The Word welcomes diverse voices and fans of poetry, spoken word, and all forms of creative writing.

TasteBreakers music festival is a daylong festival featuring exceptionally talented local and regional music acts from The Z’s annual TasteBreakers concert series.

The Vocal Jazz Summit brings together jazz enthusiasts, artists, and the greater jazz community in celebration of the art form. The weekend will engage festival-goers with live performance, interactive workshops and masterclasses, and networking opportunities.

The Z’s inaugural Shakespeare festival last season was a runaway hit. From the blockbuster re-imagining of “Voodoo Macbeth” through the riotous Bootleg-style production of “Romeo and Juliet,” No Holds Bard established itself as a wholly new kind of Shakespeare festival with a broad appeal to both the Billy Shakes novitiate and the Bard of Avon connoisseur. 

VB Comedy Fest highlights early-career stand-up and improv comics, with a strong emphasis on both growing the regional comedy base and showcasing nationally emerging comics. This year’s festival will expand a bit in duration to be as inclusive as possible while ensuring appropriate distancing practices.

Proteus Festival is The Z’s annual celebration of creativity. In keeping with the festival’s namesake, Proteus, the festival’s form shifts slightly each year. This year we are soliciting submissions in music, theater and film for featured performers.