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Arts NC State 
NC State LIVE

School Matinee Series 2023-24

NC State LIVE's School Matinee Series gives school groups the opportunity to attend weekday performances that support the public school curriculum. The experience is fun for students and easy for teachers. From the moment you arrive on campus, we are with you every step of the way. Study Guides are often available to directly connect the theatre experience with your classroom goals.

  Registration is closed for our 2023-24 School Matinees. Please check back in August for our
2024-25 School Matinee lineup. 

We are happy to answer any questions, please contact Ariel Fay Gray at afgray@ncsu.edu or 919.513.3052. Payment is not due at the time of registration. You will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours and an invoice within a few weeks. Thanks for your understanding!

2023-24 School Matinee SERIES

Still from Manual Cinema's Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster (actors and fury monster puppets stand in front of purple screen smiling into a camera)

Manual Cinema’s 
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster

Based on two books by Mo Willems.

DATES:
~Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 11am 
~Friday, October 13, 2023 at 10am and noon 

RUN TIME: Approximately 1 hour (recommended for grades K-5)

COST: $8.58 per student/ chaperone (includes tax). Limited complimentary tickets are available for teachers.

CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS: Communication and Language Arts, Music, Relationships and Family, Storytelling, Social Studies

GRADE LEVELS: This performance is recommended for grades K-5.

ABOUT THE SHOW:
Leonardo is a terrible monster. He tries so hard to be scary, but he just… isn’t. Then Leonardo finds Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world. Will Leonardo finally get to scare the tuna salad out of someone? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship? The plot thickens when this pair meets Kerry and Frankenthaler, an even scaredier-cat and her monster friend. Kerry and Sam need to make a big decision: will they just be scaredy cats or can they become friends?
 
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster uses hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs to bring Mo Willems’ books about courage and friendship to life. Created by the ingenious Emmy Award winning company, Manual Cinema, known for mixing low-fi props with interactive technology.
 
Mo Willems’ playful tales leap from the page with charming puppetry, poignant storytelling and the creative use of video.

Learn more about Manual Cinema.

Axis Theatre performs Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

Axis Theatre Company’s
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

Based on the book by Eileen Spinelli.

DATES:
~Monday, February 26, 2024 at 11am 
~Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 10am and noon

RUN TIME: Approximately 1 hour (recommended for grades K-5)

COST: $8.58 per student/chaperone (includes tax). Limited complimentary tickets are available for teachers.

CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS: Communication and Language Arts, Music, Relationships and Family, Storytelling, Social Studies 

GRADE LEVELS: This performance is recommended for grades K-5.

ABOUT THE SHOW:
Mr. Hatch leads a predictable and dreary life; he keeps to himself. One Valentine’s Day, he unexpectedly receives a heart-shaped package with an anonymous note that whispers, “somebody loves you,” and everything changes. This heartwarming puppet play examines the effect that kindness can have on a lonely existence. Join washerwomen Betsy, Edna, and Molly as they bring Mr. Hatch’s story to life and help him search for his secret admirer!
 
Vancouver-based physical theatre company, Axis Theatre has brought the joy of live theatre to children and families across the world for close to fifty years. Their award-winning original works seek to spark wonder in the young and young at heart.
 
With captivating puppetry and innovative set design, Eileen Spinelli’s heartwarming tale of transformation from loneliness to friendship springs to life.

Learn more about Axis Theatre.

What teachers are saying

“Thanks for all you do and for your support in helping our children grow into individuals excited about literacy!”

Lori Baldwin, kindergarten teacher

“We had a wonderful time, and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. You did a fantastic job organizing this experience for us. We always felt like our safety and needs were given attention.”

Maureen Walker, first grade teacher

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn the ins and outs of the School Matinee Series.

Click here for FAQS

Still have questions?

Please contact Ariel Fay Gray if you have additional questions or concerns at afgray@ncsu.edu or 919.513.3052.