Virginia Beach –  Zeiders American Dream Theater (The Z) and JazzVoice.com partner with the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation to celebrate the legacy of Ella Fitzgerald at the 5th annual Virginia Beach Vocal Jazz Summit June 5th-8th.

Known as “The First Lady of Song,” Ella Fitzgerald was born in Newport News, Virginia, the next town over from where the annual Vocal Jazz Summit is held in Virginia Beach. Celebrated as one of the most important jazz singers of all time, the directors of the Vocal Jazz Summit thought it paramount to reach out to the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation to honor and amplify Ms. Fitzgerald’s legendary career. 

The Vocal Jazz Summit is a premier performance & education conference specifically designed for jazz vocalists of all levels– from those who sing for the pure love of it, to those who gig professionally every night. It was created for jazz vocalists by jazz vocalists: Alexis Cole & Liz Brydge. 

Cole rightly states, “Ella Fitzgerald was The First Lady, not just the First Lady of Song! Her whole life long she gave back to children and the community, her spirit of generosity just as luminous as her creativity in music.”

Part of the summit’s mission is to nurture and inspire the next generation of jazz vocalists so it seemed a natural fit to partner with the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation which awards scholarships to exceptional jazz majors at colleges and universities. When asked to partner, the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation answered with a generous, “Yes.” 

They will make it possible for “Ella Scholars” attending East Coast colleges to attend the June Vocal Jazz Summit by paying for their travel, lodging, food and summit passes. 

Ella Scholars Anaïs Reno and Shayla Woods are thrilled about the opportunity to attend the June Vocal Jazz Summit. Reno excitedly shares, “Ella began a long-standing tradition of joy and warmth in music, and I’m honored to interact with a community that is celebrating that every day!” Woods warmly adds, “I am grateful for this opportunity to celebrate Ella’s impactful voice, and to meet people who share a passion for her, and jazz singing.”

Past Ella Scholars include Grammy winner Samara Joy, who also happened to take her first vocal jazz lesson from Vocal Jazz Summit Director Alexis Cole while at SUNY Purchase. Fitzgerald’s spirit of generous support reveals itself again in this tight-knit jazz community. 

Alexis Cole, founder of JazzVoice.com, and Virginia Beach producer, Liz Brydge, of Zeiders American Dream Theater, have created an amazing lineup of Grammy-winning and nominated artists including Samara Joy, Kate McGarry, Theo Bleckmann, René Marie & Christie Dashiell alongside a schedule of workshops, masterclasses, and jam sessions at this richly packed annual conference. Sunday, June 8th’s Ella Celebration Concert will feature René Marie and 2025 Grammy-nominated Christie Dashiell. 

History of the Vocal Jazz Summit: 

Cole served in the U.S. Army from 2009 to 2015 as the vocalist with the West Point Band’s big band The Jazz Knights. Since then, she has built a notable career as both performer and educator. During the height of the Covid pandemic, she pioneered an online vocal jazz educational ecosystem that brought together vocalists from around the world with a team of her jazz vocalist peers & educators and founded JazzVoice.com.

Liz Brydge, a pillar of the Hampton Roads 757 Arts scene, and nonprofit Zeiders American Dream Theater’s Music and Community Series Producer has been a part of The Z’s team since the beginning and sustains a robust jazz singing career of her own.

Brydge and The Z’s first Artistic Director, Bart Kuebler, who served in the Army as a musician with Alexis Cole, conceived of the Vocal Jazz Summit. They noticed a gaping hole in the educational and artistic offerings for jazz vocalists and wanted to fill it with a dedicated event at Zeiders American Dream Theater. It was then that they reached out to Cole and worked toward the first Summit in 2021, which was completely virtual due to the pandemic. 

Now in its fifth year, the Vocal Jazz Summit is fast becoming the premier vocal performance and education conference in the U.S. and beyond, with attendees coming from as far away as Brazil, Japan and Australia.

Anaïs Reno is a New York City-based jazz singer who has studied jazz performance at SUNY Purchase. Having won several accolades including the jazz award in the American Traditions Competition, the Mabel Mercer competition and Julie Wilson award, Anaïs has performed in venues such as Birdland, Carnegie Hall, The Django, Dizzy’s, Chris’ Jazz Café, Madison Square Garden, the Caramoor Jazz Festival, PizzaExpress, the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, and others. Her album “Lovesome Thing”, celebrating Ellington and Strayhorn, rose to number 6 on the jazz chart in 2021. She sang  “America the Beautiful” for the Mets/Yankees 9/11 game in 2021 on national television. Anaïs released a live record with London’s PizzaExpress in 2024, and will be releasing one under Club44 with Peter Bernstein, David Wong and Joe Farnsworth this May. 

Emani Jones is a junior at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and majoring in the Jazz Studies program under Vocal Performance. She is hoping to become a singer-songwriter after getting her bachelors degree and sing around the world. 

Shayla Woods is a NY based vocalist. Shayla began singing when she was a child. She has experience in choral singing, musical theater, and jazz singing. 

She has studied with Elena Heimur where she developed a foundation of opera technique. She is currently studying Jazz at City College of New York. Throughout her Jazz studies so far she has gained insight into what will truly help her develop into a well rounded musician. She is passionate about the study and art of improvisation. Some of Shayla’s influences are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, Wayne Shorter. Shayla is a songwriter, and is working on her writing process as well. 

Julia Head, also known as Ju’Wel, was born and raised in Cleveland, OH. Julia has been singing for as long as she can remember, growing up in The House of God Church Keith Dominion, where she was immersed in music from an early age. Coming from a musically inclined family, Julia was surrounded by melodies; her mother, Janna Head, is a talented singer who regularly leads praise and worship at their church, while her father, William Head, is a singer and also plays the Hawaiian steel guitar.

Julia received classical training as a vocal major at the Cleveland School of the Arts, where she also served as choir president. However, It wasn’t until her junior year that she was introduced to the realm of jazz music, which allowed her vocal abilities to truly flourish. This newfound love for jazz opened doors for her to perform on various prestigious stages, including Karamu House, the oldest Black producing theater in the U.S. She also contributed as an assistant teacher in a teen summer musical theater program at Karamu House.

Throughout her journey, Julia has had the honor of singing at renowned venues such as the Cleveland Institute of Music, Playhouse Square, and Severance Music Center. She has performed for significant events, including the ‘Lakewood Alive’ festival, for Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and at the Cavs Arena. 

Julia graduated from the Cleveland School of the Arts in June 2023. In her first year of college, Julia attended Cuyahoga Community College as a Jazz major while also excelling as a student-athlete on the volleyball and track teams. She then transferred to North Carolina Central University in August 2024, where she is currently an Ella Fitzgerald scholar in the Jazz program, pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Music. Julia continues to thrive as a Dean’s List student and is an active member of the NCCU Jazz Ensemble, dedicated to cultivating her talent in every way possible.

The Z is proud to announce the opening of applications for the 2025 Z Creativity Scholarships, a prestigious award recognizing exceptional artistic talent and creative passion among graduating high school seniors in the Hampton Roads Southside region.

Each year, The Z awards two $1,000 scholarships to students who demonstrate outstanding creativity and a commitment to pursuing the arts in their post-secondary education. The scholarship reflects The Z’s mission to nurture emerging artists and celebrate innovation across all creative disciplines.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a senior at a high school located in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, or Suffolk.
• Must be planning to continue participation in the arts through college, university, technical school, conservatory, or other post-secondary training.

Key Dates:

• Application Deadline: June 6, 2025
• Scholarship Awards Announced: June 29, 2025, at The Z’s Season Wrap Party

Interested students can apply online at https://thez.org/scholarships/.

Love is in the air as the GSA Department of Theatre and Film proudly presents Almost, Maine, a charming and magical romantic comedy by John Cariani. Performances will take place May 8–11 at Old Dominion University’s Goode Theatre: 4601 Monarch Way, Norfolk, VA 23529

Under the northern lights in the fictional town of Almost, Maine, this heartwarming play explores love in all its forms through a series of whimsical and poignant vignettes. Each scene captures a moment of love lost, found, or rediscovered, with a blend of humor, wonder, and a touch of the surreal.

Directed by Sean Dugan, this dynamic production features a talented cast of 16 performers, including 4 understudies, each taking on multiple roles to bring the residents of Almost to life. In a bold, creative mood, two separate Act Two casts perform on alternating nights. This innovative approach not only doubles the talent onstage but also invites interpretive freedom and joyful exploration, creating a unique experience with every performance. You don’t want to miss this wonderful show! Tickets are available now at https://gsa.booktix.com/dept/Theatre/e/AM. Prices are $20, with discounts available for students and seniors.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic of Almost, Maine — where hearts are opened, love is unexpected, and anything feels possible under the northern lights.

Virginia Beach, VA — The Little Theatre of Virginia Beach is excited to announce its upcoming production of Ripcord, a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud comedy by David Lindsay-Abaire, running from May 23 through June 15, 2025.

In Ripcord, two unlikely roommates in a retirement community—spunky, spirited Abby and her cautious, wary new neighbor Marilyn—find themselves locked in a battle of wills. The stakes? A coveted spot by the window in their shared room. What begins as a simple rivalry escalates into a series of outrageous challenges, from skydiving to high-stakes pranks, with both women determined to win. A delightful blend of humor and heart, this show is a rollercoaster of absurdity, wit, and unexpected friendship.

Directed by Sherry Forbes, Ripcord is a quirky, touching exploration of aging, competition, and the relationships that develop under the most unlikely of circumstances. Whether it’s skydiving, scheming, or simply trying to outwit one another, Abby and Marilyn’s rivalry proves that sometimes the best way to find a friend is through a series of hilariously absurd challenges.

Come and experience this hilarious new comedy at the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach! Whether you’re a fan of comedy, drama, or simply enjoy a night out at the theater, Ripcord promises to deliver an evening of laughter, heart, and a good time.

Ripcord will be performed at the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach located at 550 Barberton Drive, Virginia Beach, VA.  Showtimes are as follows: Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00PM, and Sunday matinees at 2:30PM.   Tickets start at $25 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under.  There is a discount for seniors, ages 60 and up, active duty military, and full-time students at $22 tickets.  Group discounts available for groups of 20 and more. Tickets are currently available for purchase and can be obtained through the theater’s website at www.ltvb.com or by calling the box office at (757) 428-9233.