WKU Hosts Semester's First Open Mic Night

Department of English event showcases student and faculty creativity across genres

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Western Kentucky University's Department of English hosted its first open mic night of the semester on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The event featured 15 performers sharing a range of creative works including poetry, fiction, and screenwriting. Organized by third-year MFA candidate Heather Neidlinger, the open mic nights have a long history in the department and have seen growing attendance over Neidlinger's time at WKU.

Why it matters

The open mic nights provide a platform for WKU students and faculty to share their creative writing and performance skills, fostering a sense of community and artistic growth. The events have helped inspire some attendees, like Neidlinger herself, to pursue further creative writing studies and opportunities.

The details

The 15 performers included two professors and two other MFA candidates. Participants expressed that the open mic nights help them gain confidence, receive audience feedback, and think about their work from new perspectives. Neidlinger aims to create a 'safe space' for the performers to share their work.

  • The open mic night took place on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • There will be two more open mic nights this semester on March 26 and April 23.

The players

Heather Neidlinger

A third-year Master's of Fine Arts candidate for poetry who organized and hosted the open mic night.

Merv Mustapha

A senior hospitality management major who attended the event and was inspired to express his own thoughts out loud after hearing the performances.

Elaine Pham

A senior architectural science major who attended the event and felt inspired to do some journaling after hearing the poems.

Noah Payton

A junior film major who performed a reading of a screenplay and reflected on the importance of audience feedback for his artistry.

Abigail Goehner

A freshman English literature major who shared a poem about growing up in the South and found the experience 'exhilarating' despite usually feeling scared to perform.

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What they’re saying

“It's been going on for quite some time. I've been a reader at it for pretty much the whole time I've been up here.”

— Heather Neidlinger, Third-year Master's of Fine Arts candidate for poetry (wkuherald.com)

“I actually wasn't going to go for my MFA initially. And I went to a couple open mics, and I read at them, and I liked it so much that I took a creative writing class… and then I was encouraged to go for the MFA program.”

— Heather Neidlinger, Third-year Master's of Fine Arts candidate for poetry (wkuherald.com)

“Definitely hearing all these poems, I want to express my thoughts out loud.”

— Merv Mustapha, Senior hospitality management major (wkuherald.com)

“It's inspired me for a journaling prompt tonight. So I feel a little more introspective now.”

— Elaine Pham, Senior architectural science major (wkuherald.com)

“I can come up with stories all day and come up with things, but then again, you're making it for an audience.”

— Noah Payton, Junior film major (wkuherald.com)

What’s next

There will be two more open mic nights this semester on March 26 and April 23. For any questions or interest in participating, contact Heather Neidlinger at [email protected].

The takeaway

The open mic nights hosted by WKU's Department of English provide a valuable platform for students and faculty to share their creative work, build confidence, and foster a sense of community around the arts. The events have inspired some attendees to further pursue their own creative writing and performance interests.