Name: The Poetry Brothel NYC: MONSTERS!
Start: 2026-10-31T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-10-31T21:00:00-04:00
Location: The House

Unleash your inner monster this Halloween with The Poetry Brothel NYC!
About this Event

Welcome to a shadowy underworld where pulp fiction, creature features, cabaret, and poetry collide.

This October, The Poetry Brothel NYC invites you into the shadows for MONSTERS, an immersive Halloween literary cabaret and film-noir fever dream of things that go bump in the night.

The city is crawling with crimson-lipped creatures, wolves in suits, and vampires swallowing secrets at the end of the bar. Every femme fatale has an alibi full of holes, and every private eye is one dark alley away from becoming a midnight snack.

Throughout the evening, NYC's poets and multidisciplinary artists bring this strange world to life through original poetry, live jazz, movement, tarot, visual art, and theatrical characters. Hear poets perform onstage, request a custom typewritten poem, have your fortune read, or meet a featured poet for a personal one-on-one reading in a designated, bespoke reading area.

Lose yourself in performances strange, beautiful, and slightly unhinged. Dress as the darkness you fear, or as the creature you’ve been hiding beneath your skin.

The question isn’t whether monsters are real. It’s whether you’ll recognize one before it gets too close.

Come alone, with an accomplice, or with your whole pack. Come glamorous. Come monstrous.

Doors: 6pm
Show: 7pm - 9pm

Dress To Impress

Fur. Feathers. Claws. What does the monster inside of you look like? Immerse yourself even deeper into our world by coming in costume or character. Check out our mood board for some inspiration.

What is The Poetry Brothel?

The Poetry Brothel is a 17 year running immersive, literary cabaret with chapters across the country—including Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, and Boston. We are also international, with chapters in London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Madrid. However, the New York City chapter is the original group of poets and artists who founded this worldwide phenomenon.

We blend poetry and vaudeville, intimacy and immersive, cabaret and activism. Whether you are a poet yourself, a fan of the art, or a lover of theatre, immersive, cabaret, or club culture, this show has something for everyone.

We are a collective of artists and poets with a mission to uplift our communities. We honor the sacred tradition of sex work by casting current and former sex workers, sparking conversations to destigmatize sex work, educating our audiences on consent and current issues in sex work, and donating a portion of all profits to GLITS (Gays & Lesbians in a Transgender Society). We hope to foster a safe space for sex workers, our LGBTQIA+ community, and our greater community of artists.

Consent is Sexy (and Mandatory)

Consent is mandatory and kindness is key.
The Poetry Brothel is a no-contact event, here to tickle your mind, heart, and spirit—nothing else! Always ask before touching anyone in our House, and report any discomfort to security, staff, Madam, or Maitre D' without delay.

Accessibility

This event is only partially wheelchair accessible.
The main show and all stage performances are in the main room, which is wheelchair accessible and has some seating. Private readings and some other experiences will be down a steep flight of stairs. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Our show includes flashing lights, reasonably amplified music, and fog machines. Non-alcoholic drinks will be available. Food will not be available.

We have a limited number of Pay What You Wish tickets available for those facing financial insecurity. Please reach out to if you have any questions or requests concerning accessibility.

Additional Details

This event is 21+ with a valid ID.
The Poetry Brothel NYC is brought to you by The Poetry Society of New York.
Become a PSNY member for access to discounted and/or free tickets to future Poetry Brothel events, and so much more: https://poetrysocietyny.org/join.

Agenda

🕑: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Doors

Info: Darlings, grab a drink, a typewriter poem, a private reading, and immerse yourself in the wonderful wide world of The Poetry Brothel!

🕑: 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Show & Private Readings

Info: Join Madame Sleaze as the not-so-honorable businesswoman behind this sexy operation and her delightful den of poets, burlesque, variety, and jazz performers!