L.A. poet part of local lineup

Kristen Peterson, Las Vegas Sun

Friday, Nov. 3, 2006 | 7:23 a.m.

Beau Sia grew up a Chinese-American "nerd" in Oklahoma City perusing the "very limited" poetry sections at B. Dalton and Waldenbooks.

He read Charles Bukowski and dabbled in Khalil Gibran. After catching spoken word on MTV, he threw himself into the fray of oral wordsmiths. He was a 1996 Nuyorican Poets Cafe slam team member, featured in the movie "SlamNation" and HBO's "Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry" before landing a gig in Simmons' "Def Poetry Jam" on Broadway, which took home a Tony for Best Special Theatrical Event.

At 30, Sia is living in Los Angeles and focused on writing and compiling his poems, which follows his full-length parody of singer Jewel's poetry book - "A Night Without Armor II: The Revenge."

Tonight Sia joins the lineup of "Rotating Heads" at the Vegas Valley Book Festival in the Arts District.

QYou've had a long interest in poetry. What do you like best about spoken word?

It's raw and it's live. There is a whole other level of energy. It deals with language in a more conventional way. More direct.

Poet or spoken-word artist?

I don't like calling it spoken word, to be honest. It sounds like marketing.

Some would argue that poetry has become completely academic. Would you say that slam and performance poetry have brought it back to the masses?

It definitely helps because it doesn't have the air of, "You have to have this foundation of knowledge to understand my work."

Has it plateaued?

Parts of it have.

Which parts?

The adults who consider it a business. The thing that's exciting is when it's a live show and you're getting blown away by someone coming from where they really are.

Broadway was sort of a business.

On Broadway you don't realize that the people who can afford tickets are people who don't look like you. They're people who are in town and "Mamma Mia!" was sold out. They didn't want to hear about Palestine and globalization.

You often reference your Asian background. Is it officially part of your shtick?

I can't ignore it, but If I became an "Asian poet," I would become a spokesman for ramen noodles and Sony television, and I would feel like I have to maintain my identity to receive all of my goodies.

What are you writing lately?

Magical things. Things that are top secret and magical.

For film?

Yes. And TV. Short fiction. Long fiction - no, that's a lie. Songs. A one-person show.

Your work has included music. What will you be doing in "Rotating Heads?"

Just speaking. Hopefully it will be athletic.