Area schools invited to matinee performances at Saint Mary’s

WINONA, Minn. — The Performance Center of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is pleased to announce the 2013-2014 school-only matinees. This year’s matinee performances provide inexpensive opportunities for area students in kindergarten through grade 12 to experience the best in performing arts.

Interested schools should contact Adam Wiltgen, SMU Box Office manager, at amwilt04@smumn.edu to reserve seating for their school groups. Include “SCHOOL MATINEE” in the subject line and include the following information:

• Name of School

• Contact name, phone number, and email address

• Number of students expected to attend

• Grade level or age range of students (whichever is applicable)

• Number of expected chaperones

• Any needed accessibility services

All seats cost $3 per person (for students and chaperones) and payment is due upon arrival. Schools are asked to limit chaperones to one adult per 10 students, when possible. You will be contacted to confirm your school’s participation.

Groups should plan to arrive between 20 and 30 minutes prior to the performance. Those who arrive earliest are seated first. Most events last 50 to 60 minutes and offer study guides with pre- and post-performance activities and discussion topics.

Go to www.pagetheatre.org to find more information about the artists, study guides and links to artist websites. Click on the “School Matinee” link to find more information.

School matinees 2013-14

Stinky Cheese Man and Other Stories

THURSDAY • OCT. 3 • 10 a.m.

* Recommended for kindergarteners through fourth-graders

Poor Jack. He’s got to use his wits to save himself from the terrible Giant, but a host of familiar fairytale characters keep messing up his plans—and then there’s that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! The show deconstructs the tradition of the fairy tale. Characters slide in and out of tales; Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and Goldilocks meets the Three Elephants. Nothing is quite the same as you remember it.

Over the past 22 years the Griffin Theatre Company of Chicago has provided a wide range of work including world and mid-west premieres of acclaimed scripts, critically lauded productions of Shakespeare and original adaptations of novels.

Peter Pan

Theatreworks USA

THURSDAY • NOV. 14 • 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.

*Recommended for first-graders through fifth-graders

Peter Pan is an adapted version of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale created by John Caird and Trevor Nunn. This touring production explores the journey of a group of children in turn-of-the-century London who use their imaginations to reenact the story of Peter Pan. This story empowers children to create their own world of make-believe. As the children fly to Neverland and escape the evil Captain Hook and Mr. Smee, they recognize the importance of friendship as well as the value of being part of a family. This production encourages children to let their imaginations take “flight” and to create their own adventures using household objects as props and puppets as characters.

Theatreworks USA was last seen at the Page with Bunnicula. Their alumni include Henry Winkler and John Glover. Celebrating their 51st year of producing high quality touring family friendly theatre, this New York City based company is a Page Series favorite.

NOW FILLED – Doktor Kaboom

THURSDAY • JAN. 16, 2014

Teacher from the Black Lagoon and Other Storybooks

Theatreworks USA

WEDNESDAY • JAN. 29, 2014 • 10 or 12:30 p.m. (limited room for both shows)

*Recommended for kindergarteners through fourth-graders

An exciting new musical revue based on favorite contemporary children’s books including: Teacher From the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler and Jared Lee, Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey, Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard, I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen, Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes, Love Splat, Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton, and The Grasshopper and the Ant.

Theatreworks USA often visits the Page stage, last season they performed Bunnicula. Since their founding in 1961, they have presented more than 90 million children and their families with opportunities to enjoy their theatrical productions in 49 states and Canada.

Spring Concert

Dance Repertory Company and SMU Dept. of Theatre and Dance

THURSDAY • APRIL 24, 2014 • 10 a.m.

* Recommended for third-graders and older

Suitable and appealing for all ages, the annual spring concert by the Dance Repertory Company offers a well-rounded dance experience by including a variety of dance styles in its performances. Full of youthful exuberance, effervescent spirit and burgeoning talent, the company upholds high artistic standards and commitment to technique, discipline and fun. From contemporary ballet to tap, and from jazz to hip hop, this concert promises delightful choreography performed by an equally delightful company of student dancers.

Arts Educational opportunities are supported in part by generous donations from Xcel Energy and Target.