For Teachers & School Groups

School Matinees

Special 70-minute adaptations made for school groups, with big group savings of more than 50 percent off regular prices. Share the magic of live theatre at America's First Theatre.

Jump to Why Book 2026-27 Shows Workshops How to Order

An Unforgettable Field Trip

Charleston Stage offers special 70-minute adaptations of select productions for school groups throughout the season, at the Historic Dock Street Theatre downtown and at The Pearlstine Theatre in West Ashley. Enjoy professional casts, big group savings, and education guides aligned to South Carolina standards, all built to fit into your school day.

The Biggest Shows in Town

South Carolina's largest professional theatre company, with full-scale scenery, costumes, and lighting performed by professional casts.

Built for the School Day

Weekday matinees at 9:30am and 11:45am, each running 60 to 70 minutes to fit your schedule.

Big Group Savings

All tickets are $15.25, or $10.25 for Title 1 schools, and every school receives one free adult ticket for every ten student tickets.

10 Ticket Minimum

Homeschool families are welcome, with a ten ticket minimum order. Tickets are not available at the door.

Book Now, Pay Later

Reserve your seats now and pay later. A 50 percent deposit is requested after booking, and a Purchase Order may be provided in its place.

Two Field Trips in One

Share the magic of live theatre while visiting the Historic Dock Street Theatre, America's First Theatre, and downtown Charleston.

2026-27 School Matinees

This Season's Shows

Miss Nelson Is Missing!

Miss Nelson Is Missing!

The Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church Street, Charleston
October 20 to 30, 2026 (Tuesday through Friday)
Performances at 9:30am and 11:45am.
The Velveteen Rabbit

The Velveteen Rabbit

The Pearlstine Theatre, Charleston Stage: West Ashley, 1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd Suite 4A
December 1 to 18, 2026
Performances at 9:30am and 11:45am.
Pete the Cat

Pete the Cat

The Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church Street, Charleston
February 16 to 26, 2027 (Tuesday through Friday)
Performances at 9:30am and 11:45am.

Specific dates and times are confirmed on your invoice. Many performances fill up early, so reserve as soon as you can.

With Thanks to Our Sponsors

Leading Sponsor

The John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation

With additional support from the Exchange Club of Charleston, SC.

Arts-Integrated Workshops

Bring the Learning Into Your Classroom

Pair your field trip with a companion workshop or a multi-week residency led by our professional teaching artists, connecting directly to each show through character, movement, music, and storytelling.

Explore In-School Workshops

Ordering Instructions & Policies

How to Order & What to Know

Please review all instructions before you order. Questions? Email Kelly Brolley-Monahan at kelly@charlestonstage.com.

Payment Deadlines
For bookings made in May or June 2026, a 50 percent deposit is due Tuesday, August 25. Full payment is due Tuesday, September 22 for Miss Nelson Is Missing!, Tuesday, November 3 for The Velveteen Rabbit, and Tuesday, January 19 for Pete the Cat. If you book a month or less before the performance, full payment is due within the week of booking. Seats are released if payment is not received by the due date.
Review the Education Guides First
Education guides are available for each production and include content notes, SC standards, recommended grade levels, and pre- and post-show activities. Please review them to decide whether a production is right for your students, and consider sending them home to parents.
Determine Your Headcount
Every order needs a minimum of 10 tickets. You receive one free adult ticket for every 10 student tickets, and those complimentary adult tickets should be included in your final count. Please do not overbook. Once your form is submitted, a reservation may be increased or decreased by no more than 20, and after your payment deadline you may only reduce your group by 10.
Only Teachers May Book
Reservations are accepted from teachers only, not from parents or individual students. Homeschool groups are welcome, but we cannot accept reservations from individual parents. Tickets are not available at the door.
How to Reserve
Submit your request through the School Matinee Reservation Request Form using the Reserve Now button. An online form must be submitted for all school groups by a teacher. Open the reservation form →
Booking & Invoicing
Once your reservation is made, an invoice is emailed to you with the date, time, ticket count, and total, along with your payment deadline. That deadline is also the last date to cancel without penalty. Seats are released if payment is not received by the due date.
Service & Processing Fees
A $0.25 service fee per ticket is already included in the prices above. If you pay by credit card, a $1 processing fee per ticket is added. If you pay by check or ACH, no processing fees are added.
Refunds
There are no refunds for school matinee performances, and no partial refunds for students or adults who cannot attend on the day of the performance.
On the Day of Your Performance
If traveling by bus, please provide an index card with your bus driver's name, school, and cell number for our Front of House staff. Students should wear matching name tags or clothing listing your school name. Further logistics are emailed to teachers in the weeks beforehand, so please check your email the day of your visit.
Seating, Babes in Arms & Photos
Seating is assigned by group size at the discretion of the Front of House staff, so please order only the seats you need and note any accommodations on your form. Children under 3 are not permitted in the theatre. Anyone entering on the day of a matinee may be photographed for promotional use; please let staff know in advance if an attendee should not be photographed.
Ready to Bring Your Class

Reserve Your School Matinee

Submit the reservation request form and our team will follow up with your invoice, dates, and next steps. Reservations are accepted from teachers only.