The season kick-off festival is one of The Z’s annual events, bringing artists and audiences together for a lineup of music, theater, comedy, children’s entertainment, open mics and interactive art projects throughout The Z’s Lobby, Main Stage Theater, Studio Theater and Outside Terrace.
The festival is kicking off earlier than usual this year, giving audiences a chance to vote on Audience Favorites and complete the final pieces of the 2026-2027 season.
“Proteus is about giving artists and audiences the freedom to discover what happens when creativity has room to take shape,” said Marketing Director Jessi DiPette. “It is one of the most exciting weeks of the year at The Z because you get to take an active part in helping pick our season.”
Proteus New Plays is an important part of that creative process. The program gives playwrights an opportunity to work with directors and actors to hear their scripts performed for an audience, while audiences provide feedback that helps identify the work that resonates most strongly. After two finalists performances, the winner is crowned and receives a full workshop production during The Z’s Curtain Up! New Plays season.
More of a concert-goer? The Proteus Music Contest is fueled by community taste and showcases the incredible emerging talent in the area. Audiences are voting for their favorite acts to compete as finalists in the LIVE concert on Friday, Sept. 11. Once again, the winner will receive a headliner spot in The Z’s Live at The Z Concert Series.
You can discover your own creativity in the all-new Creative Sprint. The Creative Sprint is a 24‑hour creative playground where you can CREATE in a stress-free, fun-first environment. Grab a friend or two (or go solo) and create a new short play, song, or visual art and present it at the Block Party on Sept. 12.
“The Block Party is really just a celebration of all art in our community,” said DiPette. “Our doors are open for free family performances, crafts, live music, and a chance to create. It’s my favorite place for our area to get a free sample of what The Z is all about and celebrate our season!”
The 2026 Proteus Festival runs September 7–12, 2026, at Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach. The full schedule, individual event times, ticket information and festival updates are available at proteusfestival.com
Zeiders American Dream Theater (The Z) is a performing arts center in Virginia Beach’s Town Center dedicated to creating opportunities for artists and audiences to connect through live performance and creative experiences. The Z presents a diverse calendar of theater, music, comedy, family programming, festivals, community events and artist development opportunities.
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