Word Up! is a free, fun, festive word-based collaboration between audience and artist, hosted by Laura Z. This Mad Libs–style communal storytelling will feature a new performing artist every week, as well as special community guests from around San Diego. More of a gathering than a show or a class, Word Up! is a low-pressure opportunity for community members to connect with each other and with a new performing art medium each week.

Laura “Zee” Zablit (she/her/hers) is an Arts Engagement Programs Manager at The Old Globe and the creator and host of Word Up! Born and raised in San Diego, she has worked within the local queer, refugee, and immigrant communities, developing artistic programs and collaborative storytelling practices onstage and online. She earned a bachelor of fine arts in Drama and completed a bachelor of arts in Journalism at New York University.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with music by DJ Miki Vale, and drinks will be available at Lady Carolyn’s Pub. The show starts at 5:30 p.m.

Miki Vale is an international hip-hop artist, teaching artist, and commissioned playwright with The Old Globe. She has co-created physical and virtual spaces for women’s presence and engagement, such as SoulKiss Theatre (soulkisstheater.org), exploring the impact of hip-hop culture on race, class, and gender. In 2016 and 2018 she was the DJ and sound designer for the Globe for All Tour. mikivalethemc.com, @mikivalethemc.

These events will also be simulcast for free through The Old Globe’s YouTube channel, so everyone can enjoy this exciting collaborative theatre-making event.

All Word Up! Live events are now general-admission with no tickets required. Guests will be seated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Schedule (all events are 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted):

• Friday, September 10: Spoken Word with Angelo Pamintuan
  • Register here!

Past Word Up! videos here

COVID-19 Health and Safety Policy

Arts engagement programs at The Old Globe are generously supported in part by The James Irvine Foundation, Qualcomm, and the Ann Davies Fund for Teaching Artists.

Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego.

The Theodor and Audrey Geisel Fund provides leadership support for The Old Globe’s year-round activities.