At Z Space, each piece gets the process that it needs.

Eschewing traditional theatre models with fixed seasons and subscription packages, Z Space chooses to remain flexible, to focus on an artist’s unique needs, and to facilitate the time and resources necessary to develop each project fully.

The new works that Z Space produces aren't limited to a particular genre or theme. Each has its own unique adventure, but they all contain the same commitment to discovery and theatrical excellence.

Here are some notable works that were developed in-house at Z Space:

  •  Z Space produced a staged reading of Ripped by Rachel Bublitz in October 2018 as part of its annual Problematic Play Festival, continued developing the script with Bublitz, and produced the world premiere play in May 2019. The production was nominated for 7 Theatre Bay Area awards, including best World Premiere Play, Best Overall Production, and Best Direction (Lisa Steindler). 

  • Z Space and Encore Theater Company commissioned Weightless and developed the show over multiple years, with a world premiere in March 2018. Z Space then took Weightless to the Public Theater’s prestigious Under the Radar New Play Festival in New York in January 2019. Weightless was remounted and presented by A.C.T. at The Strand Theater in May 2019.

  • Z Space produced the world premiere of Hundred Days, a musical memoir by Abigail and Shaun Bengson, in February 2014, and served as the artistic home of The Bengsons, providing space, resources and artistic support beginning in 2011. Following the extended world premiere at Z Space, Hundred Days completed a successful run at the 2017 Under the Radar Festival and opened off-Broadway in November 2017 at New York Theater Workshop. Hundred Days received a Drama League nomination for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical and Lucille Lortel nominations for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Lead Actress (Abigail Bengson). Hundred Days is now on a national tour including La Jolla Playhouse, Straz Center, and Adrienne Arsht Center.  

  • Z Space collaborated with Ars Nova and piece by piece productions to develop The Lucky Ones, a prequel to Hundred Days. The Lucky Ones premiered in New York on March 19, 2018 and extended through April 28, 2018. It received five Lucille Lortel nominations: Outstanding Choreographer (Sonya Tayeh), Outstanding Lead Actor (Damon Daunno), and Outstanding Featured Actress (Maryann Plunkett, Myra Lucretia Taylor, and Adina Verson). 

  • Z Space produced A Good Neighbor by Kate Ryan in September 2018 in Z Below. It was commissioned and developed by Z Space and fueled by group discussions with women from the Bay Area. The commissioning and production of this new work was made possible by Gerbode-Hewlett Foundations 2015 Theater Commissioning Awards initiative.

  • A House Tour of the Infamous Porter Family Mansion (or House Tour for short) is a prime example of the type of innovative collaboration that Z Space prides itself on. Z Space's in-house playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb wrote this hilarious satire specifically with Danny Scheie in mind exploring the charmingly warped inner world of tour guide Winston Ludlow Londonderry III. An immersive set by designer Sean Riley took the audience on an actual tour of a series of vignette pieces. This sold out show ran from March 29th through April 23rd, 2016. Nominated for 7 Theatre Bay Area awards including Outstanding Actor, Director, Set, Props, Sound, World Premiere and Overall Production.

  • The first play we produced that was by our in-house playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, The Totalitarians is a raucous dark comedy about the state of modern political discourse, modern relationships and how easy it is to believe truths without facts. Commissioned by NNPN  through the Full Stage/USA Program at New Dramatists with a lead grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.  Z Space was part of its 2014 Rolling World Premiere, directed by Kenneth Prestininzi.

  • When Z Space first took over Theater Artaud, Artistic Director Lisa Steindler knew that she needed the perfect piece to showcase our new home. Enter Mark Jackson and Beth Wilmurt with The Companion Piece. Using the 'blank-canvas' room in an expansive and innovative way, this piece set the bar in 2011 for many of the productions that have followed at Z Space.