Student matinees are a series of special 60-minute daytime performances for K-12 students featuring internationally-renowned artists. A student matinee is the perfect way to bring the arts to life in a fun and memorable way. Participating schools will also receive in-depth study materials with lesson plans and arts-integration opportunities to use in your classroom.
Keep scrolling for frequently asked questions. If you’re looking for more help, fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
Each Student Matinee includes a set of study tools to take back to your classroom so you can make the most of your field trip.
These aren’t your traditional shows. Student Matinees are fun, energetic, and interactive.
Field trips can be stressful, but they don’t have to be. Our incredible team is here to make your day as easy as possible.
Fri, October 30, 2026 | 10:30 AM
SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure is a touring bilingual/bicultural musical.
Fri, November 13, 2026 | 10:30 AM
Everybody is a master of something. Blink, step, jump, balance, flip, fly. This is an ode to the countless hours needed to achieve great things.
Wed, January 13, 2027 | 10:30 AM
In Ocean Soul, Brian weaves together the visual stories he has created as an award-winning photojournalist and film producer.
Wed, February 10, 2027 | 10:30 AM
Join world-renowned scientist and National Geographic explorer Mireya Mayor on a wild and inspiring romp through her unconventional path to success.
Wed, March 10, 2027 | 10:30 AM
An esteemed photographer and filmmaker, Keith is known for captivating imagery that explores the intersection of adventure, nature, and conservation.
Thurs., April 13, 2026 | 10:30 AM
This innovative and entertaining educational offering uses the magical world of circus to teach concepts like Forces and Motion, Simple Machines, Matter, Air Power, Chemical Reactions and more.
Mon., May 3, 2027 | 10:30 AM
Pay your bling and hear them sing! Jay and Will Grimmz, the hip-hop, fable, and story dance-pop sensations, are back with a whole new set of hip hop tales in GRIMMZ Fairy Tales II: Once Upon a Rhyme.
Choose your show, complete the registration form, and download your study materials. Study materials will be available closer to the show.
Six weeks before the show, confirm how many students and chaperones will be attending. Four weeks before the show, submit payment via check or credit card.
Sit back and enjoy the show with your students – you’ve earned it.
Once your invoice has been issued, MPAC requests payment a minimum of thirty (30) days in advance of your performance. We recognize that payment processes are different at every school.
20% deposit is required within 45 days of the reservation. Final payment and headcount are due 6 weeks before the show date.
Reservations must be made online through our website. Once your reservation is made, you will see a confirmation screen that your Reservation request is complete and received.
These numbers will be used to create an invoice, which represents the total amount due for your participation. Seats are subject to availability at the time of making your reservation.
We do not issue physical tickets. Marcus Performing Arts Center Guest Services staff and volunteers will greet you upon arrival and assist groups to their designated seats.
Unfortunately, it is not possible for teachers to select their seats for Student Matinee performances. All seats are weighted equally and are assigned based on the overall seating needs of the performance. Requests for accessibility or other special needs are welcomed and we will do our best to honor such requests.
Yes, when each performance reaches its capacity, those non-reserved schools will be placed on a waitlist and will be notified if any spots become available.
Individual tickets will NOT be sold to parents, community members, or students NOT included in your school reservation.
Absolutely! Tickets are $10 per person and does not include parking.
We recommend a ratio of one adult per 10 students. We understand that some students require more assistance and supervision than others, and for that reason, you are welcome to bring up to a ratio of one adult per five students, plus support staff. Every attendee is required to purchase a ticket.
Once your Reservation Contract has been signed and returned and payment has been received refunds will no longer be issued. If attendees have not issued payment then they must reach out to the Student Matinee Coordinator and make the necessary adjustments.
We recommend arriving at least thirty minutes prior to the performance, in order to accommodate seating, lunch drop-offs, and pre-show use of restrooms. Please feel free to arrive up to forty minutes early if you believe you will need more time. Arrival time does not affect seating.
Unless otherwise noted, all performances are 60 minutes in length and sometimes offer an optional Q&A after this time.
You may request to reserve lunch space following your performance by emailing studentmatinees@marcuscenter.org. MPAC does not provide lunches.
Yes, study guides will be emailed to the educator that made the reservation and will also be made available on our website. Study guides will be available at least one month prior to the performance.
There’s always something new happening at the Marcus Center, and our learning experiences are in high demand.
Feel free to sign up to get Engage & Learn updates or just ask a question. We’ll get back to you!
929 N Water St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 273-7206
tickets@marcuscenter.org
Phone Line: Mon-Fri / 10 am-4 pm
Ticketing Windows: Mon-Fri / Noon-4 pm
We’re also open one hour prior to most performances.
