Our community partners at Arts for Learning invite you to this exciting early childhood arts integration symposium:

Calling all educators, artists, arts administrators, business and government leaders and members of the philanthropic community! You are cordially invited to a FREE one-day symposium focused on early childhood arts integration and social/emotional learning and development.

Thursday, May 18, 2023 — 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Continental Breakfast Beginning at 9 AM

Norfolk State University Dorothy Brothers Auditorium
NSU Student Center
700 Park Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23504

REGISTER TODAY

Join Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts for a day of interactive panel discussions, hands-on arts experiences, and workshops exploring how integrating the arts into early childhood classrooms can enhance children’s social/emotional development. Full symposium details, including national and local speakers and artists, to follow.

Participating teachers and teaching artists will receive a $50 gift card to obtain materials to support arts integration learning and instruction.

Lunch and certificates of attendance will be provided.

Interested in becoming a teaching (or performing) artist with Arts for Learning? Contact Drew Lusher, Artist and Programming Manager at [email protected].

Jennifer Gammill recently released her 5th studio album, entitled Insatiable.

Going in a decidedly pop direction, she follows her last Veer award-winning jazz album with even more heartfelt originals, complete with delightful harmony and her signature silvery voice. Jennifer laid down the piano and flute as well, the rest of the band studio musicians in Boston, MA, where Jennifer recorded under producer Bryan Fennelly after the studio walked her through their tried-and-true crowdfunding technique.

“I went a special place with this album, penning lyrics from my heart and always striving for the untraditional pop chord progressions. I hope these touch your heart!”

Available on all of your favorite streaming platforms, links can be found here: www.jennifergammill.com/insatiable-album-links.

The 4th album of Lo-Fi Hip Hop instrumental music by artist Mister Lo Figh is to be released soon. The entire 4 albums are available to listen to on Soundcloud and the first 3 albums are out on all platforms.

The 4th album Rain Drop Blues is a more laid-back and lo-fi processed album taking an even deeper dive into lo-fi instrumentals. Artist Michael Hensen, aka Mister Lo Figh will be performing in the Fringe Festival on Friday, April 7th at 10:30pm.

Intro and transition music will include some tracks from Mister Lo Figh, and Michael’s music along with MLF albums will be on sale during and after the show. Lo-Fi hip-hop music has become very popular over the last few years, especially during the height of the pandemic as many people were seeking some music sources to help relax and focus during periods of being alone.

The first 3 albums of Mister Lo Figh were developed during this time. The latest album is a play on some ukulele tracks and includes new instrumentation not included on previous albums.

Thank you very much for taking the time to get to know more about the artist Mister Lo Figh, aka Michael Hensen. IG : Michael_Hensen 1 Tiktok : @Ukelectric FB : MHBand

Art that pushes the envelope is taking over The Z this April. The Z, Zeiders American Dream Theater, located in Virginia Beach Town Center, has selected more than 30 new pieces of theater, dance, and performance art to create a weekend of adventurous works on stage.

“Monologues and new plays are just the tip of the iceberg,” said The Z’s Marketing Director, Jessi DiPette. “We are really looking forward to seeing new pieces of dance, magic, improv and a range of theatrical works.”

Productions range from 15-90 minutes, and the festival will truly be taking over The Z’s building.

“While a new horror play is performing on the studio stage, we will have a dance performance on the mainstage, and a musician playing on our terrace!” said DiPette.

“It’s really an immersive arts experience that caters to a wide range of interests.” Selected works range from “Black Girl Magic”, a popular cabaret directed by Sharon Cook of Hurrah Players, to “Traumedy”, a poetry and comedy piece by Roscoe Burnems.

In addition to debuting their new works in The Z’s state-of-the-art facilities with full tech support, performers will receive a share of the ticket sales.

“Our mission at The Z is really to support and uplift emerging artists in the area, and the Fringe Festival really gives us an opportunity to put a spotlight on the new, edgy pieces that might not be given a chance at your average theater,” said DiPette.

Want to go? The Z Fringe Festival debut at The Zeiders American Dream Theater April 7-8, 2023. 1 and 2-day all-access passes, and one-show tickets are available now online at thez.org/zfringe, or by calling the box office at 757-499-0317. Zeiders American Dream Theater is located at 4509 Commerce Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Zeiders American Dream Theater is funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission.

LICENSE & REGISTRATION Written by Kanya Edmonds and Niylah Mascall
Produced and Directed by Kanya Edmonds
*This casting call is for a one-act performance on Friday, April 7th*

Plot summary:
Two teenage friends, heading home one evening, must face the realities of society and their personal differences for the very first time when they are being stopped by the police.

Characters:
Nia: 17, female, African American. Reserved but passionate- likes to have fun. She is responsible and never gets in trouble. Cecilia compliments her personality well.

Cecilia: 17, female, Caucasian or non-black. Energetic and carefree. She and Nia have been best friends since freshman year. Not the best student academic-wise, but intelligent in her own way.

If interested, please fill out the form below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdIv4QQB7jbCyj0hVKLiYYvdxoiw9wDr38Gl9aQJ63q8gnClA/viewform?usp=sharing

And Email 1-minute monologue of your choosing to: [email protected]

PRIMING THE PUMP By Jean Klein

Looking for actors (2) M or F, age range variable – approximately 25 – 50,  for a 20-minute play, Priming the Pump. 

Fight for Life is a seedy “talk show’ which relies on the “Rage Room” school of therapy. As audiences have demand bigger and better arenas for, their ratings have begun to fall. The host, Burt Solomon, is looking at what may be his last hosting job. He has to keep the anger going. Two bodyguards chant periodically to rouse the audience’s rage.

When he hears from Grace Truman, a retiring, emotionally abused wife, he thinks he has found the perfect vehicle for the audience to identify with. And he plans a special twist for this guest, who seems compliant beyond belief. Will Burt’s strategy work or will Grace find another solution only she could have thought of.

Roles are Bodyguards in a Jerry-Springer-like talk show. Few lines, and lots of interaction with the audience. Performance on April 8, 7:20 PM at Zeiders American Dream Theater (The Z)  in Virginia Beach.

If interested, contact Jean at [email protected] with a headshot and brief bio.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (February 23, 2023) – A young Elvis impersonator learns that change is not necessarily a drag and other valuable life lessons in this heart-warming comedy The Legend of Georgia McBride by Matthew Lopez. The production runs from March 10 – April 2 at the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach.

Casey, a young man in Florida is down on his luck. He’s young, he’s broke, his landlord’s knocking at the door, and he’s just found out his wife is going to have a baby. To make matters even more desperate, Casey is fired from his gig as an Elvis impersonator in a run-down, small-town bar. When the bar owner brings in a B-level drag show to replace his act, Casey finds that he has a whole lot to learn about show business—and himself.

Performances run from March 10 – April 2 and are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm and Sundays at 2:30pm. Adult tickets start at $20; Senior, Military, and Student tickets start at $17 and children under 12 start at $9. Tickets are non-refundable, but may be exchanged for another performance of the same show (subject to availability) up to one hour before your scheduled show.

There will be a special performance on Thursday, March 16 at 8pm to raise funds for Hampton Roads Pride and LGTB Life Center. The evening will include a pre-show reception with complimentary champagne, snacks and a silent auction. Tickets are $25 each.

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About Little Theatre of Virginia Beach

Little Theatre of Virginia Beach is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization that has been bringing live theatre to the community since 1948. Our mission is to educate and to provide our community with quality live theatrical experiences at affordable prices while developing and showcasing local talent. Little Theatre of Virginia Beach is located just six blocks from the oceanfront on the corner of 24th Street and Barberton Drive and easily accessible to Interstate 264. For more information, call 757-428-9233 or visit ltvb.com.