Happy Birthday, Mr. Shakespeare!

Saturday, April 20, 2019
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Copley Plaza at The Old Globe

Come and celebrate the Bard’s 455th birthday with a free AXIS event! A fitting and festive reason to recognize his countless contributions to arts and culture around the world. This exciting day for the whole family will include birthday games and activities, free crafts, and cookie decorating. Check out the safe sword-fighting demonstration and workshop hosted by George Yé. There will also be both modern and Elizabethan music and dance by San Diego musicians and performers. This year, we bring the sonnet presentation with a reloaded version that will include a sonnet-writing competition! Winners will get two free tickets to the Summer Shakespeare Festival season!

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.: Introduction.
11:10 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.: Write Out Loud presents NEA BIG READ Traveling Symphony’s Shakespeare in Exile, Featuring a traveling troupe-style presentation from Station Eleven.
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Romeo and Juliet masquerade-ball dance demo and workshop, choreographed and instructed by Matt Carny from San Diego Ballet.
12:35 p.m. – 1:35 p.m.: Safe sword-fighting demonstration and workshop, instructed by Ben Cole from North Coast Repertory Theatre.
1:35 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Sonnet-writing competition presentation by The Old Globe/USD Shiley M.F.A.s Carlos Angel Barajas, Yadira Correa, and Morgan Taylor.

On the plaza:
Free cookie-decorating station
Ruff-making station
Face painting
Sonnet-writing competition station
Lawn games
Elizabethan props for photo ops

Plus, a Globe open house from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., featuring a Shakespeare-inspired costume display by Charlotte Devaux.

The day’s events will be hosted by Damon J. Shearer.

coLAB and AXIS are programs supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation. Financial support of The Old Globe is provided by The City of San Diego.