See: 23/24 Matinees
Looking to introduce your students to live theatre or to integrate viewing a performance into your curriculum? We invite you to join us for this season’s Matinees to share the excitement of professional theatre with your students.
FOR STUDENTS: Engagement before and after the show
STC Learning will provide teachers with access to a virtual Preshow Workshop via our Moodle platform to share with students in preparation for the performance. After the show, there will be a talkback with the cast and an opportunity to reflect on the experience.
We also offer Spanish captioning for English Language Learners at select performances by request.
A Joyful Celebration
AS YOU LIKE IT
By William Shakespeare Adapted & Directed by Daryl Cloran Conceived by Daryl Cloran & Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival December 12, 13, and 14, 2023 | 10 AM | HARMAN HALL It’s the 1960s and flower power, peace, and love are in the air. The free-spirited Rosalind is exiled from court and escapes to an alternative community, where everything is possible. Mistaken identities and mixed signals come together, melding the Bard’s verse with the beloved music of The Beatles in what Vancouver Presents calls “one of the clearest renderings of As You Like It that you will ever see.” This tuneful take on Shakespeare’s romantic classic will be “a total blast” (Chicago Tribune) for the holiday season, reminding us that in times of trouble, all you need is love.An Epic Family Drama
THE LEHMAN TRILOGY
By Stefano Massini Adapted by Ben Power Directed by Arin Arbus March 7, 2024 | 10 AM | HARMAN HALL Meet the Lehman brothers—immigrants building an American dream that crumbles into a chaotic nightmare for future generations. Utilizing three actors and covering 160 years of family struggles, achievements, and missteps, this winner of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Play is a powerhouse cautionary narrative for our times. Heralded by The New York Times as a “captivating… feat of storytelling,” The Lehman Trilogy examines the double-edged sword of capitalism and personal choices that created the largest financial crisis in U.S. history so far.A Terrifying Descent
MACBETH (Film Screening)
By William Shakespeare Directed by Simon Godwin May 12, 21, and 22 | 10:00 AM-2:30 PM | HARMAN HALL Blood will have blood. Unbridled ambition, supernatural forces, and murderous desires reign supreme in Shakespeare’s most poetic examination of evil. When three witches tell Macbeth that he will become King of Scotland, he plots with his wife to attain the title through an assassination; a bloody act that gives him his crown and sends him careening down the path of his own undoing. Artistic Director Simon Godwin directs Tony and BAFTA Award-winner Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter films) and Olivier Award-winner Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) in this thrilling account of how our minds deceive us and how a guilty conscience can undo us all. Thank you again for your interest in our student matinee performances of Macbeth. Unfortunately, both live performances remain at capacity, but all is not lost! Fortunately, the production was filmed during its UK run, and I’m happy to share that we will host viewings of this filmed version for students in May. By attending a viewing, you and your students will be among the first audiences to see the show before anyone else! In addition to the filmed production, the day will include interactive activities, resource guides and educational content, stagecraft demonstrations, a longer intermission to accommodate lunchtime, lobby displays, and a post-show Q&A conversation with the director of Macbeth (and STC’s Artistic Director) Simon Godwin. More details will be shared soon. Pricing: In order to meet the demands of this production and ensure accessibility for all, we are able to offer the following pricing structure:- $5 – DCPS/DCPCS/Title I Schools
- $15 – Public Schools/Homeschools
- $25 – Private Schools
A Playful New Adaptation
THE MATCHBOX MAGIC FLUTE
Adapted & Directed by Mary Zimmerman Based on the Opera by Mozart May 29 | 10 AM | KLEIN THEATRE In her acclaimed signature style, Mary Zimmerman conceives a brand new theatrical adaptation of Mozart’s beloved opera. Playful and imaginative, it’s big music in a small space. This “matchbox” presentation of The Matchbox Magic Flute features a cast of 10 and an orchestra of five—following the fantastic adventures of Prince Tamino and Princess Pamina. With dragons, a man who is a bird, trials by fire and water, and underground corridors, Day and Night do battle. *Produced in association with Goodman Theatre.Pricing
With the 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.- D.C. Public and Public Charter Schools: Free
- Non-D.C. Public Title I Schools: $5
- Non-D.C. Public Schools and Home School Groups: $10
- Private/Independent Schools: $20
FAQ
How can my school pay for the tickets?Schools can pay by check or credit card. Checks should be made out to Shakespeare Theatre Company and sent to Attn: School Programs, 516 8th Street, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003.
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 contract is issued must be made in writing and before the final payment is due. 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. They cost between $2 and $5 so remind students to bring dollar bills for shorter concession lines.
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.