Word for WordPLAY

Adventures in Literature

 

Word for WordPLAY: Adventures in Literature
Fall 2026 at Z Below (470 Florida St. SF)
Saturdays, Sept 5, 12, 19, 26 | 10am–12pm

For the adventurous, curious, playful, and brave.

In this four-session workshop, students explore stories, poems, and songs through Word for Word's playful, one-of-a-kind performance style, bringing to life the words of Jack Prelutsky, Sandra Cisneros, Shel Silverstein, and more. Along the way, they'll build the confidence to dig into literature, honor an author's voice, and make bold, imaginative choices, all while developing the teamwork skills that turn any room into a place for adventure and joy. The class culminates in a casual performance of a story or poem, chosen from classic and contemporary children’s literature.

This is an all-levels class. Whether your child is new to acting or experienced, they'll find Word for Word a unique style that's easy to practice and fun to learn.

Class Details

  • 4 classes, 2 hours each (space is limited)

  • Ages 9–12

  • Saturdays, 10am–12pm, Sept 5–26

  • Analyze literature through Who, What, When, Where, and Why

  • Build core acting skills: public speaking, teamwork, decision-making

  • Express character through adjectives and action through verbs

  • Work as an ensemble to help bring an author's voice to life

What is the "Word for Word Style"?
 We bring books to life onstage, word for word. Plays are written for the stage, but stories and poems are written to be imagined, so performing them challenges young actors to stay emotionally flexible and inventive, following the author wherever the words go, sometimes all in one paragraph.

Play is how we grow. Come play, create, and grow with Word for WordPLAY.

REGISTER HERE
 

Gendell Hing-Hernández is one of Word for Word’s most experienced teachers. He has brought the joys of Word for Word to students all over the Bay Area and beyond. Additionally, he has taught for Berkeley Rep, A.C.T., TheatreWorks, Red Ladder, Shotgun Players, and many others. He has performed as part of the Word for Word School & Library Tour, the Word for Word France Tour and in many Word for Word productions. His Word for Word performances include: Oil, Food Stories, Lucia Berlin: Stories, and Retablos. He recently directed Citizen by Greg Sarris and has also been a movement consultant for Absolutely ScienceFiction! and Hard Times by Ron Rash. He is the director of Word for WordPLAY which launched its inaugural season this year with The Eyes & the Impossible by Dave Eggers.