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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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!

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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.

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Sponsored by: 

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!

FEATURING:

On the Terrace & Plaza: Join in our community art project and outdoor performances, plus an open mic sampler featuring a preview of our spring musical, Rathskeller: A Musical Elixir!

Studio: Rotation of performances by the Children’s Theater of Hampton Roads, Plan B Comedy, and more!

Main Stage: Relive some of our favorite performance highlights and see what our main stage is all about!

Main Lobby: Interactive art projects, a vendor fair, and family fun area!

VIEW THE FULL PROTEUS LINEUP

SUBMIT TO PERFORM

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.

The Vocal Jazz Summit is an annual conference designed to bring together jazz enthusiasts, emerging and established artists, industry leaders, and the greater jazz community to connect and engage one another in celebration of the artform, present unique educational experiences, and provide an environment to nurture and grow the jazz community. The weekend will engage festival-goers with live performance, interactive workshops and masterclasses, and networking opportunities.

Head to Town Center on August 14 for an afternoon of FREE outdoor music!