COMEDY OF ERRORS

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Simon Godwin
Sep 19, 26, Oct 2, 8, 9, 10, 2024 | 10 AM | KLEIN THEATRE

UPDATE: Performances on October 2, 8, 9, and 10 are SOLD OUT.

Two sets of twins. Two rival cities. Infinite hilarity. 

Confusions collide in this hilariously illogical comedy. Lookalikes Alex Brightman (School of Rock on Broadway) and David Fynn (School of Rock on the West End) come together as Dromio and Dromio (respectively) to add a splash of rock ‘n’ roll to Shakespeare’s most deliriously funny play. Artistic Director Simon Godwin (Much Ado about Nothing, Macbeth) directs this raucous reflection of families lost and found, topsy turvy love and the utterly human desire to belong.

BABBITT

By Joe DiPietro
Adapted from the novel by Sinclair Lewis
Directed by Christopher Ashley
Produced in association with La Jolla Playhouse
Oct 16, 2024 | 10 AM | HARMAN HALL

Two-time Tony-winner Matthew Broderick (The Producers, Plaza Suite) makes his STC debut in this breathtaking political satire. 

Meet George F. Babbitt: real estate broker, father of two, a fine, upstanding, middle-class American everyman. Seeking meaning to his humdrum existence, Babbitt plunges headlong into the most spectacular rebellion of his life (using the guest towel) and unwittingly turns the world around him upside down. Prepare to be amazed by this exhilarating adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’s satirical masterpiece.

LEOPOLDSTADT

By Tom Stoppard
Directed by Carey Perloff
Produced in association with The Huntington
Dec 11, 2024 | 10 AM | HARMAN HALL

Five-time Tony-winner Tom Stoppard (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead), offers his most personal story in Leopoldstadt.

A Jewish family grows and struggles over the course of nearly 60 years, beginning with their initial assimilation into Viennese culture, negotiating the outbreak of two World Wars through to the aftermath of the Holocaust. Traversing decades of joy and strife, the family strives to maintain their delicate bonds of shared history. Directed by celebrated playwright/director Carey Perloff, in a new arrangement she crafted with Stoppard, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning play Leopoldstadt offers “an intensely personal family drama” (Variety) for the holiday season.

ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE: HOW SHAKESPEARE INVENTED THE VILLAIN

Created and performed by Patrick Page
Directed by Simon Godwin
Dec 13 and 19, 2024 | 11:30 AM | KLEIN THEATRE

A beguiling bonanza of Shakespearean devilry. 

Dubbed “The villain of Broadway” by Playbill, Tony Award-nominee and Grammy Award-winner Patrick Page (King Lear, Hadestown) has never shied away from exploring his dark side. Now, with this tour de force show, “one of America’s greatest classical actors” (The Wall Street Journal) turns to the twisted motivations and hidden humanity at the heart of Shakespeare’s greatest villains. Moving swiftly through the canon, Page illuminates Shakespeare’s evolving conception of evil by delving into more than a dozen of his most wicked creations, offering a thrilling masterclass on the most terrifying subject of them all: human nature. Previously seen on-screen, now is the chance for audiences in D.C. to experience an enhanced version for the stage.

KUNENE AND THE KING

By John Kani
Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Produced in association with Octopus Theatricals
Feb 27, Mar 5 and 6, 2025 | 10 AM | KLEIN THEATRE

South African actor, activist, and playwright  John Kani (Black Panther, Sizwe Banzi Is Dead/The Island) stars in his story of Shakespeare’s unifying force. 

It’s a quarter century since the first post-apartheid democratic elections, and Jack Morris has just been given a career-defining role as King Lear—and a life-changing diagnosis. As the celebrated classical actor faces his own mortality, he clashes and connects with his at-home caregiver, Lunga Kunene (Kani), in this “poignant two-hander” (The Guardian).

FRANKENSTEIN

By Mary Shelley
Adapted and directed by Emily Burns
June 4 and 5, 2025 | 10 AM | KLEIN THEATRE

Buckle in for an electrifying take on a classic tale. 

Emily Burns (adaptor of STC’s Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing), reimagines Mary Shelley‘s romantic gothic science fiction masterpiece as a chilling exploration of what it means to create a new life. Visceral and provocative, this production reveals the inner lives of Elizabeth and Victor Frankenstein in bold new ways. Riding the edge of cinematic thriller and intense drama, Frankenstein redefines the legend we know, the name we fear, and the monstrous act at the heart of the story.

Pricing

With support from our program sponsors, we offer the following price-per-ticket options based on the percentage of free and reduced priced lunches provided at your school.

• DC Public and Public Charter Schools: $5
• Title I Schools: $5
• Non-DC Public Schools and Home School Groups: $15
• Private/Independent Schools: $25

All requests for Matinees must be submitted no later than 1 month prior to the desired date.

FAQ

How can my school pay for the tickets? 
Schools can pay by check or with credit card.

How do we get our tickets? 
We do not hand out physical tickets for student matinee performances. The group leader should check in with the STC representative in the lobby upon arriving at the theatre. Groups will be seated by STC staff in order of arrival.

What if I need to change the number of tickets I need? 
We realize that the number of students attending may fluctuate as the performance date approaches. All requests to add or subtract tickets after the original Letter of Agreement is issued must be made in writing and no later than 1 month prior to your scheduled performance. Changes are subject to the approval of the theatre and will not be accepted once final payment is submitted.

Will the performance be appropriate for my students? 
Generally, our student matinees are recommended for grades 6–12. If a show has a more specific age recommendation, we will post it on our website and notify ticket holders. If there is any questionable content that comes up during the rehearsal process, we will notify the group leader and they can choose to cancel the ticket reservation or attend as planned.

Where do the performances take place? 
Our theatres, Harman Hall and the Klein Theatre, are located in Penn Quarter in downtown Washington, D.C. Directions to the theatres can be found on our website.

Is there a place for buses to park? 
There is no place for buses to park at the theatres. Buses should drop off students in front of the theatre and pick them up in the same location for dismissal.

How long do the performances last? 
Each play has a different duration. In general, the play and post-performance talkback with the actors will last no longer than three hours total. The School Programs Manager will be in touch with a more accurate run-time as your specific performance date gets closer.

Can students eat during intermission? 
Intermission will last fifteen minutes. This time should be used for bathroom/water breaks, and eating a snack. Additionally, concessions will be available during intermission.

IMPORTANT: No food or drink is allowed in the theatre. Water bottles with lids are fine. You may bring snacks/lunches for your students to eat in the lobby during intermission. If you do so, please bring one large box with your school name on it. STC will also provide bins for lunches before the show. Students must place snacks/lunches in your school’s designated bin before entering the theatre. The Learning staff will have the boxes out and ready for students during intermission.

Can our school have lunch in the theatre following the performance? 
All groups must leave the theatre when the event is over. Staff is not available to supervise and there are often rehearsals and other events that are scheduled in the theatre after the matinee. Groups are welcome to eat lunch at one of the many restaurants in Gallery Place or Penn Quarter.

Testimonials

What teachers and students are saying about MATINEES: 

I love the set! Actors were AMAZING. It’s amazing to be afforded this opportunity to see live plays! This was my first play ever.
—Student from SEED Public Charter School (D.C.) who attended King Lear  

Before I saw the play, I thought Shakespeare was simply difficult and boring language but the play brought it to life. In the play, it was much more interesting because they added scenes and modern characteristics to draw people my age in. 
—Student who attended A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Amazing production value and modernization! Great acting, post-show talkback, all of it was wonderful. Thank you for making this possible for my students.
—Teacher from Center City Public Charter School (D.C.)

The play was absolutely fantastic! So uplifting and awe-inspiring for our group of English Language Learners who have never seen a live professional play. Enjoying a live, professional play of this caliber is transformational. It also helps them feel more confident in tackling Shakespeare in their English curriculum. For our emergent English learners, I couldn’t think of a better introduction to live theater in general and to Shakespeare in particular than this contemporary and hysterical production of Much Ado About Nothing.
—Sharon Faber, Theater Program for Emergent English Learners Teacher at Watkins Mill High School (Montgomery County, MD)

Have questions?

Contact Schools@ShakespeareTheatre.org