Student Matinees
World-Class Field Trip Experience
Now Booking Student Matinees for September 2026!
All performances begin at 10:30AM.
What You Need To Know
Performances run 2.5–3 hours (depending on the play).
Plays are appropriate for ages Grades 6 and up.
The Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center has seating for 444.
Study Guides will be available in advance of the play to enhance your play-going experience and accompany the performances.
$15 per student (One complimentary chaperone ticket for every 10 paid student tickets).
Free parking for buses is available in a large surface lot a short distance from the theater.
As You Like It
A joyful, music-filled journey through the Forest of Arden where disguise, discovery, and the power of love take center stage.
Fleeing the confines of court life, Rosalind and her cousin Celia seek refuge in the Forest of Arden, where exiles become adventurers, friendships bloom into romances, and wit collides with whimsy. Shakespeare’s romantic comedy is a celebration of the joys and follies of human nature and the beauty of creating one’s own sanctuary, even in the face of great tyranny.
This lively production of As You Like It is perfect for middle and high school audiences, offering rich opportunities for discussion around literary themes, character development, and the social dynamics of gender, power, and freedom.
Performance Dates & Times:
As You Like It (Wednesday, Sept 16 at 10:30am)
As You Like It (Thursday, Sept 17 at 10:30am)
King Lear
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child
Power. Family. Consequences. The storm that starts at home.
In Shakespeare’s fiercest tragedy, a tale of madness, power, and betrayal roars to life as a father’s world collapses—shattered not by strangers, but by his own blood.
King Lear is one of Shakespeare’s most gripping stories. Loyalty, honesty, and pride collide inviting students to explore big questions about family, identity, and the choices that define who we become.
Performance Dates & Times:
King Lear (Friday, Sept 18 at 10:30am)
2026 Student Matinee Performances
If you are interested in booking a group for a 2026 Student Matinee Performance, please fill out the form below.
In-Classroom Programs
Transform your classroom into a rehearsal room
We believe that the greatest learning experience we can provide is one that invites students to approach the plays as actors do: as a company of artists that uses active, exploratory problem-solving techniques to develop a greater understanding and enjoyment of Shakespeare’s stories, characters, and language.
Shakespeare’s plays speak powerfully to our world today, and our programs empower students to find aspects of their own lived experience reflected back to them in Shakespeare’s language, stories, and characters.
HVS Education programs are designed to support the New York State Next Generation English Language Arts (ELA) Learning Standards, which define the knowledge and skills students should develop in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language across grade levels. Participating New York State public schools that engage with BOCES Arts in Education service may be eligible to receive New York State aid for the program, provided the program is processed through BOCES service in accordance with applicable NYSED guidelines.
Workshop & Residency Programs
Our Programs
increase understanding and accessibility.
develop skills in communication and collaboration.
challenge students to make creative choices that require close reading and text analysis.
create pathways for students to make personal connections with the text.
Programs are available year-round and can be customized upon request. Prices below reflect 1-2 teaching artists and 1-5 workshops per day.
HVS teaching artists engage students in an exploration of Shakespeare’s story, character, and language. Workshops can focus on the text of your choice! $400 – $650 per day (up to 5 workshops).
Residency Programs
HVS teaching artists engage students in an in-depth study of Shakespeare’s language, story, characters, themes, and plot. Residencies can focus on the text of your choice! Minimum 5 days. $630 per day (up to 5 workshops).
Skilled Based Theater Workshops
HVS teaching artists engage students in skill-based workshops such as stage combat, voice, improvisation, and more.
Pricing
Workshop & Residency Programs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Great For | Price | Availability | Duration | |
One-Day Workshops | All grades | $500-$725 | Year-Round | 1 Day (minimum) |
Residency Workshops | All grades | $630-$700 | Year-Round | 5 Days (minimum) |
Skills Based Theatre Workshops | All grades | $500-$725 | Year-Round | 1 Day (minimum) |