Z Space

Z Space’s Trans Artists Initiative is a multi-year program of commissions, productions, workshops, and community-centered experiences designed to foster empathy and spark dialogue.

The Z Space Trans Artists Initiative will offer three pathways for supporting trans stories and storytellers:

1) Presenting of Diverse Narratives Beginning with the 2026 production of P. Carl’s Becoming a Man, Z Space is committed to producing new trans and gender expansive theatrical experiences in-house on the Steindler Stage and in Z Below.

2) Trans Artist Residencies and Commissioning of New Work Z Space will offer technical residencies and pursue the commissioning of new works by trans and gender expansive artists. The 2026 inaugural artist in residence for this program is Ty Defoe, who will be developing his immersive multi-media theatrical experience called Shape of Breath with a workshop at Z Space in June 2026.

3) Gender in the Public Sphere Z Space is committed to building empathy outside of the theater via community conversations and social practice art in public spaces. Examples include our Here’s the T conversation series in the Z Space lobby following performances of Becoming a Man, and Bathroom Boundaries, an empathy experiment developed by Z Space Executive Director Shafer Mazow.