with Ryan Clemens

Who is that famous, funny, old fellow with wild hair and the mustache in the white suit? Why it’s Samuel L. Clemens – also known as Mark Twain – here to tell tales of his life and great works. Actor Ryan Clemens, a relative of Mark Twain (pen name of writer Samuel L. Clemens), brings to life the celebrated American author and humorist in this theatrical and engaging performance. In addition to sharing stories from Twain’s boyhood, Ryan Clemens tells how Twain got his penname on the Mississippi and offers humorous insights behind his classic stories. Audiences love watching Ryan Clemens deftly transform into the varied characters of Twain’s world – his performance will show you why Twain’s wit and wisdom remain poignant and laugh-out-loud funny today!

A Z Ticket Bank, FREE Family Time performance provided by Arts for Learning. Funding for this performance comes from Virginia Arts and Humanities Commission, Helen G. Gifford Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.
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Ryan Clemens is a performing and teaching artist who has written and performed as Virginia Stage Company’s Resident Theatre Artist. He has also spent several seasons performing with both the Virginia Shakespeare Festival in Williamsburg and Tidewater Stage in Virginia Beach, and he hones his improv skills as a member of Plan B Comedy. His great passion has always been sharing the wit and wisdom of his famous relative, Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain). Ryan holds a BA in Theatre from Western Washington University and an MFA in Acting from Regent University. As a theatre professor at Old Dominion University and the Governor’s School for the Arts, he has offered his knowledge and techniques to students of the performing arts.

Experience an amazing night of original music from some of Hampton Roads’ most dynamic and creative emerging artists, featuring Virginia Beach’s own BJ Griffin.

BJ Griffin’s July audition for America’s Got Talent received a standing ovation and unanimous raves from the judges. The Z helped inspire him to pursue his original music and is partnering with BJ Griffin in mentoring more musicians with the 2023-2024 Live at The Z music performances.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a 2001 American musical comedy-drama film written for the screen and directed by John Cameron Mitchell and based on Mitchell’s and Stephen Trask’s 1998 stage musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

The film tells the story of the “internationally ignored” rock singer Hedwig Robinson and her search for stardom and love as she tours the country with her band. The music is steeped in the androgynous 1970s glam rock style of David Bowie (who co-produced the Los Angeles production of the show), as well as the work of John Lennon and early punk performers Lou Reed and Iggy Pop.

The film won the Best Director and Audience Awards at the Sundance Film Festival as well as Best Directorial Debut from the National Board of Review, the Gotham Awards, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Mitchell received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and the Premiere magazine Performance of the Year Award.
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About Out on Film, Presented by David Nygaard
Join the Virginia Queer Film Festival and our local theater partners for Out on Film.

Presented by David Nygaard, a year-round schedule of full length LGBTQ+ films. We’ve curated a comprehensive collection of wide-release feature films and documentaries, and thanks to our presenting theaters, we will be screening one a month at one of the alternating locations listed below.
Produced in conjunction with Zeiders American Dream Theater (Virginia Beach), the Naro Theater (Norfolk), and the American Theater (Hampton).
Follow the Film Festival Facebook page or subscribe to our email newsletter for the complete schedule and dates.

Due to expected inclement weather, tomorrow’s Kids Comedy Show is canceled.

We invite you to exchange your tickets for the next Kids Comedy show on March 22!

Please call our box office at 757-499-0317 for assistance. 

Plan B Comedy Kids Show. A family favorite, this show offers a delightful mix of laughter, creativity, and memorable moments for everyone in an interactive setting. Our talented comedians create hilarious scenes on the spot based on your suggestions. So come and experience a unique, engaging performance that will have the whole family laughing together!

Plan B Comedy is very proud to be the resident comedy group at The Z. Performing regularly in both the Studio and the Main Stage, Plan B Comedy provides a high energy, fast paced and exciting experience. Plan B Comedy’s brand is “FUN” and it shows.

Unjustly cursed to spend her mortal life as a monster in isolation, Medusa seeks vengeance. All attempts to conquer her meet a swift and stony end. Her immortal sisters are condemned to watch her devastating existence, until one man on a quest to save his city discovers more than he bargained for.

Core Theatre’s new play plunges into the heart of the Medusa myth.
What creates a monster— cruelty, curse or choice? Can revenge ever fill the void?
We all have the power to take, but what is in the power to give?

Catch this world premiere at The Z : July 11-12, 18-19 at 8:00p, July 12&19 at 3:00pm

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Buy a ticket to Medusa and receive a $10 discount to Core Theatre’s Frankenstein playing June 10 & 11 at Wells Theatre-Norfolk.

Frankenstein Show info and Tix at https://tinyurl.com/CTEFrank

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 two Z stages. #MeetMeAtTheZ to celebrate art that makes a statement! 

VIEW FULL DETAILS

The Z Fringe Festival, April  10-12, 2026 is 3 days of self-produced, performance-based works in the Main Stage and Studio with ticket proceeds for each show going back to the producing artist. Performance submissions are open to works of any genre (and across-genres… and totally beyond genre categorization…) that have a viewpoint, that tell a story, and/or showcases of short works with a connecting theme – including Works In Progress.  Visual Art submissions are open to works in any media, including craft vendors.

The Z Fringe 2026 producers: Terry Flint, Moriah Joy, Jason Kypros, and Akin Ritchie