No items found.
Last year the Zeiterion turned 100, and from that “Beyond 100” was born.
Our building is changing. Our programming is expanding. Our intention is shifting.
This year we will prepare for these changes. To be a gathering place for performing arts experiences where learning, connection, and creative expression thrive.
We’re setting a new stage for our grand re-opening in late 2025.
This is The Z reimagined.
We invite you to come along.
Welcome to the next installation of the Zeiterion’s Musings, the newsletter exclusively for generous donors like you! Click the video for a preview from Molly McCarthy, The Z’s Development Director.
We are well underway on our goal to create a state-of-the-art performing arts center for the Southcoast. The Z’s transformational capital project gives us the opportunity to reimagine what the 100-year-old Zeiterion can be for the next century – both inside and out. When we re-open in late 2025, it won’t just be the building that will look different.
We’re using the year ahead to plan for our grand reopening. So that we can activate the building in new ways that serve the entire community. To be open more hours of the day, more days of the week, more weeks of the year. To offer various opportunities for people to experience the arts, beyond a performance. Stay tuned for more on our bold strategic plan that brings the building to life.
While under construction, we will present a small number of performances, events, and classes outside our building. We’ll also be laser-focused on completing the fundraising for the project, on implementing our strategic plan, and on being a more equitable and inclusive organization.
“Beyond100” is our fundraising campaign for the restoration and renovation. It’s also our frame of mind as we look to the next 100 years of the Zeiterion. We’re creating a performing arts center for the next century.
On September 27, we launched a MAJOR initiative – The Z’s Beyond100 fundraising campaign for the Zeiterion’s restoration and renovation! If you haven’t already, please watch Rosemary Gill’s exciting video announcement. We hoped to celebrate this moment with you at our Raise the Roof event, but the weather had other plans.
Thanks to generous early contributions, City/State funding, and Historic Tax Credits, we have secured $33 million of the $37 million needed to restore and renovate the Zeiterion. Beyond100 is the public phase of our fundraising efforts to close the $4 million gap of this transformational project.
We are grateful to have the support of many, including two celebrities who believe in the power of the performing arts and this project: Téa Leoni and Jenny Slate! The actors of stage and screen have joined the Campaign Committee as honorary chairs. We are thrilled to welcome them and their assistance in raising awareness for Beyond100.
With this campaign and this renovation, we are ringing in the next 100 years – not only of the building, but of the organization that brings it to life. We’ve been entrusted to care for a century-old, city-owned resource, and we’re honored to do it.
If you’d like to share this campaign with a friend, our progress and construction updates will be available on our brand-new website dedicated to all things Beyond100. Click the button below to check it out.
Thank you for helping us get to this pivotal moment!
On September 24, we launched an exciting new program – SuperART (Activating Real Transformation), a first-of-its-kind collaboration between The Z and NorthStar Learning Centers that connects the arts with social and emotional learning! NorthStar is a minority-led non-profit that helps young people overcome poverty, discrimination, and other adversity through learning to transform their lives and communities.
In this program, comic book illustrator Roger Andrews and Playback Theatre teacher Jennie Kristel help young people ages 10 to 14 identify their unique superpowers and discover how to use art to improve their community. It was a hit right from the start – it was at capacity before it even began.
Over 11 weeks, participants will tap into their creativity, build social and emotional skills, and work together to create a mural that will showcase their superhero avatars. This program is free, and, thanks to the generous support of the Greater New Bedford Youth Alliance and the Community Foundation, every participant will receive food, transportation, and creativity kits to take home with them at the end of the program.
When you make a donation, it’s processed by Anita Berryman, one of the hardworking team members in The Z’s Development department. “Every donation I process, no matter how small or large, fills me with a sense of pride and gratitude for how generous our community is and how much The Z means to every donor,” Anita said.
Anita brought her talent and expertise to The Z last November, though she has a long history with The Z. From 2018 to 2020, Anita served as a member of our volunteer Usher Corps. She was already familiar with the building from attending events like her daughter’s dance recitals and on Easter when her former church rented The Z for the large service. It is where Anita brought her daughter (a former Z staffer!) to help cultivate a love of theater, a passion that was shared with Anita. “One of my fondest memories is walking to the State Theater with my nana to see Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl.”
Her existing knowledge of the Zeiterion made for a smooth transition, but it’s her 20+ years of experience as communications professional that has made her a superstar at The Z. From high-tech public relations to corporate communications, global companies to small businesses, Anita brings an invaluable perspective to her current position. “Working at The Z is a labor of love and a chance to give back to an organization that has always been part of my life,” she said. “My goal is to share my skills and experience to help The Z move forward Beyond 100 years!”
Since June, crews have worked daily to clear out the Zeiterion – not just seats and fixtures, but also walls and floors. Demolition is now mostly complete, and the interior of the building looks VERY different!
One of the biggest changes is between the second and third floors. At one point, the second floor held a ball room with a balcony (it once overlooked a miniature golf course, but that’s a story for another time). The balcony was eventually filled in, dividing the building’s oversized windows to create two full floors for storage and offices.
If you’ve ever visited the Zeiterion offices on the third floor, you know this floor wasn’t exactly level. This uneven, often tripped-on floor has now been removed to prepare for the movement studio and office space. Soon a large steel beam will be brought in to construct new, LEVEL flooring for the third floor. In the meantime, we’re enjoying the beautiful, original windows in their entirety.
– Jacob Robitaille,
Zeiterion Renovation Project Manager
The project’s general contractor Colantonio might be based in Holliston, MA, but two of its team members have very local roots.
Project Manager Jacob Robitaille was born in New Bedford and grew up in Fairhaven. As a child, he came to The Z for school field trips and his sisters’ and cousins’ dance recitals. He even had a cousin who was a Theatre Manager at The Z. After working in the DC area for a decade, he moved back to the Southcoast. Since he’s returned, he’s been to The Z for shows, mainly comedians. “I’m happy to be working on a project that means so much to the community I grew up in,” Jacob said.
Hailing from Dartmouth, Assistant Project Manager Michael McDonald was involved in the arts from a young age. He grew up with a mother and grandmother who love the theatre – which means he attended many shows throughout his childhood. He made numerous trips to The Z for performances, both with Potter School and Dartmouth Middle School. “As a former architecture student now working in construction, the opportunity to renovate a local iconic building—one that not only New Bedford will enjoy, but that my family can also experience—makes this project truly rewarding and exciting.”
Jacob Robitaille, Project Manager
Michael McDonald, Assistant Project Manager
When we embarked on this project, WHALE was one of the first we called. We were in need of guidance in navigating the transformational renovation and restoration of a 100-year-old building, and they delivered.
As our historic preservation specialist, they have been and continue to be a tremendous help in guiding us through the application process for Federal and State Historic Tax Credits, following preservation guidelines, and communicating directly with the agencies that oversee historic restoration projects.
Their expertise has been invaluable to The Z and to our architects as we traverse this complex project. They are here for us now, like they were 40 years ago when they saved the Zeiterion from the wrecking ball. Our work with them has come full circle, and we are truly grateful.
We’re pleased to introduce the Zeiterion’s inaugural newsletter! Here’s Molly McCarthy, The Z’s Development Director, to tell you more about this exclusive content for our generous donors like you.
%20WEBRES.jpg)
June 28, 2024, was a momentous day – it was the groundbreaking ceremony for the restoration and renovation! We celebrated under a tent outside the Zeiterion with nearly two hundred community members, donors, arts and culture advocates, and legislators. There was a shared sense of support, curiosity, and excitement for the project. Guests especially seemed to enjoy the smashing of a ceremonial wall instead of shoveling a conventional pile of dirt. We wanted to reimagine old traditions for the new Zeiterion and we’re happy it was so well received.
Let us be clear: it’s because of YOU that we had this milestone to celebrate. Your support is making the project a reality. We are at the beginning of a long journey, and we look forward to sharing our renovation adventures with you.
Read more about the event from the Standard Times.
Another 100 years: Zeiterion Theatre rebirth celebrated in New Bedford with groundbreaking
It has been a lengthy and challenging process to get The Z to this point. Our team, with the help of several experts, has persevered through it all so we could bring this vision to life for New Bedford.
Just a few of the obstacles we faced:
We’ll spare you the details, but we are certainly relieved that it all came together (perhaps a little later than we planned) at the groundbreaking. We’re grateful to the many, many consultants, lawyers, politicians, volunteers, and experts who guided us through the last 6 years.
We are beyond excited to bring you a performing arts center that is a gathering space for the community. A facility where you can experience artists on a variety of stages, expand your horizons with educational opportunities, and be part of a community through the arts. It will be a vibrant building that contributes to Southcoast’s economy with events large and small!
A beautifully renovated historic theater. At the heart of this project is the historic restoration of the 10,900-square-foot theater. It will be returned to its original 1923 color scheme. The chandelier, original to the building, will be re-cabled, cleaned, and re-installed. The beautiful plasterwork throughout the theater will be restored, as well as the mural on the ceiling. New architectural lighting will highlight these features.
Of course, the theater needs some modern elements added: All new seats and seating layout increases capacity, improves accessibility for patrons with disabilities, and creates a more unified appearance. The slope of the theater will be adjusted, making aisles much safer. Sound and lighting updates will improve the performing arts experience for artists and patrons.
New Gathering Spaces. An expanded main lobby improves flow and overall experience for visitors. The basement becomes a “Speakeasy,” a new intimate event space for performances, community events, film screenings, and more. A new second floor lounge serves as a donor’s lounge, additional social space, and multi-function event room.
Learning through the Arts. This project underscores The Z’s commitment to strengthening education programs with a total of 1,800 square feet of dedicated education space. The renovated third floor features a large movement studio and a smaller classroom space for learners of all ages.
Behind the Scenes. Updated administrative offices create a dynamic home for Zeiterion and New Bedford Festival Theatre staff and board. Dedicated volunteer space provides a home base for our volunteer usher corps. A new hydraulic orchestra pit lift will service the main auditorium and provide a storage home for our original Wurlitzer Organ.
_WEBRES.jpg)
The Z’s 2023/24 season was an exciting one with many firsts. We celebrated our 100th birthday, emptied the building for renovation, and closed the theater to the public. Without use of our building, we had to reimagine our season – so we took the show on the road!
Going on the road was a great opportunity to present amazing artists like Paula Poundstone, Jake Shimabukuro, Drumline Live, to name a few, at venues from New Bedford’s North End to South End to Darthmouth to Fall River. It was also a lot of work to plan, prep, pack, set-up, serve, and breakdown for each performance. Here’s how we made it happen.
.jpg)
– Cristina, Bar Manager and Executive Assistant
Selecting the venues
We gathered an internal team from all departments to explore potential locations within a 30-mile radius. Site visits to these locations helped us figure out which spaces would work to present performances, host community events, and offer our Mobile Creative Classroom. There were many details to consider: patron experience, accessibility, stage size, audio and video capabilities, parking, restrooms, green rooms, dressing rooms…the list seemed endless. Is there enough stage space to handle sets and equipment? Will there be enough accessible restrooms? Where do all the buses for Schooltime shows park?
In the end, we were able to choose locations that worked well for artists and audiences alike: the auditoriums at UMass Dartmouth, Bristol Community College and New Bedford High School, Kilburn Mill Event Center, Madeira Field, Co-Creative Center, Fort Tabor Community Center, and Andrea McCoy Recreation Center.
.jpg)
Pivot!
With these new venues came new logistics. And, even with preparation, we had to pivot and adjust throughout the season. Our front-of-house team, for example, worked to provide patrons with the same level of service they’ve come to expect inside the Zeiterion. This meant more hours to set up before a show and pack up after. They worked even more closely with the production crew to ensure everything they needed arrived at each location. There were things we never had to consider before, like how much product to transport without overpacking, where to set up the concessions area, and remembering to bring ice!
Silver linings
Even though each off-site venue had their challenges, they also held rewards. The opportunity to meet and work with so many new people was priceless, from school administrators to event staff, tech crews to security teams. Our volunteer usher team adapted well to these new locations and retained their warm and welcoming presence. Moments of discovery presented themselves as opportunities of learning at every turn.
Many of you from our fantastic community of supporters joined us on the road. You shared gratitude for still being able to experience Zeiterion performances while the theater was closed. You helped make a season outside the Zeiterion possible. We can’t thank you enough!
- Dori, Director of Patron Experience
Learning through the arts
Going on the road was a great way to bring learning through the arts into other neighborhoods of New Bedford. The Z’s Mobile Creative Classroom traveled to Fort Tabor Community Center, Boys and Girls Club, and Andrea McCoy Rec Center to offer classes like Cape Verdean dance, salsa, ukulele, songwriting, and improv, all led by local teaching artists. By working with the Association for the Relief of Aged Women (ARAW), we were also able to offer several of these classes for free to New Bedford Housing Authority residents. Another fun experience was the free ukulele workshop before Jake Shimabukuro’s performance at UMass Dartmouth.
One of the classes, Jazz Jam, transitioned from Creative Classroom to an AHA Night favorite! The talented Manny Escobar led a group of music lovers to jam at New Bedford Co-Creative Center on the second Thursday of most months, free of charge.
.jpg)
Deepening community connection
This season we offered several free community events. After Drumline Live!, we partnered with T.R.U.E. Diversity, Paige L. Jones, and others to offer a free Historically Black College/University Fair at Andrea McCoy Rec Center. Students and families connected with reps from 8 HBCUs and were treated to a special performance and Q&A with the Drumline cast – many of whom attended HBCUs. Months later, The Z and 3rd Eye Unlimited offered 360 Degrees for the Culture, also at Andrea McCoy. It was an afternoon of workshops that helped kids build the skills showcased in 360 AllStars, like basketball, breakdancing, graffiti, and more, capped off by a dance party with DJ Anghelli.
These dynamic events also helped to grow our Teen Ambassador program. The eight teens who participated went behind the scenes, enjoyed unique artistic opportunities, and volunteered their time. They attended performances and wrote reviews. Before The Great Gatsby, the teens toured UMass Dartmouth’s fashion department and 1920s-inspired outfits created by college students. They also attended Jazz Jams – and some even shared their own musical talents!
