CLASSES & ACTIVITIES SCHOOL MATINEES Pippi Longstocking 2005-06 Season
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Classes for Ages 4 – Adult
Friday Funday • Second Saturday • Storytelling
From Page to Stage: The Playhouse School Matinee Program
Make a lasting impression by expanding your classroom with a visit to The Des Moines Playhouse. Students, many who have never seen live theatre before, come with wide-eyed wonder. When the lights dim, they see a favorite story in a new way, visit new lands, imagine lives different from their own, encounter new experiences, and grow.
We're proud to offer a literature-based season and pleased to be your partner in creating a rich educational environment for your class.
We prepare packets of language arts and cross-curriculum exercises that motivate students to respond to ideas, questions and problem-solving in relationship to the play they see. Through your visit to The Playhouse, students are encouraged to read, develop creative thinking skills and be curious about their world.
2010-11 School Matinee Schedule
2010-11 School Matinee Schedule
The Adventures of Nate the Great and Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures
Recommended grades: K-3
School Matinees: Noon, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010; 9:30 AM, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010
Public performances: Oct. 8-24, 2010
Meet Nate the Great, the sharpest kid detective ever to solve
his neighborhood's mysteries. With his faithful dog, Sludge, and
his friends, he solves important cases, always remembering to
leave a note for his mother and wear his galoshes! After a brief
intermission, it's Gooney Bird Greene. Gooney Bird casts herself
as the hero in the most improbable, outlandish stories: how
she arrived from China on a flying carpet, how she got a lovely
pair of diamond earrings at the local palace, how she directed a
symphony orchestra while driving through the center of town, and
how her beloved cat, Catman, was consumed by a cow! Are these
stories really true? Of course they are because, as Gooney Bird
proudly proclaims, she only tells "absolutely true stories!"
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella
Music by Richard Rodgers
Books & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Adapted for the Stage by Tom Briggs
From the Teleplay by Robert L. Freedman
Sponsored by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Recommended grades: 1-12
School Matinees: Noon, Monday, Dec. 13, 2010; 9:30 AM, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
Public performances: Dec. 10-23, 2010
The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn. Glittering enchantment flourishes in a magical, musical fairy tale that has transported generations to a kingdom where dreams come true. Cinderella will have hearts singing when the slipper fits.
James and the Giant Peach
Based on the book by Roald Dahl
Recommended grades: 4-7
School Matinees: Noon, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011; 9:30 AM, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011
Public performances: Feb. 18-Mar. 6, 2011
One dark night, a mysterious man gives James Trotter an unexpected gift... a bag of glowing, wriggling lights and a promise of magic. When the lights break free, something amazing happens: on the long-dead tree, a single peach begins to grow and grow and grow. Little does James realize that the giant peach will become a magical escape from his ghastly aunts. James and his newfound insect friends embark on an extraordinary journey that takes them halfway around the world.
Miss Nelson is Missing
Based on the book Miss Nelson is Missing and Miss Nelson is Back by Harry Allard, Illustrated by James Marshall
Adapted by Joan Cushing
Book, Music & Lyrics by Joan Cushing
Recommended grades: K-3
School Matinees: Noon, Tuesday, May 10, 2011; 9:30 AM, Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Public performances: May 6-22, 2011
A classroom of unruly students treats their caring and lovely teacher with complete disrespect. They throw spitballs during story-time and refuse to sit in their seats during math. Miss Nelson retaliates by dressing up as a substitute teacher, Miss Viola Swamp, and terrorizing them with piles and piles of homework. In the end, the students write a letter of apology to Miss Nelson and she "returns" to find a classroom of well-behaved students.
To make your reservations, contact Robin Spahr, education programming assistant, at 515-974-5365, or toll free at 877-862-5621 ext. 230.
Reservations for Weekday Matinees
1. Count ‘em up!
- Groups of 15 or more are $7 per person
- Groups of less than 15 are $10 per student and $12 per adult
- Reduced rates are available to students who receive free or reduced lunches. Please make requests for discounted tickets at the time of the reservation.
2. Call us up!
515-974-5365 or toll free at 877-862-5621 ext. 230
Robin Spahr, education registrar, provides personal service to make your visit to the Playhouse an experience you and your students won't forget! Our matinees sell out early, so call now!
3 Get the ball rollin’!
- After your reservation we will send you an invoice. A deposit is due at that time and is required to hold your reservation.
- The full amount is due 30 days prior to the performance. If the amount is not paid, the tickets will be released.
- Depending on the availability of seating you may change your numbers up to 45 days prior to the performance. After that you will be financially responsible for the number you have reserved.
- Once tickets have been purchased, they are non-refundable.
Performances typically last 90 minutes.
Each show also has evening and weekend public performances. Show times are 7:00 PM Friday, 1:00 PM Saturday, and 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM Sunday (1:00 PM only on the final Sunday). Groups of 15+ can purchase tickets for $10 per student and $12 per adult.Educator Perks: The Inside Scoop
- Workshops and Tours: To arrange an extended experience at The Playhouse, call the education department at 515-974-5365, toll free 877-862-5621 ext. 230.
- Teacher Preview: If you wish to preview the performance for your class, you may arrange to attend a preview performance, which is typically the Thursday before the show opens. Just call Robin Spahr at 515-974-5365 for one complimentary ticket.
Some classes have found attending an evening or weekend performance works better in schedules than a school matinee. All children's theatre productions have performances 7:00 PM Friday, 1:00 PM Saturday and 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM Sunday. Tickets for groups attending public performances are $12 for adults and $10 for students, and are available by calling group sales at 515-974-5358, toll-free at 877-862-5621 ext. 211.. Click here for a complete list of Kate Goldman Children's Theatre shows.
High School drama, vocal music and English classes can enjoy an evening or weekend trip to The Playhouse for our Mainstage shows. Tickets – $22 for adults and $17 for students – are available by calling group sales at 515-974-5358, toll-free at 877-862-5621 ext. 211. We recommend The Drowsy Chaperone and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for high school classes. Click here for a complete list of Mainstage shows.
Spotlight Literacy: Actors in the Classroom
Life-long readers are people who perceive significant benefit from reading literature. Young people learning to read and write benefit greatly from seeing their literature brought to life. Performing, creative drama, playwriting, discussion, and critical review are all ways in which children and adults alike can become involved on a personal level with theatre’s literature. It is our goal to provide a strong link between the page and stage.
- For each of the shows in the season, we designate a Spotlight School. The deciding factor is usually the number of free or reduced priced tickets requested by a school.
- Before the performance, actors from the show visit the classroom. They read from the book upon which the show is based, answer questions and give a copy of the book to each child, which is theirs to keep.
- The children attend the show and receive P. Bill Jr., a program with language arts exercises.
- After attending the show, the children write letters to the actors with a brief review and a couple of questions. About a week later, each child receives a written response from the actors.
- Each season, we give away more than 500 books and 1000 letters pass back and forth between schoolchildren and our actors!
If you would like to be considered a Spotlight School, please contact Kathy Pingel, director of education and youth programming, 515-974-5359, toll-free 877-862-5621, ext. 214, to arrange for this very special educational experience.
For more information on Playhouse educational offerings, contact Robin Spahr, Playhouse education registrar,
515-974-5365, or toll-free, 1-877-862-5621 ext. 230.
