School Matinee Series

The Goodman’s flagship Education program, the School Matinee Series (SMS), welcomes high schools students from across Chicago to experience Goodman productions free of charge. Participating Chicago Public School high schools receive free teacher professional development, arts-integrated curriculum across subject areas, a copy of the script and a study guide packet that contextualizes the themes of each production and tickets to Goodman Student Matinees.

Throughout the school year, Goodman Education staff collaborate with teachers to integrate play content into specific curriculum across all subject areas. This approach enhances student learning, aids in the development of critical thinking skills, sparks curiosity and encourages students to explore their identities and the world around them.

School Matinee Series Partner Schools Receive: 

• Free Tickets: Up to 66 tickets per school—including students and chaperones—for select Goodman productions. After completing one year in the program, schools may receive up to 100 tickets.

• Access to Goodman Student Matinees:

  • New schools may attend up to three student matinees in their first year – A Christmas Carol and up to two additional productions in the latter half of the season.

  • Schools may attend up to four shows per year after the first year.

  • Each matinee is followed by a post-show discussion with the cast and associated artists, when possible.

  • All matinees begin at 10:30am. Schools are expected to be at the theater by 10:00am to be seated.

  • Performances can run between 1 hour and 30 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the show.

  • Post-show discussions last approximately 20-30 minutes.

• Teacher Resources and Professional Development:

  • Professional development workshops designed to increase teacher capacity for integrating the arts across the curriculum.

  • Online curriculum resources provided to support instruction around each production.

  • Materials tailored to specific classroom’s needs are available upon request

  • Teachers are required to attend a free preview performance to enhance lesson and unit planning.

• Curriculum Materials:
  • Access to the script and specially developed supplementary curricular materials.
  • Access to Goodman’s Stage Chemistry workshops free of charge, offering hands-on theatre experiences that explore Goodman productions through the framework of STEAM principles.
• Custom Workshops and Artist Visits:

  • Custom-tailored workshops for partner schools, upon request and availability.

  • Artist visits available upon request and based on availability.

• Transportation Support: Financial assistance for buses and transportation, based on need.
• Student Return Tickets: Participating students receive a pair of complimentary tickets to return to the show with a parent or guardian, allowing them to share their Goodman experience together.

Applications for the 25/26 school year are open! As a part of this application, please be prepared to answer the questions outlined in the application prompts for teachers and principals below:

For Teachers

Complete the application prompts for teachers
Complete the Teacher Form

For Principals

Complete the application prompts for principals
Complete the Principal Form

Applications close Friday, October 3.