After relocating to Hampton from Texas, composer Chloe Youtsey entered a songwriting contest to kickstart her career.
On a whim, New Yorker Adam Kraar dropped a script in the mail to a Shakespeare event to see it come to life on stage.
Youtsey plays the big rooms now, securing a residency at the Cavalier Resort in Virginia Beach. Kraar’s comedy “As You Love It” premiered in May.
Both credit Zeiders American Dream Theater, commemorating its 10th season this month, for giving them the platform and tools to flourish. Affectionately known as "The Z," the nonprofit in Town Center offers a creative community for emerging artists.
In recognition of its milestone anniversary, The Z will host the inaugural Creativity Honors on Saturday. The gala, which includes a chef-curated reception, will spotlight honorees whose creativity has driven their achievements.
Mike Zeiders admits he “envisioned a much smaller theater that wasn’t quite as robust as this in programming and activities” when he committed to starting The Z.
“It took us a couple years to really understand how we could operationalize the vision of wanting to provide a venue to support the presentation of new artists, plays, music, comedy and dance, in a way that the community could understand,” he said.
The Z went from booking touring acts to hosting festivals. Its signature events include the Proteus Festival, which showcases music, comedy, theater, children’s entertainment, open mics and interactive art projects; Z Fringe, which “pushes the envelope” in theater; and a Vocal Jazz Summit that morphed into an international weekend of performance and education.
Youtsey graduated from James Madison University with a degree in jazz studies. She held several residencies after moving to Austin, Texas, and performed regularly, even while 36 weeks pregnant.
Youtsey’s submission of the smooth jazz tune “1960” won the 2023 Proteus Music Contest, earning her a headlining concert in the “Live at the Z Music Series” and a recording package, among other perks.
“That was a big stepping stone toward having visibility in the area as a musician,” said Youtsey, who has since performed in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. “It raised the stakes on my own music being well presented in a venue where people are actually there to see me.”
The Z did more than provide an audience for Kraar’s 20th-century romantic comedy, a sequel to Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” The play opened in May on Zeiders' main stage, following several phases of development, including a workshop at Virginia Wesleyan University and another workshop production. Now Kraar has a script that is “ready for production,” which he is shopping around to other theaters.
“That’s huge to have a script in that kind of shape,” Kraar said.
Terry Flint would have appreciated a place like The Z to hone her skills while pursuing her master’s in scenic design at the University of Illinois. Flint, The Z’s executive director for nearly all 10 of its years, manages nearly 200 events a season.
While the theater is doing well, it is a challenge to attract crowds to plays they’ve never heard of, she said.
“Our challenge is we don’t have title recognition.”
While providing a stage to budding artists, The Z gives locals a chance to see performing arts that originate in Hampton Roads. It offers an intimate venue, affordable tickets and a personal atmosphere.
Zeiders grew up with artistic aspirations himself.
“I would write songs; I was never a great songwriter,” he said. “I would go out to clubs and restaurants to find bands that would record my music.”
Zeiders wrote a musical comedy that toured 13 cities while he was on active duty Navy. The Naval Academy graduate initially incorporated Zeiders Enterprises to produce and distribute music. However, the company shifted its focus to providing support services, such as financial management, to military personnel and their families. Zeiders shelved the music vision but not the dream.
“The Z is the reincarnation of my vision when I was 25 years old.”
The name American Dream Theater is purposeful. “We live in a country and are truly blessed that if you have a dream, an aspiration, you have fire in your belly and you’re willing to work, you have a chance to do it.”
Seeing artists grinding toward their dreams, he hopes, will inspire others to follow theirs, whether they aim to be a teacher, scientist, engineer or something else.
That’s why the Creativity Honors do not solely recognize working artists.
“I’m really looking to find folks who have made a difference,” he said. “This is a capstone of what the whole mission of what the theater is about.”
Travis Malone, dean of Virginia Wesleyan’s Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities, is one of the nominees. Virginia Wesleyan is one of many regional partners seeking to build a stronger artistic pipeline.
“The Z fills a necessary space in the community,” Malone said. “The Z has actually become this crucible to collaborate and build new work. We didn’t have a leader in our area to build a brand new work. The Z has filled that spot.”
Visit thez.org for tickets and more information.