Beau Sia, a renowned Tony Award-winning slam poet, was born to Chinese immigrants from the Philippines in Ohio and subsequently raised in Oklahoma City. This formative background would later influence his unique perspective and creative approach. He went on to pursue higher education at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
In New York City, Sia began his journey as a performance poet at the iconic Nuyorican Poets Cafe. This exposure led to his involvement with the 1996 Nuyorican National Poetry Slam team and a feature in the groundbreaking documentary SlamNation. Throughout his career, Sia has established himself as a two-time National Poetry Slam champion and published several collections of his work, including Well Played (2020),The Undisputed Greatest Writer of All Time (2010),and A Night Without Armor II: The Revenge (1998).
Sia's poetry often challenges and subverts Asian American stereotypes, offering a fresh and unapologetic perspective. His work has been featured in various anthologies, such as How to Make a Living as a Poet (2005),Poetry Slam: The Competitive Art of Performance Poetry (2000),and Poetry Nation: The North American Anthology of Fusion Poetry (1998).
In addition to his literary pursuits, Sia has also made appearances in films like Rachel Getting Married (2008),Hitch (2005),and The Manchurian Candidate (2004). He has also taken the stage on Broadway, earning a Tony Award for his work in Def Poetry Jam (2003). His performances have been covered by prominent publications, including Salon.com and the New York Daily News.
Sia's dedication to his craft has led him to facilitate workshops for organizations such as Urban Word NYC and Youth Speaks. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California, and continues to tour and perform his poetry around the world.
