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. Featuring exciting, self-produced works on three Z stages, including 2 new pieces produced by The Z and The Z Fringe Co-Producing Artists, Jason Kypros and Brittney Harris. Celebrate art that makes a statement at The Z Fringe Festival! Artistic Innovation starts here.

The Z Fringe Festival, April 7-8, is 2 days of locally produced, performance-based works in the Main Stage, Studio, and on the terrace (weather permitting) with ticket proceeds for each show going back to the producing artist. Submissions are open to performance-based art of any genre (and across-genres… and totally beyond genre categorization…).

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The Z is partnering with YWCA South Hampton Roads to bring an original play by local playwright, Jean Klein, as our season’s community partnership PAY WHAT YOU CAN event.

Refraction of Light explores friendship and prejudice in post WW2 America, more specifically in the Berkley neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia.

Registration is required for the play. Pay What You Can registration of $0 to $30 per person with the opportunity to donate more on the donation page during your online check out. Talk Backs following Friday & Saturday evening performances and Sunday matinee.

Rising Tides, Rising Tensions: a traveling community art exhibit by Renée Calway will be displayed in the Main Stage Lobby throughout this production.

Recommended for ages 12+

Learn how to get your written works published and copywritten in this workshop with industry experts Michael Smith & Jean Klein.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP LEADERS:

Michael M. Smith was born in Charleston, SC and is a proud product of the Gullah heritage. After high school he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia where he studied electronics engineering. He also served as Minister of Music and Associate Pastor in the Atlanta area for 16 years. In 1999, Michael relocated to Virginia Beach, VA. For more than 17 years he has served as Minister of Worship & Arts (worship pastor) at Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA. He has been the director of Ebony Impact Gospel Choir at Old Dominion University for more than 10 years. Michael has been writing and producing music for more than 40 years.
“Intergenerational” is one of the best ways to describe Michael’s music. The influences of growing up in the Low Country of Charleston, SC as a “PK” (preacher’s kid) and spending more than a decade in Atlanta, GA serving in music ministry come across in the rhythmic nature of the songs Michael writes. You see his cultural heritage manifested each time he sings and leads worship with his infectious exuberance. An electrifying performer, Michael has toured in the US, Europe and Africa sharing his brand of passionate Gospel, as well as flavorful Jazz and R&B. You cannot sit still when Michael is on the stage. Michael has written and produced for a variety of artists with music charting on radio stations across the country. He is constantly mentoring new artists and sharing his wealth of experience.

Jean Klein, a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University and the Iowa Writers Workshop, is a public speaker, educator, essayist, and playwright. An O’Neill semi-finalist, she has had plays produced across the USA, Europe, and Australia. She has founded and helped sponsor numerous playwrighting development groups: The Tidewater Dramatists Guild; the Virginia Playwrights Forum, and The Z Playwrights Lab at Zeiders American Dream Theater. She has taught playwriting at Carnegie-Mellon University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University and Wilkes University. She helped developed a new low-residency playwriting program for the Maslow Family MA/FA Creative Writing program at Wilke University in Wilkes-Barre, PA. She is the founder and owner of Blue Moon Plays, LLC, a dramatic publishing company. Currently, she has 2 plays being produced at Zeiders American Dream Theater. “Priming the Pump” is an intense look at American culture and “Refraction of Light”, a show of love, laughter, and betrayal in Berkeley, Virginia, in the 1940.

Free with Z artist membership; $10 suggested donation for non-members

Artist Member Events: The Z Artists and local art-lovers are invited to this series of interactive workshops, Master Classes, and social hours aimed at cultivating creativity and community! Your creative spark starts here! BECOME A Z ARTIST HERE

Premier Drag Queen Entertainer Vivian Valentine performs live on The Z's Main Stage Theater.

Community-favorite Plan B Comedy hits the Main Stage of Proteus for an evening packed with comedy! Our resident comedians of Plan B Comedy Troup offer a raucous evening of Sketch, Improv and Stand Up to give you a sampler platter of what the Plan B season has to offer.

Plan B Comedy Series: Performing regularly in both the Studio and the Main Stage, Plan B Comedy provides a high-energy, fast-paced and exciting experience to audiences of all ages. Plan B Comedy’s brand is “FUN” and it shows. Comedy starts here!

PROTEUS FESTIVAL SPONSORED BY

Kick off your Proteus experience with our Creative Team Performances! Creative Teams, comprised of local artists of all ages and experiences, have created new works in theater, music and film over the course of 5 days with support from The Z. Dive into the heart of the festival and a cornerstone of The Z’s mission: to foster new works and provide professional support to those with a passion for the arts understanding that creativity builds community.

VIEW THE FULL PROTEUS LINEUP