Z Fringe Festival Auditions

January 01, 1970

AUDITION For Artist-Produced Works at the 2024 Z Fringe Festival

AUDITIONS: STEADFAST

WANTED – Actors who can SING for an excerpt of a new musical play by award-winning songwriter to be presented at the Z FRINGE FESTIVAL on Saturday, April 6 (late afternoon.)

This show is part of the works-in-progress portion of the Fringe. Lyrics and recordings to practice with by early/March. Some rehearsals via Zoom. MAXIMUM in person rehearsals = 4.
Parts – 3 males and 3 females. Some parts already cast.
Want more details? Please get in touch.


AUDITIONS: BACK FROM IRAQ

For New Musical Concert Reading
at Zeiders Theatre Festival on April 6, 2024
Each Cast Member to be Paid $100 for Performance on April 6th

Auditions Locations
Friday, March 1, Audition : Denise Walls Dance Studio, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
4020 Bonney Road, Suite 116, Virginia Beach 23452
Or Saturday, March 2, Audition: Fairfield Inn & Suites Town Center, 10:00 am to Noon
Meeting Room, 20 Constitution Drive, Virginia Beach 23462
Sunday, March 3, First Rehearsal: Harmony Yoga Studio, 3:15 to 6:00 pm
4540 Princess Anne Road, Suite 109, Virginia Beach 23462

RSVP Zoe Conner, Producer, by TEXTING 415-264-4941 with your name and which day you will audition. Be prepared to sing Happy Birthday and read scenes.

BACK FROM IRAQ Musical follows the young men and women from diverse backgrounds on a 90 minute fast-paced modern musical “boots on the ground” tour of duty in the Middle East.

See the CAST BREAKDOWN below. Also needed is a STAGE MANAGER as Narrator and two

FEMALE DANCERS. The Cast will not be needed again until April 1st through April 6, 2024 for rehearsals, tech and performance.
PIN-UP GIRL – Think Gwen Stefani. Pop singer/dancer with her own “Pussy Cat Dolls” dancers. She is a modern icon of the 1940’s bombshell who exudes self-confidence.
CAPTAIN – Male, about 30 years old, experienced with successful missions but bravado covers his fear of failure. He tries to live up to an idealistic role of a leader.
GRAMPS – Grandfather to Captain, sadder but wiser after Viet Nam. He is a bit stoic and hesitant to ever talk about his own war.
GUNG HO – The youngest recruit, athletic, strong, aggressive but feels pressure to please Marine Dad who has a chest full of medals.
GRIM REAPER – Black male knows violence from roaming with a gang in the streets but wants a better life for himself.
LEGS – Asian female Medic from a formal cultural background who wants to feel brave and empowered. She cannot dishonor her parents but she also can no longer live as a shadow of herself.
BRAINS – Very intelligent male who signed up after 9/11 to outsmart the enemy but has spent his life adrift and unattached to anyone.
BEAST – Male, funny, self-deprecating but a smart computer wiz. He loves to cook and eat and play video games and is very hairy.
HERRERA – BASED ON REAL SOLDIER (Mary J. Herrera) – Latin female gunner (from dancing/singing CORPS)
ACE – Male constantly focused on flying Apache helicopter (from CORPS)
FARSI – Female Interpreter educated from Iran (from CORPS)


This audition offers the opportunity to contribute to a vital conversation, shedding light on topics such as postpartum depression, societal pressures, and domestic challenges within relationships. Join us as we aim to educate and inspire our community through the art of storytelling.

The Z Fringe Festival Opens Visual Art Submissions

January 01, 1970

Calling all visual artists! Submit original works of art now through March 1!

Art that pushes the envelope is taking over The Z this April. The Z Fringe Festival showcases unique creative works in a weekend of adventurous theater and performance art. The Z is seeking talented visual artists to display their new individual works, gallery displays, or maker space crafts for a Fringe Gallery space.

Visual arts is a new category in the 2024 Festival, along with performance “works-in-progress”.

We are seeking:
🖌Single Artwork Submission – A single piece of visual art, any medium.
🖼Gallery Submission – Up to 4 pieces of artwork that are connected by a theme. Art mediums can be varied or the same for all 4 pieces. Connecting theme must be part of the Artist Statement.
🪆Maker Space Submission – 6’ table space for display of applied arts and crafts.

Learn more & Submit now

Virginia Stage Company: Sweeney Todd in Concert

January 01, 1970

[Norfolk, VA] – Virginia Stage Company is thrilled to partner with the Virginia Arts Festival in bringing Sweeney Todd A Musical Thriller to the Hampton Roads Community. VSC’s own Tom Quaintance joins VAF’s Rob Fisher who will serve as Music Director and Conductor.  This concert version of the famous Sondheim musical will feature the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and starring acclaimed American opera singer Rod Gilfry in the title role as well as several Broadway soloists.  This live concert will be performed at Chrysler Hall on April 13th.

Stephen Sondheim’s smash hit musical won eight Tony Awards when it premiered on Broadway in 1979 – including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Since then, “the Demon Barber of Fleet Street” has thrilled audiences around the world in theaters and concert halls. The Broadway, film and television stars who have taken on the iconic roles of this unforgettable musical include Angela Lansbury, Kelsey Grammer, Christine Baranski, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Emma Thompson and most recently Josh Groban. In this rousing orchestra and chorus performance led by renowned Broadway music director Rob Fisher (who serves as Virginia Arts Festival’s Goode Family Artistic Advisor for Musical Theater and American Songbook), a company of gifted Broadway singers joins the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in a performance that puts Sondheim’s unforgettable score front and center. Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd!

Tom Quaintance expressed his excitement about joining the production, stating, “I love Sweeney, and the opportunity to collaborate with Rob Fisher on this masterpiece is thrilling. Sweeney Todd with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus? With this powerhouse cast? The prospect  makes me giddy. Folks are going to want to attend this particular tale of Sweeney Todd..”

Original music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; book by Hugh Wheeler; from an adaptation by Christopher Bond; originally directed on Broadway by Harold Prince. Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick; originally produced on Broadway by Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, Martin Richards in Association with Dean and Judy Manos.

Sweeney Todd will be presented at Chrysler Hall on April 13th at 7:30pm. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.vafest.org or by calling (757) 282-2822.

For media inquiries or interviews, please contact Maris Smith at (757) 627-6988, x306 or [email protected] or Alli Pereira at (757) 282-2804 or [email protected].

The mission of the Virginia Arts Festival is to bring world-class performing arts to our citizens and visitors, impact the lives of students through outstanding educational programs, commission new works of national and international significance, and make a tangible difference in Hampton Roads through regional partnerships and cultural tourism.

The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is a leading cultural asset that is the source of regional pride, connecting everyone in Hampton Roads through the transformative power of exceptional musical performances and educational activities.

Virginia Stage Company is Southeastern Virginia’s leading theatre destination, serving an audience of over 24,000 annually, both at the Wells Theatre and throughout the community. Virginia Stage Company’s mission is “We make memories together, building community through the extraordinary power of sharing a story.”

Justin Kauflin’s GSA Jazz Series

January 01, 1970

Justin Kauflin’s GSA Jazz Series continues this month featuring The Z’s own Liz Brydge along with Chris Brydge on bass and Alan Parker on guitar. Admission is donation-based with proceeds benefitting the GSA Jazz Program.

Date: February 29, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm -8:15 pm
Location: The Governor’s School for the Arts
Miner Music Hall, 3rd FL
254 Granby Street
Norfolk, VA
McArthur Center parking garage recommended for parking

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/367842552560903

Wills for the Arts

January 01, 1970

The Arts Alliance is hosting a free program called Wills for the Arts for employees of arts organization and artists. You will be able to get a fully executed simple Will, Power of Attorney, and Advance Medical Directive documents with lawyer consultation free of charge. In the post-Covid-19 environment, we have modified our process for you to sign your documents.

Step 1 – Fill out the questionnaire at artsallianceva.org/services

Step 2 – Email the completed questionnaire to Shane Smith at [email protected] by close of business on Feb 14

Step 3 – A volunteer lawyer will contact you by email and set up a time to talk to you about your Will, Power of Attorney, and Advance Medical Directive wishes, if needed, and finalize the documents you want for your signature. You should reference the Arts Org you work for during this discussion.

Step 4 – Come to the offices of Williams Mullen (999 Waterside Drive, Suite 1700, in Norfolk) on Mar 21 at your designated time to sign your documents and take them home with you This service is available to all non-profit arts employees and individual artists that do not own their own business. We will be doing these on a first-come, first-serve basis. Space is very limited.

If you have any questions, please contact 757-383-6047 or [email protected]

VCA Launches Arts New License Plate!

January 01, 1970

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is excited to launch the redesigned license plate for the arts! On Friday, January 19, with the studio of VCA-grantee Charlottesville Ballet as the backdrop, the VCA announced the license plate and its availability through both local DMVs throughout the Commonwealth and the DMV website.

The plate – with its new colorful design – supports the state’s vibrant arts community. A majority of the fees for each Virginians for the Arts plate goes directly to the VCA and our grants are designated for artists and arts organizations.

By registering for the license plate, citizens support visual arts, performing arts, literary arts and more that inspire, connect, and educate all Virginians.

Register or Renew with the DMV!

Interested in supporting the VCA and raising grant dollars through the license plate? Sample social media posts, arts license plate slides, and an arts license plate poster are available on our website!

The VCA also has printed 18×24 posters for the promotion of the license plate. Click the link below to share how many and where to send them!

Request Free Posters
License Plate Resources and Information