet Ella Galaty of A Christmas Carol
Meet Mike Hartman of All the Way
Meet Ben Heil of A Christmas Carol
Meet Carolyn Holding of As You Like It
Meet Drew Horwitz of As You Like It
Meet Maurice Jones of As You Like It
Meet Geoffrey Kent of As You Like It and All the Way
Meet Emily Kron of As You Like It
Meet Nick LaMedica of As You Like It
Meet Victoria Mack of The Nest
Meet Andrew Pastides of Tribes
Meet Shannan Steele of A Christmas Carol
Meet Carly Street of The Nest
Meet Samuel Taylor of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Lindsey Noel Whiting of Lookingglass Alice
Meet Jake Williamson  of A Christmas Carol
Meet Matt Zambrano of As You Like It