Widower Ray Calabria battles 42 years of haunting memories as he nears the sale of his house to a young couple who, that same day, must make a life-shaping decision of their own. This is a love story of then and now. “Boxes of Someday” is told alternately in real time and as a memory play during which promises are made ~ some kept, others put away and forgotten, only to be remembered too late to be kept. The play is funny at times, tearful at others, and it is likely the story someone we know has already experienced, or one which we will eventually live ourselves.

A weekend of live music, interactive workshops and open mics returns to Town Center with the 2022 TasteBreakers Music Festival. 

Featuring headliner Violet Bell, the festival opens Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25. 

“Hampton Roads has always been jam-packed with talent and every year we strive for representation of every genre, but that is still only a small peek behind the curtain,” said The Z’s Music and Community Series Producer Liz Terrell. “The Z’s doors are open and, as always, we are filled with the creativity of the Hampton Roads community.” 

Beginning on Friday, festival-goers can take the stage in the free open mic showcase, then workshop new song ideas in the “Songwriting Party”, hosted with guest artists. 

“Inspiring creativity within our community is at the heart of The Z’s mission and workshops are the best place to do just that!“ said Terrell. “There are three workshop experiences included in the TasteBreakers Music Festival schedule. Our Songwriting Party will be a real hands-on experience for every skill set ranging from beginners to experts.”

The festival’s events on Friday and Saturday also see the artists teaming up to create and uplift each other’s works in new ways. 

“What I love most about some of the events in our TasteBreakers Music Festival is that they highlight our artists’ willingness to collaborate and support one another,” said Terrell. “You will see that best represented in the Songwriter Swap and The Z: Unplugged Showcase- you’ll definitely want to buy an All-Access Pass to ensure you can come see both!”

The Songwriters Swap sees artists leaving their creative footprints on each other’s works in an innovative concert, and “The Z: Unplugged” performances feature each singer/songwriter in a song-circle–accompanying each other and sharing stories about their songs & creative process. 

Headliner duo Violet Bell closes out the festival on the main stage at 8pm with a full set. The regionally-touring band blends the sounds of fiddle, guitar, banjo, and harmonies to create an innovative twist on Americana music. Lizzy Ross, a Maryland native, lends her soprano vocals to the instrumentation and harmonies of Omar Ruiz-Lopez fiddle, born in Panama and raised in Puerto Rico. Together they draw on their different backgrounds to create a unique perspective on traditional roots music. 

The TasteBreakers Music Festival runs 5:30-9:00pm on Friday, June 24 and 2-9:00pm on Saturday, June 25. 1-day passes for Friday or Saturday are $25, and a full weekend All-Access pass is $35. Tickets can be purchased online at TheZ.org/TasteBreakers2022 or by calling the box office at 757-499-0317. 

The vibrant convergence of poetic expression, civic engagement, and authentic voice takes center stage at the 16th Annual Hampton Roads Youth Poetry Festival. This celebrated event series, a staple in Hampton Roads’ cultural landscape, has evolved into a dynamic platform that empowers young poets to amplify their voices, foster social change, and showcase their boundless creativity.

During this FREE season finale, Hampton Roads teens will use poetry in their own re-interpretations of local oral history through the lens of experiences with current events.

Teens With a Purpose (TWP) believes that everyone has a story to tell. We are looking for committed, opinionated teenagers with an interest in performance poetry, theatre, songwriting, debate, rap or just being heard.  Together students will read, write, critically analyze, bond and can perform on premier stages throughout our region.

The Hear This Youth Poetry Festival is more than a local event; it’s part of a national network of youth literary arts and creative youth development organizations, including Urban Word, New York; Words Beats & Life, Washington DC; DewMore, Baltimore; Southern Word, Tennessee; & Youth Speaks San Francisco with alumni including Amanda Gorman, the Poet for President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2020. HRYP is a unique opportunity for students 13-19 years of age that puts young people at the center of their learning experiences as a way to engage them in their own education, through performance poetry.

The festival also provides young poets who are civically engaged with the opportunity to via for the prestigious Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) title. This title honors their poetic prowess + propels them to compete in the Eastern Regionals and potentially, the National YPL Competition. Youth Poet Laureate identifies youth writers + leaders who are committed to civic/community engagement, poetry & performance, leadership + education across Hampton Roads & Virginia.