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!

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

 

Sponsored by: 

Your introduction to The Z starts at the annual 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: VA is for Arts Lovers LOVE sign art project and outdoor performances, plus an open mic sampler featuring our Z Artist Members and local performers alike

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

Headlining performance by Jared Farell: Jared Farrell is Virginia Beach-based singer/songwriter, known for his catchy melodies and story-driven music backed with electronic production. After two EPs, “Lights of Babylon and Illuminate” and a full-length record, “KIRA,” Jared is set to release his newest album, “Electric” in October of this year. As the singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the New York-based band Frequent Season, Jared played shows at Mercury Lounge, Arlene’s Grocery, the Bitter End, the Middle East, and more. As the keyboardist for Davey Suicide, he went on 4 national tours, opening for bands like Static X, Orgy, Jeffree Star, Twiztid, and Wednesday 13.

Main Lobby: Silent Auction with prizes from VB favorites

PARTY LIKE A VIP: For $100 get a reserved seat at a VIP premium view table, enjoy a private reception courtesy of Cantina Laredo and private bar access during the Block Party, plus a ticket to the Proteus Music Contest at 8pm.

VIEW THE FULL PROTEUS LINEUP

VOTE FOR YOUR AUDIENCE FAVORITE

The audience-favorite TasteBreakers Music Contest is back in 2022 as the Proteus Festival Music Contest! The contest, featuring emerging and early-career musical artists, is hosted in 3 stages: Submissions, Audience Voting & Finalist Selection, and the Finalist competition concert.

The five finalists, including your audience favorite, will perform live in concert at Proteus Festival, where the winner will be selected by a panel of music industry professionals. The 2022 winner will headline a concert in the Live at The Z Music Series and win a recording package in The Z’s own recording studio! Play your part in picking the music stars of Proteus Festival 2022, then see them live in this dynamic concert hosted on our mainstage!

HEADLINER: JASON CALE

Blending New Orleans funk, blues rock, jazz fusion and R&B elements into a musical gumbo, The Jason Cale Band creates a style all its own. Full of heart and soul, the music is inspired, dynamic and tasty, reminiscent of the fearless musical offerings of the late 60’s and early 70’s. The band has performed both nationally and internationally, but will always call Hampton Roads “Home.”

YOUR 2022 FINALISTS:

Brian Gray

Scott McMahan

Clementine

TA Gatling

Cody Browning

Proteus Festival Music Contest Finals will be on Saturday, October 8, 2022

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!