Bring your students to ACT Contemporary Theatre

An interactive student experience

Meet the artists and get an inside look at the production! Our unique student matinee programs explore the magic and making of theatre. Through close-up conversations with actors and directors, students experience theatre in a dynamic learning environment. Recommended for 6-12th grade and college classrooms. Engage the Stage is a 90-minute presentation and performance featuring: 

➤ A performance excerpt from the production 
➤ The actors and creative team in conversation about their artistic process 
➤ A deep-dive Q&A between the students and the actors and creative team 
➤ Engage the Stage attendees will receive a voucher to return to see a public performance of the production (Subject to availability. Voucher may be exchanged for a ticket at the door starting one hour before your selected performance, if seats are available.)  

Tickets: $12 per student, To book your group, complete the form found here.

“ACT Theatre’s Engage the Stage matinee for STEW captured the attention our students in powerful ways. It breaks down walls by sharing the creative processes of the director and actors. It then gives the students a taste of the performance with a powerful excerpt and culminates with a rich Q&A that offered an opportunity for our students to jump right in with direct and deeply rooted questions and comments that related to self, community, and family. Thank you, ACT Theatre for a wonderful and inspiring day.” 

May 6 at 11am

Tickets: $12 per student, 1 free chaperone per 10 students for grades 6-12 (note that one chaperone per 10 students is required for grades 6-12). Additional/college chaperone tickets are $12.

Or reach out to us at groups@acttheatre.org or 206.292.7676.

ACT sometimes may make available free tickets upon request to Title 1 Schools. Financial assistance to other schools is determined on a case-by-case basis. Please inquire at groups@acttheatre.org or 206.292.7676 

A Christmas Carol will return in 2025! Dates will be announced in April. Please check back here for details, or contact groups@acttheatre.org.

Student Group Discounts

A $25 student group rate for 10 or more students is available to select performances in the 2024/25 Season.

  • The Last Five Years – Tues, Feb 11; Thurs, Mar 6 (m)

  • Golden – Sunday, Apr 27 (m); Tues, Apr 29; Wed, Apr 30; Sun, May 4 (e); Thurs, May 8 (m)

  • Twelfth Night – Sunday, June 8 (m); Tues, June 10; Wed, June 11; Sun, June 15 (e); Thurs, June 19 (m)

Student Matinee Group Policy

  • Seating is assigned upon arrival to performance. 
  • Student group discounts are available to groups purchasing 10 tickets or more for the same performance date and time.  
  • Student matinee tickets are NOT subject to the $9 historic theatre fee. 
  • School will be invoiced by ACT and full payment is due 30 days prior to performance.   
    • A non-refundable deposit payment of 25% is due upon receipt of invoice.   
  • The $8 order fee is waived for all groups.  
  • Payment options are Visa, MC, Amex, or check. Unfortunately, we cannot accept purchase orders. 

FAQ

Please plan on arriving at least 15-30 minutes prior to showtime to allow for seating and settling.  

Check our website for background information, resource guides, and basic information about the play. You can also request a script and other support materials by contacting Artistic Associate Shana Bestock

Engage the Stage experiences are 90 minutes, with 30-40 minutes of performance and 30-40 minutes of discussion.

A Christmas Carol runs 90 minutes, no intermission.

Contact the Box Office via groups@acttheatre.org to coordinate and confirm number of attendees, price, and dates.

Yes – depending on availability of seats. Additional seats purchased day of will be $12.

Absolutely! We welcome homeschool groups! 

We suggest at least one chaperone per 20 students. You can bring as many as you want. Additional chaperones above the 1:10 ratio will need to purchase a ticket. Chaperones are required to remain with their group at all times. Additional Chaperone tickets are $12.

You’ll have a chance to meet and ask the actors questions in our Engage the Stage Q&As. 

For A Christmas Carol matinees, there will be no time for any Q&A following the show.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate groups backstage.  

No, unfortunately we don’t have room for that.

For up-to-date info:

Sign up for our mailing list (make sure to check Education & Engagement!)

Follow us on social media!

Questions?

Contact Shana Bestock, Artistic Associate, Education and Engagement at shana.bestock@acttheatre.org

Keep our programs accessible!

All ACT Education & Engagement programs are pay-what-you-choose.