The Grand Opera House is pleased to present the Stage of Discovery school matinees. Each show has been carefully selected to complement curriculum standards in science, social studies, language arts, and performing arts. A field trip to The Grand may be your students' first experience of live theater, and it is sure to be a memorable one. We hope to inspire a love for the arts that will continue long after the final curtain.
Both 9:30 and noon performances are offered for most shows. Running time is approximately one hour. Tickets for all shows are only $6 and one ticket is free for every 15 purchased. Families are welcome!
Study guides for each show include lessons and activities for use in the classroom before and after your visit. Our education staff is also available to visit your classroom before the show to help prepare your students for their trip to The Grand and facilitate classroom activities. Check back soon for additional study guides.
We are excited to bring you even more educational programming to enrich your Grand experience. Look for Curtain Calls for fun, educational activities at The Grand on the day of the show. Reserve Curtain Calls with your tickets for a small additional fee. Encores offer additional learning opportunities related to the show that can be booked directly with our partners at a discounted rate available only to Grand ticket holders.
Transportation scholarships of up to $500 are available to K-12 schools that demonstrate financial need. The funds may be used only for transportation to and from The Grand Opera House. Download a scholarship application here. The Grand’s bus subsidy fund is made possible by AstraZeneca, the Margaret G. Jacobs Charitable Trust, Dow Chemical Foundation, and the 2011 Norman A. Lockman Excellence in the Arts Grant.
For questions, to make a reservation, or request a classroom visit please contact the Education Manager, Briana Feinberg, at (302) 658-7897 or bfeinberg@grandopera.org.
Pinocchio: The Making of the Ballet (November 1)
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
First State Ballet Theatre
Go behind the scenes for a sneak peek at how dancers train to develop strength, precision, flexibility, and grace. Dancers will introduce students to the art of ballet and then perform highlights from First State Ballet’s world premiere of The Adventures of Pinocchio, based on the classic tale. Don't miss this unique opportunity to see both the beautiful ballet performance and the process for creating it! Grades Pre-K – 5
Curtain Call: First Steps
Visit the First State Ballet Theatre’s professional studios for a one-hour introduction to dance. Students will learn basic ballet positions and vocabulary, participate in floor exercises, play some dancing games, and even learn some of their favorite steps from the show! Reserve with your tickets for an additional $3 each.
Encore: DanceWorks!
In collaboration with First State Ballet Theatre, The Grand offers a six-week dance exposure program to local elementary schools and daycares throughout the school year. Classes focus on developing discipline, cooperation, listening skills, and spatial awareness, as students are introduced to rhythm, and choreographic patterns. The program serves as a cultural introduction to varied dance styles from around the world, and may be adapted to complement language arts or social studies curricula. Contact Briana Feinberg at (302)658-7897 or bfeinberg@grandopera.org for additional information or to register your class.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas (December 13)
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Theatre IV
Inspired by the timeless poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and by the real life of its author, Clement Moore, this hilarious musical introduces Santa in a particularly beneficent light. Grades Pre-K – 5
Curtain Call: A Victorian Christmas
Get into the holiday spirit with fun Victorian paper crafts from the Hagley Museum. Discover how people of Wilmington decorated their houses with homemade crafts. Students will make paper chains, cornucopias, and fan ornaments. Reserve with your tickets for an additional $2 each.
Encore: A Twelfth Night Ball at The Read House
Read family holiday traditions are revealed in preparation for a Twelfth Night Ball. See holiday decorations, create a mask, listen to music and dance down the grand halls of Mr. Read’s fine mansion. 1 hour, $3.00 per student. Recommended for grades K-4. Available November 10-December 31, please call Antoinette at (302)295-3284.
Encore: Yuletide at Winterthur
Receive a special reduced rate when you book ’Twas the Night Before Christmas and Winterthur’s Yuletide Tour during the month of December. Yuletide at Winterthur 2011 is a walk through time to discover holiday experiences of Americans from the colonial period through World War II. Along the way, see how Christmas evolved from an adult-centered time of gaming and carousing in the 1700s, to a child’s paradise of toys and Christmas trees in the 1800s, and finally to the extravagant holiday décor of the 20th century. Contact Lois Stoehr at (302) 888-46450 for more information.
Clifford the Big Red Dog (January 30)
Monday, January 30, 2012
Mills Entertainment
This musical celebrates Clifford’s BIG Ideas - Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be Truthful, Be Kind, Believe In Yourself, Be A Good Friend and Help Others – as Clifford and his friends embark on new adventures. Grades Pre-K – 2
Curtain Call: Pup Friends
Join Puppy Raisers of the University of Delaware to find out how real-life dogs are following Clifford’s Big Ideas: Work Together, Be a Good Friend and Help Others. Students will learn how puppies are raised and trained to become Seeing Eye dogs, see a training demonstration, have a chance to ask the handlers questions, and even get to meet some of the future guide dogs. Reserve with your tickets for an additional $2 each.
Click here to download the Clifford activity guide.
© Scholastic Inc. CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG is a trademarks of Norman Bridwell. All Rights Reserved.
Four Score and Seven Years Ago (February 9)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
ArtsPower
To young Lemuel, who has escaped slavery in Georgia, life in Gettysburg is everything he dreamed it would be. But his ideals are challenged when he befriends Jacob, a young Confederate soldier. The two men teach each other about bravery and loyalty in this exciting and suspenseful musical. Grades 4 – 8
Curtain Call: Civil War Boot Camp - A Day in the Life of a Civil War Soldier
Delaware's citizens and soldiers found themselves at a crossroads at the outbreak of the Civil War. Delaware chose to remain in the Union, but continued to allow slavery. This activity-based program challenges students to understand that soldiers and civilians made tough decisions to change or preserve their country and state during the Civil War. Recommended for grades 4-6. Reserve with your tickets for an additional $2 each or schedule as an outreach at your school for $2.50 per student by calling Antoinette at (302) 295-3284.
Encore: Civil War in Industrial America
Visit Hagley to explore how technology and industry shaped the war between the states through the lens of the DuPont Company. The lives of du Pont family members and workers frame a walk through Hagley’s Civil War past. A discount is available for groups who attend Four Score at The Grand. Recommended for grades 6-8. Contact Bonnie Wirth at bwirth@hagley.org to schedule your program.
The Magic School Bus Climate Challenge (March 13)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Bay Area Children’s Theatre
Ms. Frizzle’s students are putting on a play about global warming. The Magic School Bus takes them on a tour from the arctic to the equator, where they see signs of climate change and learn about conservation, recycling and alternative energy. Grades K – 3
Encore: Re-energize Our Resources
Visit the Delaware Children’s Museum for a special program that challenges students to “go green!” Discover ways humans - even kids - can protect, conserve, and extend our natural resources. Experience the benefits of sustainable green technology in DCM’s EcoHouse and practice real-life ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Receive a special discounted rate of $7 per person on March 13th, when programs are available at 9:30am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm. Please call the reservations office for more information at (302) 654-2360.
American Journey: The Story of Sacagawea and the Lewis & Clark Expedition (March 29)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Birmingham Children’s Theatre
Travel with Sacagawea and the Lewis and Clark expedition as they discover America! This story will inspire and encourage your spirit of adventure and ignite your passion for history while introducing your students to Native American culture, song, dance and language. Grades 3 – 8
Curtain Call: The First People in the First State
For thousands of years before European settlers came to the New World, the area which is known as Delaware today was home to a group of Native Americans called the Lenni Lenape. Students will walk from The Grand to the Delaware History Museum where they will explore how Delaware’s Native Americans lived before European contact. Recommended for grades 3-6. Reserve with your tickets for an additional $2 each.
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (April 20)
Friday, April 20, 2012
Dallas Children’s Theater
When a great African king desires a wife, Mufaro’s two daughters travel a half day’s journey to be presented to the king. The energy of the African land bursts onto stage in this Caldecott award-winning Cinderella tale that combines African drumming, dance, and original music. Grades 1 – 7
We are in the process of confirming a Curtain Call program for this show. Please check when you make your reservation to find out what programs may be available.
MacHomer (May 21)
Monday, May 21, 2012
Rick Miller
This one-man vocal spectacular features impressions of over 50 voices from TV’s The Simpsons in a hilarious performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth! Grades 6-12
Curtain Call: Shakespeare: Then, Now, and Always
Delaware Shakespeare Festival presents a fun and interactive one-hour seminar that includes:
• Brief history of Shakespeare and his times
• Shakespearean Insult Game
• Speaking the Scene
• Shakespeare’s hidden clues
• Playing the Scene
Recommended for grades 9-12. Reserve with your tickets for an additional $5 each or schedule as an outreach to your school by contacting Allyson Good at allyson@delshakes.org.