Virginia Beach, VA – July 25, 2025 — Zeiders American Dream Theater (The Z) is proud to unveil the inaugural Z Creativity Honors, a new community-wide initiative honoring the powerful influence of creative arts across Hampton Roads.

The Z Creativity Honors aims to shine a spotlight on individuals from all walks of life—teachers, nurses, local business owners, military personnel, artists, and community volunteers—whose lives and contributions have been significantly shaped by their experiences with music, theater, visual art, dance, or other creative practices. The initiative celebrates those whose creative spirit fuels positive change and innovation in our region.

Honorees will be recognized at a gala event on September 13, 2025, hosted at The Z. During the evening, honorees will share stories about how art and creative expression have catalyzed their personal and professional achievements. 

The event will also featured a  chef-curated reception featuring bites from the area’s top culinary artists. Attendees can vote for their “Perfect bite” while enjoying beverages from The Z’s bar. 

Three categories of recognition will be honored: Business/Military, Community and Arts, alongside live performances and a host to guide the evening.

“The Z Creativity Honors is not just about recognizing artists—it’s about recognizing everyone whose life and work have been enhanced by creativity,” said Heather Shannon, Creative Honors Committee member. “We want to elevate stories from across our community that illustrate how art empowers individuals to innovate, connect, and serve.”

The Z Creativity Honors underscores The Z’s commitment to celebrating creative impact beyond the stage. By honoring creative influence across sectors—community service, business innovation, military leadership, as well as arts practice—the program reinforces the idea that creative experiences enrich every facet of life.

Apply at: https://the-muse.org/job-openings/

Position Title: Education Program Associate

Reports To: Senior Director of Adult Education and Director of Youth Programs

Summary: The Education Program Associate supports the daily operations of The Muse Writers Center’s adult and youth education programs. This position plays a vital role in the coordination of classes, communication with instructors and students, scheduling support, and administrative tasks that ensure the smooth functioning of our educational offerings. The role offers the opportunity for professional development and growth, with potential for future full-time advancement within the Education Department, including possible transition into a leadership role. This is an on-site position with some remote work as needed. Interviews will be held in August 2025.

Position Type: Part-time, non-exempt, in-person; 20-30 hours/week

Salary: Hourly rate: $16-$21/hour, depending on experience

Included Benefits: Unlimited free classes at The Muse; 40 hours of paid leave per year; vision and dental insurance if requested; 3-5% raises per year, based on performance and budget

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with the scheduling and coordination of adult and youth classes and workshops
• Provide administrative and logistical support for both programs, including email communication, form tracking, and materials preparation
• Support class registration, attendance tracking, and teacher/student communication
• Help maintain and update scheduling and reporting systems
• Collaborate with Muse Program Directors and Managers to plan events, outreach efforts, and community partnerships
• Participate in meetings and contribute to team initiatives as needed
• Support day-to-day teacher and student needs, both virtually and in-person
• Provide basic coordination support for the Fellowship program, including scheduling, communication, and logistical follow-up after initial setup by the Program Director

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Experience with administrative support or project coordination
• Interest in literary arts, education, or nonprofit work
• Proficient with standard digital technology, especially Zoom and in the Microsoft 365 environment. Ability to learn new systems and platforms
• Reliable, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic about teamwork
• Availability on some evenings and weekends
• Access to reliable internet and computer for remote work as needed

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience with Salesforce and/or CRMs
• Experience working in educational or arts organizations
• Familiarity with The Muse’s programs or similar writing centers
• A background in creative writing, education, or communications

Virginia Beach, VA — This summer, get ready to laugh until it hurts! The Little Theatre of Virginia Beach proudly presents Mel Brooks’ The Producers, a riotously funny and irreverent musical that took Broadway by storm, opening July 18th and running through August 10th.

Directed by Kay Burcher, The Producers tells the story of down-on-his-luck Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his nervous accountant, Leo Bloom, who discover they can make more money by producing a flop than a hit. Together, they scheme to put on the worst musical ever written—Springtime for Hitler—only to have their plan backfire in the most hilarious way imaginable.

Packed with show-stopping numbers, outrageous characters, and Mel Brooks’ signature comedic genius, The Producers is a musical spectacle like no other. With book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, and music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, the show has won a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

“This show is pure, joyful chaos,” says director Kay Burcher. “It’s a celebration of theatre, friendship, and the kind of comedy that reminds us not to take life too seriously.”

This production features a talented local cast, dazzling choreography, and big Broadway-style performances in an intimate setting just blocks from the oceanfront. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the show or discovering it for the first time, The Producers promises an unforgettable night of laughter and song.

Performance Dates: July 18 – August 10, 2025
Location: Little Theatre of Virginia Beach, 550 Barberton Drive, Virginia Beach, VA
Tickets: Available now at www.ltvb.com or by calling (757) 428-9233

Note: This show contains mature themes and language. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

The Producers 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 $28 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.  There is a discount for seniors, ages 60 and up, active duty military, and full-time students at $25 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. 

For media inquiries or to request press passes, please contact: Maris Smith at [email protected].

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/.