Student Matinees
About the 2025-2026 Matinees
Each season, Queens Theatre is proud to present exclusive weekday morning performances for school children at every grade level. All shows will run approximately 60 minutes.
Tickets
$10 per student
1 free chaperone ticket per 10 students
Free for paraprofessionals
To reserve tickets, email Richard Hinojosa, Queens Theatre's Director of Education, at rhinojosa@queenstheatre.org.
Dia De Muertos
A Calpulli Mexican Dance Company Production
Monday, October 27th at 10:15am and 11:45am
Tuesday, October 28th at 10:15am and 11:45am
Approximate Running Time: 60 minutes
Recommended Ages: All Ages
A small town in southern Mexico prepares for a celebration. The town rejoices at Lupita’s arrival, and that of Raul, her beloved. Maximiliano, only son of the town’s richest family, reminds Lupita’s mother of their secret agreement to take Lupita’s hand. Upon learning of the arrangement, Lupita refuses. Dejected, Maximiliano challenges Raul to a duel and loses. Maximiliano, seeking revenge on Raul, accidentally ends Lupita’s life, leaving no chance for her to say goodbye to her loved one.
Lupita is transported to Mictlán, the world of the dead, where she meets La Catrina. Lupita is in awe of the beauty she sees and remembers Raul. La Catrina, surprised by seeing sadness, gives Lupita an opportunity to say goodbye to her love. Lupita briefly returns to the world of the living. La Catrina shows Raul that one day he will meet his beloved in the world of the departed. With new found hope, Raul and the townsfolk continue to celebrate the return of their departed loved ones.
| Curriculum Connections Language Arts, Social Studies and History |
Themes Cultural Based, Music, Dance, Family, Community |
Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends
A TheaterWorksUSA Production
Wednesday, December 3 at 10:15am & 12:00pm
Approximate Running Time: 60 minutes
Recommended Ages: All Ages
Ms. Greer's classroom includes three inquisitive out-of-the-box thinkers. Rosie Revere has big dreams, Iggy Peck has a relentless passion for architecture, and Ada Twist's curiosity can drive her teacher crazy. On a field trip gone awry, they are faced with the ultimate test of their problem-solving skills that can only be conquered with teamwork.
Curious minds take the spotlight. Ada Twist and her clever classmates Rosie and Iggy dream, design, and solve the world’s biggest problems with unstoppable imagination. Bursting with STEM-powered songs and spirit, this lively musical adaptation brings Andrea Beaty’s beloved books to life — perfect for sparking big dreams right here in Queens.
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Parsons Dance
Friday, December 5th at 10:30am
Approximate Running Time: 60 minutes
Recommended Ages: All Grades
Celebrate the season with the electrifying spirit of Parsons Dance! Bursting with energy, athleticism, and pure joy, this internationally acclaimed company brings the magic of contemporary American dance to dazzling life. Known for their bold ensemble work and breathtaking movement, Parsons Dance has captivated audiences around the globe. Signature pieces—like the gravity-defying Caught—showcase their innovative style and heart-pounding excitement along with Her Gifts celebrating Roberta Flack and In The End to the music of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Matthews. Parsons Dance lights up the stage with brilliance and warmth, making them the perfect holiday treat for audiences of all ages.
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Hare & Tortoise
A Tutti Frutti Production
Based on Aesop's Fables
Monday, February 2nd at 10:15am
Approximate Running Time: 60 Minutes
Recommended Ages: 3+ years old
Two unlikely friends — the speedy, confident Hare and the calm, steady Tortoise — meet for the greatest race on Earth: a race filled with suspense, surprises, and a nail-biting, medal-winning finish. Ready… Steady… Is it time to GO? This playful and imaginative adaptation of Aesop’s classic fable is brought to life on stage in a vibrant performance. With three talented actors, musicians, and a whole lot of energy, the story unfolds across the seasons — from the blossoming days of spring, through the fun of summer, to the icy sparkle of winter. Guided by our storyteller, this heartwarming tale explores patience, friendship, and what it means to grow up. Tutti Frutti Productions brings you this much-loved story, brimming with fun, live music, unforgettable songs, and delightful characters.
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Layer the Walls Part I & II
A Grand Pistachio Production
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 10:15 AM and 12:00 PM (Part I)
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 10:15 AM and 12:00 PM (Part II)
Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 10:15 AM and 12:00 PM (Part II)
Approximate Running Time: 60 Minutes
Recommended Ages: Grades 2-8
In one Lower East Side tenement, forty layers of wallpaper were found clinging to the walls - each piece applied by a new immigrant family. Using puppetry, masks and live action, Layer the Walls tells the incredible stories held within each layer. Through these stories, young audiences engage their imagination and creativity, build empathy, and better understand current events through a historical lens.
This year, we are offering TWO different Layer the Walls experiences. Both are centered in the same tenement apartment. Layer the Walls Part I and Part II illuminate stories from different time periods. Both pieces stand alone. Bring your students to see the stories most relevant to your classroom. Look below to find out more about the content.
LAYER THE WALLS PART I: Turn of the Century (1870-1909)
*An Irish father is forced to take a dangerous job building the Brooklyn Bridge
*Italian brothers survive discrimination and The Great Blizzard of 1888
*Russian Jewish girls must decide if they will join the 1909 Garment Workers' Strike
LAYER THE WALLS PART II: Midcentury (1930-1970)
*A Chinese father swims across the Hudson River to save his family
*A Teen Holocaust survivor finds home in NYC
*Puerto Rican cousins become involved with the Young Lords’ fight for healthcare justice
| Curriculum Connections Social Studies & History (NYC Tenements, Great Potato Famine, The Great Blizzard of 1888, Garment Workers' Strike, Chinese Exclusion Act, The Holocaust, Puerto Rican Migration) |
Themes Immigration, Discrimination, Activism, Empathy |
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Production by The Acting Company
Thursday, February 26th at 10:30am
Friday, February 27th at 10:30am
Approximate Running Time: 60 minutes
Recommended Ages: Teens
A rapturous, fresh take on one of William Shakespeare’s most popular and widely performed plays, The Acting Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a captivating, coming-of-age story that will surprise and delight! In this fast-paced, crowd-pleasing comedy, a pair of young lovers flee to an enchanted forest where a troupe of amateur actors rehearse a play. With the help of a mystical flower, the fairy king and queen’s mischievous servant Puck creates chaos for these unsuspecting humans, leading to mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and comical transformations. Bursting with mirth, music, magic, and mayhem, this uplifting tale of illusion and love comes to life with an electric cast of New York-based artists.
| Curriculum Connections English Language Arts, History and Culture, Arts and Drama |
Themes Dreams, Love, Supernatural, Imagination, Order vs Disorder, Transformation |
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System
A TheaterWorksUSA Production
Monday, April 20th at 10:15am and 12:00pm
Approximate Running Time: 60 Minutes
Recommended Ages: 4-10 years old
Families will love watching their favorite characters from the classic book & TV series explore the atmosphere on Mercury, Venus, and Mars on an epic interplanetary field trip. Guided by Ms. Frizzle, the class must pull together to find their way across the galaxy while learning as much about teamwork as they do about the solar system.
Hop aboard for an interstellar field trip that only Ms. Frizzle could pull off. When a detour strands the class in deep space, they must stick together or risk being lost among the stars forever. An out-of-this-world musical for families to grow their love for science and storytelling — homegrown learning, cosmic fun.
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Themes School, Family, Forgiveness, Science, Space, Teamwork |