Come Celebrate. It’s Our 10th Anniversary!

Featured Musical Guest
ANTHONY ANURCA

Our Sponsors
Manifest Distilling YaYa Productions Stephen Dare

JOIN US

Join us Friday, July 10 for a special Story Slam celebrating our 10th Anniversary. Expect an unforgettable evening bursting with tales, treats, and libations. Sponsored by MANIFEST DISTILLING YAYA PRODUCTIONS, and STEPHAN DARE expect a lively mix of heart, humor, and surprise as storytellers take the stage to compete for audience votes.

Whether you share a story or cheer from the audience, you'll be part of the laughter, the surprises, and the unforgettable moments that have made Story Slams one of BABS'LAB's most beloved traditions. We will sell out. Buy your tickets now!
Tickets: www.barbaracolaciello.com/register/10yranniversary-julyslam-babslab2026

THE THEME: BUILT TO LAST

What endures?

A relationship that defied the odds. An appliance your grandmother swore by. A neighborhood that held its ground. A grudge. A recipe. A pair of shoes. A belief you can't shake no matter how hard you try.

Built to Last invites stories about the things, and the people, that stay. What in your life has surprised you with its staying power? What have you held onto? What has held onto you?

DRESS THE PART

Blue is the color of a 10th anniversary! Come decked out in Brilliant Blues. Every shade is welcome, from cobalt to turquoise, navy to periwinkle. Be bold. Be artful. Be a little Babulous Blue..

THE AUDIENCE DECIDES

Whether you tell a story or settle in to listen, everyone gets a vote. After the final storyteller, you'll cast your ballot for the story that resonated most.

STORYTELLER PRIZES

🎁 Winner’s Prize: Our first-place storyteller wins a $50 gift certificate to Castaways Vintage to Modern, an antique shop and record store offering art, furniture, gifts, boutique & more! It’s our Fave favorite place to dig for treasures.

✨ Second Place Get Some Love!
Receives a $20 gift certificate to a favorite local Jacksonville spot.

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT

What We've Made Together A history of moments July 2016 - July 2026

Curated by artist Tiffany Manning and Artistic Director Barbara Colaciello, this photo exhibition traces ten years of BABS'LAB moments — performances, classes, collaborations, celebrations, and the countless gatherings that transformed a small studio into an artistic hub and third space.

FIRST-EVER BABS'LAB ZINE RELEASE

What They Said
A Record of Listening
Curated by Barbara Colaciello
Published by Happy Tapir Press

Tonight we release our first-ever BABS'LAB zine — a collection of lines captured by audiences across a full season of Story Slams. The words that stuck. The phrases that flew across the room and landed somewhere unexpected. All proceeds support improvements and upgrades at BABS'LAB. $8.00

AUDIENCE CAPTURES WHAT THEY SAID

A listening game where audience members jot down the lines that STICK with them. Quick and intuitive, it’s a practice in catching the art of words as they fly. Inspired by storyteller Anna Jacobson, whose gift for catching unforgettable lines became one of BABS'LAB's most beloved rituals.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

DATE: Friday, July 10, 2026

WHERE: BABS’LAB, CoRK Arts District *Entrance located on Phyllis St. on the path between metal fence and palm tree across from Yellow House!

SHOW TIME: 8:00PM

PHOTOGRAPHY RECEPTION: 7:15 PM

TICKETS: $22.00

www.barbaracolaciello.com/register/10yranniversary-julyslam-babslab2026

ABOUT STORY SLAM

• 10 people's names are picked from the hat.

• Storytellers have 5 minutes each to tell a TRUE personal story based on a THEME.

• At the end of the evening the audience Votes for their favorite storyteller.

• Story must connect to the Theme.

• No notes. No props.

•Please no ranting, no preaching, no politicizing.

For more info: babslab@barbaracolaciello.com

JULY VISION to GROW CAMPAIGN

Celebrate where we've been. Invest in where we're going.

As part of its anniversary celebration, BABS'LAB is launching the Vision to Grow Campaign, a community fundraising effort with a goal of $10,000 to expand its creative capacity through new film equipment and improvements to the space.

A decade ago, the community raised $13,000 to transform an empty studio into a vibrant performance space with a stage, professional lighting, and sound system.

Now, BABS'LAB is inviting Jacksonville to help build the next chapter.

This isn’t just maintenance. It’s momentum.

👉 Click through to read the full story and discover how you can help shape the next decade of BABS'LAB.

barbaracolaciello.com/donation