Student Matinees | American Shakespeare Center

Give your students a trip abroad – no passport required.

join the American Shakespeare Center for an interactive, personalized dive into Shakespeare.

Our student matinee series is one of the best ways to bring Shakespeare to life for your students. Whether it’s a first-time visit to a performing art venue for your students to experience the live arts, or an opportunity to bring the page to life as a supplement to your curriculum, the student matinee series has something for every class. Let our actors bring light to the world of Shakespeare and many other titles that align with your lesson plans in a way that will illuminate the lessons of humanity and leave the next generation with a deep appreciation for the beauty of these timeless works.

Your experience begins with a performance in the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre, the Blackfriars Playhouse. With a Student Matinee booking, you’ll receive a free study guide to supplement your lesson plans and unleash the wonder of Shakespeare in the classroom before and after the show.

By putting words into action, our comprehensive approach sends students back to the classroom with a fresh look and appreciation for curriculum titles (and more). Your customizable visit starts at just $20 per student.

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Introducing: Homeschool Days

Two times each year, we offer specially priced student matinee performance dates exclusively available to homeschool families and co-ops. This full day experience at the Blackfriars Playhouse includes a performance and actor talkback, lunch at the Stonewall Jackson, and a suite of workshops with our award-winning education team.
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Customize your experience

In addition to world-class performances, we offer behind-the-scenes tours of the playhouse, as well as hands-on workshops on topics intended to cure your students’ ShakesFear. Add one or more of these options to your visit to create a learning adventure for your class unlike any other.

Subsidies

Through our generous grant from NEA, Shakespeare in American Communities, we are happy to extend financial assistance for schools meeting the criteria for subsidy funding. If your school may be eligible, please take a moment to submit an application for review.

I want to bring my students to the Blackfriars Playhouse

Seeing Shakespeare performed under the original staging conditions helps the students realize what a wonderful storyteller he is and why his works remain popular. They realize that the plays have something for everyone and recognize the universal themes. Without a doubt, those students who attend the performance far outdo the students who just read the play when it comes to tests and essays.

—Juliana Alexander, Patrick Henry High School

How much are tickets?

Each ticket for an educational group is $19 in our student matinee series. And to sweeten the deal, we offer a complimentary ticket for every 15 purchased in your order.

Do you require a deposit?

There is a 25% non refundable deposit that is due 5 days after the confirmation of your reservation. Your seating priority is based on the date your deposit is received.

Can I change my reservation number if I don’t have as many students?

We request your final headcount 3 weeks prior to your visit so your balance invoice can be updated before payment.

What do we do in the case of a school closure for inclement weather?

The ASC will make every effort to accommodate your group on another date of the student matinee series. In the case that we are unable to, there are a variety of options including reallocating the seats to an evening or weekend performance, choosing a different title in the matinee series, or placing the tickets into a hold for future use.

Do you provide subsidy funding?

Subsidy funds are available through the 2017-18 Season from a generous NEA Grant: Shakespeare in American Communities. To apply for this aid, please submit an Application for Student Matinee Ticket Subsidies.

Are there concessions?

We offer concessions during our pre-show and interlude for $2–3 per item. Snack vouchers are available as part of your reservation to insure that no student is left hungry due to leaving their money on the bus or forgetting it at home.

What is an actor talkback?

Immediately following the performance, a small group of actors convene on the stage and answer your students’ questions. This engaging opportunity lasts for 15 minutes after the conclusion of the performance and is included in the cost of your ticket.

Where do we park?

Detailed parking maps and directions are provided during your booking process to guarantee your bus driver does not become lost or frustrated through the quaint one-way streets of Downtown Staunton.

Where can we grab breakfast or lunch?

Take to the streets of Downtown Staunton to find a myriad of local coffee shops and luncheon destinations including Shenandoah Pizza, By and By Coffee, and Baja Beanery. Looking for a hot lunch in a cozy environment to teach your students about etiquette? You can book a hot luncheon buffet at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference center in addition to your tickets. Contact Jacquelynne McClelland to choose from a variety of options for only $15 per person (all inclusive).