Z Space
 Exterior view of Z Space | |
| Address |
450 Florida Street San Francisco, California United States |
|---|---|
| Type | Regional theater |
| Capacity | 230 seats for main theatre |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1971 as Project Artaud Theater |
| Reopened | 2009 as Z Space |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Z Space is a regional theater and performing arts company located in San Francisco, California. Z Space commissions and develops its own works; it also presents works created by other organizations. It was founded in 1993 by David Dower, as the outgrowth of earlier theatrical productions staged by artists known as the Z Collective, and was known for a time as the Z Space Studio.[1][2] Dower was succeeded in 2007 by Lisa Steindler, who currently serves as Z Space’s executive artistic director. Lori Laqua is Z Space’s executive director.[3]
In its first 15 years, Z Space developed and produced artistic works that were staged in a variety of San Francisco Bay Area theaters. In 2009, Z Space moved into its own full-time facility in San Francisco’s Mission district, situated at 450 Florida Street.[4] The 13,000-square-foot facility originally was constructed in the 1920s as a tooling factory for the American Can Company.[5] During World War II, the building was converted into military use, making airplane parts.[6] The building's interior was transformed into the Project Artaud Theater in 1971.[6]
Z Space’s performances span a variety of disciplines, including theater, dance, visual art, music and performance art. Through its Z Space New Works program, the organization develops unique plays from initial concept to on-stage production; it also provides technical residencies in which artists can make use of the entire facility, including the stage, lights and sound system to test and develop their concepts.[7][8]
Other signature programs at Z Space include Word for Word, an in-house theater company that transforms works of literature verbatim to the stage,[9] and Youth Arts, Z Space's outreach to schools, which promotes literacy and engages students’ creativity. [10]
In 2011 and 2012, Z Space’s notable presentations have included works by the Joe Goode Performance Group,[11] Killing My Lobster,[12] Big Art Group[13] and the Paul Dresher Ensemble.[14] In 2015 Composers, Inc. presented the premiere of Allen Shearer's opera Middlemarch in Spring at Z Space.[15]
During the past decade, productions originating at Z Space have won national recognition including the Helen Hayes Award and the Kesselring Prize. From 2001 through 2005, 15 productions developed by Z Space earned Critics Circle nominations. In 2005, The People’s Temple was awarded the Will Glickman Award for “Best New Play.” That work was developed during more than four years at Z Space; it premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. In 2007, American $uicide, by Mark Jackson, was nominated by the American Theatre Critics Association for the annual ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award, honoring new scripts produced outside New York City.[16]
References
- ↑ Wemette, Jonathan (2012), "Z Space 2011", Yale School of Drama: Management Case Study 11 (44): 2–3
- ↑ =Stein, Ruth (January 22, 1995), "Saving 'Grace': Z Space director David Dower molds new work for the Magic", San Francisco Chronicle/
- ↑ "STAFF". Z Space. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- ↑ Veltman, Chloe (August 12, 2009). "A New Space for Z Space". ArtsJournalBlogs./
- ↑ Sidra Stich (2003). Art-SITES San Francisco: the indispensable guide to contemporary art-architecture-design. Art-SITES Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-931874-01-4. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- 1 2 Felciano, Rita (November 1, 2002), "Dark Days for Theater Artaud", Dance Magazine/
- ↑ Wemette, Jonathan (2012), "Z Space 2011", Yale School of Drama: Management Case Study 11 (44): 5–7
- ↑ Williams, Summer L. (2012-05-16). "Interview with Lisa Steindler by Jamie Gahlon". HowlRound. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- ↑ Potter, Julie (March 9, 2011), "Stories for big kids", San Francisco Bay Guardian/
- ↑ "ABOUT". Z Space. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- ↑ Ulrich, Allan (June 16, 2012), "'When We Fall Apart' review", San Francisco Chronicle
- ↑ "The Collaboration Variations: KMLZ Holidaze". Theatrebayarea.org. 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- ↑ "The Berkeley Graduate · Big Art Group: The People". Theberkeleygraduate.com. 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- ↑ Joshua Kosman, Chronicle Music Critic (2011-03-17). "Paul Dresher interview - 'Schick Machine' creator". SFGate. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
- ↑ Kosman, Joshua, "Opera Review: 'Middlemarch in Spring' is a Sunny Romp,", San Francisco Chronicle, March 21, 2015
- ↑ "History". Z Space. Retrieved 2012-10-25.