School Matinees
For stage productions based on literary classics, works thematically appropriate for students, or literary works found on standard school reading lists, Theatre Tuscaloosa produces special $3 matinee performances for area school students to attend.
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To prepare the students for the performance, Theatre Tuscaloosa provides resources to help teachers develop their lesson plans. These resources aid students’ study of the larger work and its stage adaptation. The education program is rounded out with a “talk back session” with the cast and crew following the performance.
School Matinee performances are offered at 9 a.m. School Matinees are exclusively open to school groups. Tickets are $3 for students. Adult chaperone prices are determined by the ratio of adults to students. One adult per 10 students will be admitted at $3 each, and additional adults will be $10 each. Reservations may be made with a credit card or purchase order, and all tickets must be paid for by the date of the performance.
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FEE: $5 per student; 1 free teacher/chaperone per 10 paid students; $10 per additional teacher/chaperone
LOCATION: Bean-Brown Theatre at Shelton State Community College, 9500 Old Greensboro Rd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35405
CONTACT: tickets@theatretusc.com | https://www.theatretusc.com/school-matinees | 205.391.2277
2025-26 School Matinees
Alabama Story
By Kenneth Jones
DATE: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 – 9:00 a.m.
GRADES: 6-12
Set in Montgomery in 1959, this play delves into the heart of Alabama's history, exploring themes of belonging, identity, and the fight to protect one's home and heritage. When a state senator discovers The Rabbit’s Wedding, a children’s picture book, is about a black rabbit and a white rabbit getting married, he sets out to fire the state librarian protecting it. Meanwhile, a chance meeting between childhood friends, one white and one black, forces them to recall, confront, and reconcile their complicated past.
Scrooge! the Musical
Book, Music & Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
DATE: Wednesday, December 17, 2025 – 9:00 a.m.
GRADES: 3-12
Closely adapted from the music and screenplay of the 1970 musical film Scrooge starring Albert Finney, this musical brings the warmth of the holidays and the true meaning of home to audiences as Scrooge learns to open his heart and embrace the spirit of community. This timeless tale reminds us that home is where love and connection reside, especially during the festive season.
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Arsenic and Old Lace
By Joseph Kesselring
DATE: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 – 9:00 a.m.
GRADES: 6-12
Even in the most eccentric of homes, family bonds and the familiar comforts of “home” take center stage. This classic comedy reminds us that home is where our quirks are celebrated, and where even the most unexpected surprises await. In this case, they await the hero, Mortimer Brewster. This drama critic must deal with his crazy, murderous family and local police in Brooklyn, New York, all while debating whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves.