Maeve Bauer, Spectrum Editor
Gallery5 is hosting “Wild at Heart,” a poetry reading featuring some of Richmond’s most zany poets this Saturday, March 21. There will be a variety of variety shows and poetry readings, with doors at 5 p.m. and the show starting at 5:30 p.m.
“Wild at Heart,” is not your average poetry reading. The night will start out with “shocking and salacious truths from Joe Mack, Kathryn Schmidt and Layla Thakkar.”
Audiences will then hear a set from Sophie Colette, a Richmond-based, New York-frequenting indie pop artist. The night will end with an eye-popping show from the “Ballerina of Burlesque” Kayy Lovely — who is “sure to rip your faces off in the most sensual manner,” per the show’s Instagram.
This will be Lovely’s fifth time performing at “Wild At Heart.” Though Richmond is her home — having taught a body positivity movement lecture at the University of Richmond — the performer has traveled the northern hemisphere, recently making her international debut in Montréal, Canada at the “Bagel Burlesque Expo.”
This is not “Wild at Heart’s” first reading. The group started in 2024, after the creator of the event, Nate Waggoner, did a Richmond edition of “Red Light Lit,” a reading series on the West Coast.
It evolved into “Wild at Heart” after one of the performers at the first show, and former event coordinator at venue the Basement, asked if he could put on another one. This upcoming Saturday will mark their fourth reading at Gallery5.
“I said it had to be my own thing — ‘Red Light Lit’ is exclusively about dating and relationships, and I wanted to be more expansive thematically, and maybe more shaggy and kooky. More Richmond,” Waggoner stated in an email.
Meet the performers
Joe Mack is an author who works out of the Northside of Richmond. Though he is unsure about the piece he will be reading, Mack knows it will be fiction.
Mack got involved with “Wild at Heart,” after taking one of Waggoner’s classes at the Visual Art Center of Richmond — thinking the event would get him to write, at the very least. Though he has attended different readings in Richmond, “Wild at Heart,” is the only one he’s read in himself.
“I thought readings were either a genius behind a podium, or otherwise an embarrassing open mic type situation. Wild at Heart is looser and less intimidating than the former and more curated and inspiring than the latter,” Mack stated in an email. “There’s a goofiness to it, the good kind of awkwardness. The energy is always in flux. Things can go from earnest to funny to erotically charged. There’s so much talent in Richmond, and Nate has a good nose for it.”
Next up is a lady of many hats, Kathryn Schmidt. She works as a teacher and coach while also being a company member of Coalition Theater. The venue is home to multiple comedy shows all connected by the same mission; creating an inclusive space for all through the power of laughter.
Schmidt belongs to the improv troupe “Richmond Famous.” March 13 marked this year’s inaugural show, hosted by newcomer Hamilton Glass. Following tradition “Richmond Famous,” invites different people from the Richmond area to participate as the show’s featured guest.
Last of the poets will be Layla Thakker — a Richmond-born-and-raised VCU alum.
To keep the good vibes grooving, Sophie Colette will play a collection of her songs. Her music could be described as soothing and eclectic. Mixing the soothing sounds of her voice with a funky-synth-pop beat.
Colette originally moved to New York to study fashion, there she got involved with different music projects and eventually found herself in a record deal with Degraw Sounds, according to her website.
“Kisses from Clay Street,” is the artist’s debut EP, released in 2023. Colette was marked as a “glamglare” favorite artist — an independent music-focused publication.
Tickets are $12 in advance and will be $15 at the door. More information on “Wild at Heart,” can be found at gallery5arts.org.