2023/24 Student Matinee Series at Marcus Performing Arts Center Kicks Off In November

MILWAUKEE (October 19, 2023) – The 2023/24 Student Matinee Series at the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) will launch on November 2 with a sold-out performance of B—The Underwater Bubble Show. This season’s Student Matinee Series will feature seven special daytime performances for K-12 students featuring internationally renowned artists.

Now in its third year, MPAC’s Student Matinee Series serves 7,500 young people per year. Also on this season’s lineup is a sensory-friendly performance of Show Way The Musical, from Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences.

These performances enhance classroom learning by bringing history, science, and the arts to life via tangible, memorable experiences. All participating schools will receive in-depth study materials containing lesson plans and arts-integration opportunities that can be incorporated into the classroom.

“Our 2023/24 Student Matinee Series is a true testament to our commitment to fostering a lifelong love for the arts,” stated Kevin Giglinto, MPAC President & CEO. “We believe this series will provide students with a remarkable opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of performing arts, and we can’t wait to share these unforgettable experiences with them.”

The Student Matinee Series is generously supported by Bader Philanthropies, Inc., Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and the Herzfeld Foundation.

Following is a chronological listing of the 2023/24 Student Matinee Series.

B—The Underwater Bubble Show
November 2, 2023 | 10:30am
Discover the wondrous underwater world of Bubblelandia as you go on an imaginary journey with Mr. B through the deep blue sea and explore a world inhabited by incredible creatures. This lavish production features dancers, acrobats, original music, and fantastical bubble effects to create a dreamlike underwater atmosphere.

Recommended for grades K-8.
This Student Matinee performance is SOLD OUT. To purchase tickets to the evening public performance, click here.

Bill Blagg’s The Science of Magic
February 2, 2024 | 10:30am
Illusionist Bill Blagg’s one-of-a-kind educational experience, The Science of Magic, takes students on a rare journey “behind the scenes” of the magic world. Bill’s comedy-filled, action-packed presentation is highly interactive and makes science fun and exciting. Students will discover firsthand how magicians use science to create the impossible!

Recommended for grades 1-5.

Black Violin
February 9, 2024 | 10:30am
The Black Violin Experience Tour Student Matinee showcases the two-time GRAMMY-nominated duo Black Violin, brought to life by Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste. This is a concert performance that boldly merges classical sounds and exhilarating hip-hop beats, uniting students with a message of hope and possibility. Students will be immersed in a sound that transcends categories and celebrates ingenuity and ambition, proving anything is possible.

Recommended for grades K-12.

Dance Theatre of Harlem
February 14, 2024 | 10:30am
A singular presence in the ballet world, the Dance Theatre of Harlem presents a powerful vision for ballet in the 21st century. The 18-member company’s forward-thinking repertoire includes treasured classics, neoclassical works by George Balanchine and resident choreographer Robert Garland, and innovative contemporary works that use the language of ballet to celebrate African American culture.

Recommended for grades K-8.
This Student Matinee performance is SOLD OUT. To be added to the waitlist, click here.

Cirque Mechanics: Zephyr
March 7, 2024 | 10:30am
Experience this breathtaking theatrical circus show that harnesses human power to generate an energetic acrobatic performance. With direct STEM to STEAM connections through exploration of the construction and design of the machines, performers fly, balance, float on air, and defy gravity in this whirlwind story.

Recommended for grades K-12.

Show Way The Musical
March 21, 2024 | 10:30am
Soonie’s great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She began to stitch a Show Way, a quilt with secret meanings to show enslaved people the way to freedom. As each generation passes, the Show Way shines a light on the past and paves a road to the future, stitching together possibility and promise.

A sensory-friendly performance. Recommended for grades 3-12.
This Student Matinee performance is SOLD OUT. To be added to the waitlist, click here.

MOMIX: Alice
April 11, 2024 | 10:30am
Celebrated around the world for performances of astounding inventiveness and physical beauty, MOMIX takes audiences into surreal and whimsical worlds. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic “Alice in Wonderland,” young audiences will go on mind-bending adventure, as Alice encounters the undulating Caterpillar, frenzied White Rabbits, a mad Queen of Hearts, and more.

Recommended for grades K-12.

Advance reservations for shows on the Student Matinee Series are required. Educators may reserve seats for their students by visiting www.MarcusCenter.org/engage-and-learn/student-matinees/.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.