The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is an inspirational gathering place in the heart of downtown New Bedford that connects you with the best in live music, theater, dance, comedy, film, education, and festivals. We are a place where people gather, varied perspectives are welcomed, and the performing arts are celebrated.
Literature to Life takes on F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic work as their newest title in their Signature Performance series!
The Great Gatsby takes place on Long Island and New York City in the early twentieth century, at the height of the Jazz Age and the Prohibition Era. The novel touches on the treatment of different social classes: “old money” versus “new money” ideology, gender, race, environmentalism, and the price of the American Dream.
Adapted and directed by Kelvin Grullon.
Recommended for grades 6th - 12th. Runtime: 70 minutes, including a 10-minute Q&A before the show.
THIS PERFORMANCE IS AT UMASS DARTMOUTH - MAIN AUDITORIUM.
Join us for a unique pre-show event that explores fashion of the 20s with a twist!
Six UMass Dartmouth students have created gender-bending costumes inspired by characters in The Great Gatsby. Check out their creations and meet the young designers:
Ruby Louro - Junior
Monika Kristjánsdóttir - Junior
Emma Gardner - Sophomore
Tatiana Lopes - Sophomore
Lindsey Mannion - Junior
Emmanuel Granados - Sophomore
All students are in Professor Sydney Hawes’ fashion design class at UMD. Professor Hawes is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and won the 2023 Broadway World Boston award for Best Costume Design of a Play or Musical for the costumes she created as part of New Bedford Festival Theatre’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! Her students were the designers behind many of the dresses at the YWCA of Southeastern Massachusetts’s Red Dress Event, raising awareness about heart disease in women.
Free, no registration or ticket required. 6-6:45PM in the lobby outside the theater at UMass Dartmouth. The mainstage presentation of The Great Gatsby begins at 7PM.
Literature to Life adapts F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic work as their newest title in their Signature Performance series!
The Great Gatsby takes place on Long Island and New York City in the early twentieth century, at the height of the Jazz Age and the Prohibition Era. The novel touches on the treatment of different social classes: “old money” versus “new money” ideology, gender, race, environmentalism, and the price of the American Dream.
Based on the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Adapted and directed by Kelvin Grullon. Performed by Bryce Foley.
Gender-Bending Fashion of the Roaring 20s
Thursday, April 25, 6-6:45PM in the lobby outside the theater
Chat with six young designers from UMass Dartmouth who will showcase their gender-bending costumes designs inspired by characters in The Great Gatsby.
The American Dream Today
Thursday, April 25, 6-6:30PM inside the theater
Experience original speeches from adult learners Kyra, Amariah, Ashlee, and Lauren in the Clemente Course in the Humanities will share their perception and experience of The American Dream with connections to The Great Gatsby.
UMass Dartmouth Honors College Preshow Event
Thursday, April 25, 5:30PM in the Blue & Gold Room across from Campus Store
All are welcome to join Prof. Caroline Gelmi and her students to learn why The Great Gatsby has intrigued readers for over 100 years. RSVP to honors@umassd.edu.
LITERATURE TO LIFE (LTL) is a performance-based literacy program that presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of American literary classics. LTL’s mission is to perform great books that inspire young people to read and become authors of their own lives. LTL was founded more than three decades ago as the educational program of the American Place Theatre. Now an independent organization, this mighty collective of artists and educators brings the voices of diverse authors to thousands of students and audiences nationwide, giving them the tools to become the empowered “voices worth hearing” of our future.
We're on the road while the Zeiterion undergoes a major renovation and restoration! This performance will be at UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium, 285 Westport Road, North Dartmouth.
The Z invites musicians and music lovers to grab your instruments for a jam session led by sax player and music educator Emmanuel “Manny” Escobar!
Shed all your cares, enjoy live music, improv and jam out with us. Musicians, vocalists, visual artists, and audience welcome. No prior jam experience or tickets necessary.
The free Jazz Jam is from 6-7PM on AHA! Nights on February 8, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11 and August 8.
At the Co-Creative Center, 137 Union Street, New Bedford. Join us!
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Acushnet Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Join us for Rebecca Correia's first performance in the Southcoast all year! She returns to share new songs, fan favorites, and intimate stories.
Rebecca is a seasoned singer/songwriter with hundreds of songs to her credit. Her songs are deep, introspective, powerful, and often autobiographical.
Enjoying the momentum of her 2019 release "Grown Up Games" produced by 5-time Grammy Winner Keb Mo, Rebecca has been hard at work writing and cultivating her creativity in historic Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, a haven for artists and entertainment industry professionals. With fans across the country, she received strong support in her Kickstarter campaign for her brand-new EP, which she’s excited to release later this year.
The Z welcomes the Rochester native back for her third Stage Door Live performance, where she’ll celebrate her homecoming with a debut of several new songs along with familiar favorites that include her recent single "Soul Survivor," a testament to love and redemption. “Many of the people who come to my Stage Door Live performances have seen me perform in New Bedford many times,” she says. “It makes me feel instantly comfortable.”
Don’t miss Rebecca Correia, who Vance Gilbert once called "a broken-winged angel," in the unique and cozy Stage Door Live setting on May 9!
While the Zeiterion undergoes a major renovation and restoration, The Z's intimate concert club series known as Stage Door Live will be at Kilburn Mill Event Center in New Bedford!
Yaniv Dinur, conductor
Sergei Babayan, piano
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique”
Prokofiev’s second piano concerto has been described as “filled with wild passions” and Tchaikovsky gave his sixth symphony the name “Pathétique,” which from the original Russian is better translated as “passion, deep emotion.” In both these works, the composers plumb the depths of all that music can make us feel. Be prepared! The legendary Armenian-American pianist Sergei Babayan, known for his spontaneity and surprises at the keyboard, joins us for the first time.
We're on the road while the Zeiterion undergoes a major renovation and restoration! NBSO will present this concert at Bronspiegel Auditorium, New Bedford High School at 230 Hathaway Blvd in New Bedford.
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra is a Resident Company of the Zeiterion.
After a hiatus that included a global pandemic, a set of twins, and a move from New York City to New Bedford, these Broadway vocalists are back to sing songs from the heart. They’ll be joined on stage by New York-based accompanist Eddie Schnecker, with appearance by Ian Legge (also known as the Punk Cellist), for a mix of Broadway hits, pop favorites, and a few surprises. It'll be a homecoming to remember.
While the Zeiterion undergoes a major renovation and restoration, The Z's intimate concert club series known as Stage Door Live will be at Kilburn Mill Event Center in New Bedford!
Get ready for a Motown dance party featuring renowned singer and guitarist, Wali Ali! As one of Motown’s top session players, he was the lead guitarist with The Temptations, Teena Marie, Rick James, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Gladys Knight, among others. New Bedford's own Joaquin Santos and his bandmates will back up Wali with the bass and rhythm that will have you feeling the groove!
While the Zeiterion undergoes a major renovation and restoration, The Z's intimate concert club series known as Stage Door Live will be at Kilburn Mill Event Center in New Bedford!
The Z invites musicians and music lovers to grab your instruments for a jam session led by sax player and music educator Emmanuel “Manny” Escobar!
Shed all your cares, enjoy live music, improv and jam out with us. Musicians, vocalists, visual artists, and audience welcome. No prior jam experience or tickets necessary.
The free Jazz Jam is from 6-7PM on AHA! Nights on February 8, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11 and August 8.
At the Co-Creative Center, 137 Union Street, New Bedford. Join us!
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Acushnet Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
It's the ultimate Led Zeppelin concert experience under the stars at Madeira Field!
Get The Led Out brings a “whole lotta love” with a two-hour rock homage to the legendary British super group. Also known as “The American Led Zeppelin,” the group focuses on cuts from Zeppelin’s lengthy discography and brings just what the audience wants: a high-energy Zeppelin concert with an honest, heart-thumping intensity. In partnership with The Madeira Feast.
Being a Z Supporter has its benefits! At this show, Supporters can enjoy a dedicated bar line, free snack with beverage purchase, and special Supporter section near the stage. To become a Z Supporter, click here.
We're on the road while the Zeiterion undergoes renovation and restoration! The Z presents Get The Led Out at Madeira Field located at 50 Madeira Ave, New Bedford. This performance is rain or shine.
All shows while we're on the road are cashless; only credit cards will be accepted for on-site ticket and concession purchases.
The Z invites musicians and music lovers to grab your instruments for a jam session led by sax player and music educator Emmanuel “Manny” Escobar!
Shed all your cares, enjoy live music, improv and jam out with us. Musicians, vocalists, visual artists, and audience welcome. No prior jam experience or tickets necessary.
The free Jazz Jam is from 6-7PM on AHA! Nights on February 8, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11 and August 8.
At the Co-Creative Center, 137 Union Street, New Bedford. Join us!
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Acushnet Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
The Z invites musicians and music lovers to grab your instruments for a jam session led by sax player and music educator Emmanuel “Manny” Escobar!
Shed all your cares, enjoy live music, improv and jam out with us. Musicians, vocalists, visual artists, and audience welcome. No prior jam experience or tickets necessary.
The free Jazz Jam is from 6-7PM on AHA! Nights on February 8, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11 and August 8.
At the Co-Creative Center, 137 Union Street, New Bedford. Join us!
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Acushnet Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
New Bedford Festival Theatre presents the smash hit Dan Goggin’s Nunsense live on stage!
Festival Theatre and Producing Artistic Director Elizabeth Bettencourt have announced their production of Nunsense, August 9 - 18, 2024 at the Steeple Playhouse in New Bedford.
NUNSENSE is the hilarious musical farce about a convent of nuns staging a fundraiser to enable them to bury the last four nuns of their order who died of botulism in an unfortunate convent cooking accident (and who are temporarily being stored in the freezer!). The Little Sisters of Hoboken (well, what's left of them) put on this riotous revue packed with hilarious, show-stopping song and dance numbers, and always proves to be a crowd favorite.
The Production will be Directed by Elizabeth Bettencourt, Music Direction by Jameson Ward, Choreography by Brooklyn Toli, Lighting Design by Tim Helley, and Set Design by Trevor Elliott.
Tickets are available for $45.00 and are General Admission. NBFT Member seating available.
While the Zeiterion undergoes a major renovation and restoration, we're on the road! Festival Theatre will present these performances at Steeple Playhouse at 159 William Street in New Bedford.
New Bedford Festival Theatre is a Resident Company of the Zeiterion.
The Z is pleased to offer a number of complimentary shows and events each season. You can find these free events by clicking on FREE EVENTS under DEALS section of the EVENTS page.
Build your own package to experience the shows YOU want — at a discount! Choose from shows marked with the Bundle & Save icon, listed below. Then use code BUNDLE at check-out to save 10% with tickets to 3 or more eligible events.
Use the right arrow to scroll through eligible shows. Not sure which shows are eligible for Bundle & Save? The Z box office staff is happy to help!
Please note: discounts are not available on VIP tickets or tickets under $25.
Not sure which shows are eligible? The Z box office staff is happy to help.
Bring a group of 10 or more to a Zeiterion performance and save! Groups enjoy discounts up to 20% off tickets to most shows and pay no order or processing fees.
PLUS! Earn one free ticket for every 20 tickets purchased for most shows. Special group rates for students are available for most shows.
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra offers no fees, plus 10% of Section C and 15% off Sections A and B with a purchase of 10 or more tickets.
Even if a show isn’t eligible for a group discount, the order and processing fees will be waived.
To reserve your seats, give us a call! Group discounts are not available online. Promotional posters and social media graphics are available on request. Recommendations for restaurants, accommodations, and cultural destinations happily offered.
A deposit is required one week after you reserve your order. Full payment and final ticket count are due 30 days before the performance date. If your final ticket count falls below 10, the regular ticket prices will apply. You may add tickets to your order based on availability. We’ll do our best to seat your party as close together as possible.
— AGUSTINHO R.
When the curtain came down on performing arts in the spring of 2020, The Z was faced with an enormous challenge. Thanks to the generosity of our amazing community of supporters, The Z reopens its doors for the 2021/22 season.
That said, the road ahead is still uncertain. But we know we can navigate any challenge with your help.
Your support means The Z can continue to...
• Be a safe place for shared experiences that build community bonds and create connections
• Stimulate emotional healing through stories told on stage
• Make an impact on the learning and success of children through Pre K-12 Education Programs
• Offer life-long learning opportunities in The Z’s Creative Classroom
Performing arts education plays a vital role at The Z.
We believe the arts are an essential component of a well-rounded education.
From performances for grades Pre K-12 to life-long learning in our Creative Classroom, The Z uses the lens of performing arts to expand the hearts and minds of all ages.
As a place for learning at all ages, The Z offers:
• Classes in performing arts disciplines for many skill levels
• Pre K-12 performances
• Internships for teens
• In-school literacy projects
• Pre- and post-show discussions
For a full list and schedule, visit zeiterion.org/learn.
Over the last 96 years, the Zeiterion Theatre has been a much-beloved place in New Bedford’s history. In 1923, the Zeitz brothers opened the Zeiterion as a grand Vaudeville house, with the vision of creating a “palace for the people.” At the time, the Zeiterion was one of nearly twenty theaters operating in the city of New Bedford. Shortly after opening, it transitioned to a movie house, and was renamed “The State Theatre.” Countless memories were made as the theater hosted opening nights for films such as “Moby Dick” and “Down to the Sea in Ships.” As time passed and people began seeking their entertainment elsewhere, the theatre fell dark and faced an uncertain future. Thanks to some visionary leaders, organizations like WHALE, and the support of this community, the Zeiterion was saved from the wrecking ball. In 1982, the Zeiterion Theatre was restored and reborn as a non-profit performing arts center, fondly called “The Z.” Today, The Z is a thriving home for live music, dance, theater, and film. It is a beacon for some of the best and brightest artists from around the world, exposing audiences of all ages to the power of the performing arts. Once one of many, The Z is now the last operating theater serving the city and a treasured landmark in downtown New Bedford. With the continued support of the community, The Z will remain at the center of cultural activity, entertaining and inspiring audiences for generations to come.
THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE Z’S STORY.
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