Meet me at The Z to get creative! Form a Creative Team at Proteus Festival. All ages and levels of experience are welcome. Grab up to 5 friends and come to The Z on 9/27 at 6pm to receive your prompt. Then, over the course of 5 days, create a new work in one of these disciplines: theater, music, film or a mix of all three, and on opening day of Proteus Festival, 10/5 at 7:30pm, present that new work at The Z on the Main Stage. Creative Teams receive rehearsal space, technical support, and special access to all Proteus Festival events. Local professionals in each discipline are available to provide mentorship and lend a helping hand when you need one.

On October 5, our creative teams will kick off the Proteus Festival with performances. 

All levels of experience are welcome. For ages 16 and up! Email our Community Engagement Liaison Heather Shannon with questions.

VIEW THE FULL PROTEUS LINEUP

Comedy for all ages! Our improv troupe is back with laughs and smiles for the whole family!

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!

Learn from folk song duo Cindy and Shelly in this earth-friendly, environmental awareness program that teaches students about habitats, environments, biology, recycling, and conservation. The interactive program includes original tunes like “It Really isn’t Garbage,” “Bebop,” and “Someone’s Gonna Use it After You.” Children and families will enjoy this fun program celebrating our planet.

Presented in partnership with Arts for Learning and the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission. 

Cindy Kays and Shelly Potter have performed together for more than two decades as a children’s musical duo. Using stringed and percussion instruments, puppets, and props, Cindy and Shelly encourage students to participate with hand motions and singing. Their repertoire ranges from traditional and contemporary folk songs to original songs. Their four CD releases have all been awarded Parents’ Choice Awards for excellence in children’s music, a national honor.

Additional program support is provided by Arts Alliance, Helen G. Gifford Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.

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From “Anansi the Spider” to “Brer Rabbit,” traditional slave tales have hidden meanings that serve to educate and celebrate African American history. Storyteller Dylan Pritchett brings the early days of slavery to life through these tales that are wound tightly with themes of family strength and morals as well as lessons that teach about character and survival.

Dylan Pritchett shares his folktales with thousands of children and adults throughout the country, with positive messages that cross cultural boundaries. As the past president of the National Association of Black Storytellers, Dylan is dedicated to passing on the rich oral tradition of storytelling. In addition to live performances, Dylan has produced narration and served as a performer and consultant for a number of broadcast documentaries, including the PBS program, “View from the Mountaintop,” the Thomas Jefferson biography.

Presented in partnership with the Virginia African American Cultural Center and Arts for Learning. Free performance is provided through The Z Ticket Bank, special thanks to sponsorship from Virginia African American Cultural Center.

Additional program support is provided by Arts Alliance, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Photos and/or videos may be taken of adults and children at performances and used for promotional purposes, which may include social media, web, and print

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Family Time: The Z and community partners present a full season of original tales and family favorites in fun, engaging performances for theater-lovers of all ages! Family fun starts here! 

2 full weekends of creativity are back at The Z! 

Showcases of music, comedy, theater, kid’s entertainment, open mics, a silent auction, and interactive art projects take over our block of Town Center this October in the don’t-miss event of the season! Come see what The Z is all about-there’s no arts fest like Proteus!

GET YOUR ALL-ACCESS PASS TO GET TICKETS TO ALL EVENTS

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS: 

NEW PLAYS FESTIVAL:

9/30-10/1 and 10/5-10/7 at 7pm

Studio Theater

The 2022 Proteus New Plays Festival features four new works written in our American Dreamwrights Workshop. Join us for performances in repertory during Proteus and vote for your favorite show. Winner of the Audience Favorite will get an extended run in November. 2022 Selected Plays are: “A Cut Above” by Zachary and Christen Davis, “The Blood Cycle” by Benita Alane, “Likker Outta Control, Busting Arlena Cartwright” by Clyde Santana, and “No One Knows Her Song” by P.A. Wray

*”The Blood Cycle”, originally planned for Sept. 30, has been rescheduled to Wed. Oct. 5 at 7pm. Patrons who purchased a ticket for Sept. 30’s show can exchange their ticket for Oct 6 or 7 and see the Oct 5 performance for free. Please contact the Box Office with questions. 

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PLAN B COMEDY HULLABALOO

Friday, Oct. 7 at 8pm

Mainstage

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PROTEUS BLOCK PARTY

Saturday, Oct. 8 from 2-7pm

FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Your introduction to The Z starts this October! Our annual Proteus Block Party is the biggest don’t-miss FREE event of the season showcasing music, comedy, theater, kid’s entertainment, open mics, and interactive art projects. We’ll have our doors open wide for the community to come see what The Z is all about-there’s no arts fest like Proteus!

PARTY LIKE A VIP:  For $100 get a reserved seat at a VIP premium view table, then enjoy dinner and a show with catered food and private bar access during the Block Party, plus a ticket to the Proteus Music Contest at 8pm.

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PROTEUS MUSIC CONTEST

Saturday, Oct. 8 at 8pm

Mainstage Theater

The Proteus Festival Music Contest is for emerging and early-career musical artists!
See performances from our five finalists at Proteus Festival, and watch as a winner is crowned by a panel of music industry professionals. The grand prize is a headlining concert in the Live at The Z Music Series and a recording package in The Z’s recording studio.

VIEW THE FULL PROTEUS LINEUP

 

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