Peace of Still by Sherilynn Cherry

Directed by Leila Stephanie

Asst. Director: Maryanne Kiley

Bella, a Pullman maid in 1928 tries to find self-worth through an illicit workplace relationship but when that relationship ends she develops a toxic connection with the “magic” of a gun. Will this newfound sense of empowerment lead her on a downward spiral or be her path to finding her value from within?

The Proteus New Plays Festival showcases staged readings of 4 scripts that have been developed in the Z Playwrights Lab or by Z Artist Members. The staged readings give the playwrights an opportunity to work with a director and a volunteer cast to see their script “on its feet” for the first time, and add the most crucial element to developing a play, The Audience! Each reading is presented twice during Proteus Festival. Audiences have the opportunity to rate the plays via a survey focused on the elements of writing an engaging script and story. Ratings are averaged to select the PNPF Audience Favorite. The Audience Favorite receives a workshop production 2-week run in June, closing out our 24-25 Curtain Up! New Plays Series.

VIEW THE FULL PROTEUS LINEUP

NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL SPONSORED BY

David R. Goode Charitable Lead Annuity Trust
The Shubert Foundation
Clyde Santana and Valli Meeks
City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission

PROTEUS FESTIVAL SPONSORED BY

1PM: You Have to Hear What I Hear by Ernest A. White, Jr. – Directed by Patrick Mullins, Asst Director: Jackie Adonis
3PM: A World of Flaws by Frederick Silvers – Directed by Patrick Mullins, Asst Director: Jackie Adonis
6PM: Riding The Bubble Bus by Kendra Louka – Directed by Leila Stephanie, Asst. Director: Maryanne Kiley
8PM: Peace of Still by Sherilynn Cherry – Directed by Leila Stephanie, Asst. Director: Maryanne Kiley

The Proteus New Plays Festival showcases staged readings of 4 scripts that have been developed in the Z Playwrights Lab or by Z Artist Members. The staged readings give the playwrights an opportunity to work with a director and a volunteer cast to see their script “on its feet” for the first time, and add the most crucial element to developing a play, The Audience!

Each reading is presented twice during Proteus Festival. Audiences have the opportunity to rate the plays via a survey focused on the elements of writing an engaging script and story. Ratings are averaged to select the PNPF Audience Favorite. The Audience Favorite receives a workshop production 2-week run in June, closing out our 24-25 Curtain Up! New Plays Series.

VIEW THE FULL PROTEUS LINEUP

The Proteus New Plays Festival Audience has voted…and your votes are in! Your winner for the Proteus Audience Favorite Award is back for an extended 2-week run! The highest-rated play from the 2022 Festival returns in a full-scale production in our intimate Studio Theater, as part of the Curtain Up! New Plays Series. #TheaterStartsHere

“Likker Outta Control, Busting Arlena Cartwright” Story by Clyde Santana, Stage Play By Clyde Santana and Buddy White

Directed by Jason Kypros

A Harvard-educated, moonshine-selling Mayor of a small, rural southern township clashes with a recently reassigned ABC Agent Supervisor, a Northerner from the big city, while her crew plans a 100-year birthday party for Aunt Baby Sis Cartwright, the town’s matriarch who is an American Hero and known to make the best illegal Moonshine in the state, and the Agent’s hell-bent on busting her.

by P.A.Wray
directed by Sharon Cook

When Frances, wife of General George Henry Thomas, a strategic winning general in the Civil War, finds out her now ailing and harassed husband has agreed to meet with a journalist with unknown motives, her protective instincts and suspicions go into overdrive, putting undue stress on her husband, and a bill at risk for passing. A bill that would protect the right to vote for Black Freedmen in the South – something her husband had fought hard to protect but failed.
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The Proteus New Plays Festival showcases community-driven staged readings of 4 scripts that have been developed in the Z Playwrights Lab or by Z Artist Members. The staged readings give the playwrights an opportunity to work with a director and a volunteer cast to see their script “on its feet” for the first time, and add the most crucial element to developing a play, The Audience!

Each reading is presented twice during the 2 weeks of Proteus Festival. Audiences are given the opportunity to rate the plays via a survey focused on the elements writing an engaging script and story. Ratings are averaged to select the PNPF Audience Favorite. The Audience Favorite receives a workshop production 2-week run in November, as the second Curtain Up! New Plays Series play of the 23-24 season.

Riding The Bubble Bus
by Kendra Louka
Directed by Leila Stephanie, Asst. Director: Maryanne Kiley
A doubtful high school graduate finds a magical crown which freezes time when he wears it, but as much as he wants to keep it on to stop his friends from moving away, he’s given keys to the open road.

The Proteus New Plays Festival showcases staged readings of 4 scripts that have been developed in the Z Playwrights Lab or by Z Artist Members. The staged readings give the playwrights an opportunity to work with a director and a volunteer cast to see their script “on its feet” for the first time, and add the most crucial element to developing a play, The Audience!

Each reading is presented twice during Proteus Festival. Audiences have the opportunity to rate the plays via a survey focused on the elements of writing an engaging script and story. Ratings are averaged to select the PNPF Audience Favorite. The Audience Favorite receives a workshop production 2-week run in June, closing out our 24-25 Curtain Up! New Plays Series.

Meet me at The Z for the FREE Proteus Block Party! Showcases of music, comedy, theater, kid’s entertainment, open mics, and interactive art projects take over Town Center this October in the don’t-miss free event of the season! Come see what The Z is all about-there’s no arts fest like Proteus!

• Main Stage:
  • 3:30 Kids Comedy
  • Video reels
• Studio:
  • 4:15 & 5:15 Children’s Theatre of Hampton Roads
  • 4:45 Z PLaywright’s Lab
  • 8:00 PM Plan B Comedy Show
• Lobby & Terrace:
  • GSA Art
  • CTHR mingle
  • Games
  • Vendor tables
• Plaza Stage:
  • 3:30-5:30 Rotation of Open Mic performers
  • 5:30 Festival Awards
  • 6:00 Headliner Performance
• VIEW THE FULL PROTEUS LINEUP