8/22/2022
Education and Outreach
For the first time in two years, school buses full of eager children will park at The Smith Center’s campus this fall.
As a nonprofit, The Smith Center has presented student matinees in its theaters for roughly 70,000 Southern Nevada students each year since its opening, all at no cost to schools.
During the pandemic, however, The Smith Center’s temporary closure and schools’ distance learning prevented students from visiting the center’s campus. During that time, the center’s Education and Outreach team swiftly adapted by presenting virtual matinees for students to watch via computer.
And now, The Smith Center can open its theaters for live student matinees once more.
And this upcoming season promises thrilling performances that will offer transformative experiences for students.
“Education has always played a significant role in The Smith Center’s mission, and our team feels grateful to provide students with the joy of live performances again in our theaters,” says Rebecca Boyd, Education and Outreach senior program manager. “Our student matinees offer an introduction to live theater for many students who might never otherwise have an opportunity to visit The Smith Center.”
Bringing Beloved Books to the Stage
Upcoming student matinees at The Smith Center will bring cherished literary works to life.
These include uplifting productions based on popular children’s book series, such as “The Pout-Pout Fish” in October and “Paddington Gets In a Jam” in November, both boasting eye-popping puppetry.
The center will also present student matinees of “The Gruffalo” in January 2023 and “Grace for President” in February 2023, the latter portraying an empowered student aiming to become America’s first female president.
Prior to each student matinee, The Smith Center will provide participating classes with copies of the books that inspired the shows, which students can study, discuss and compare to their theater experience.
“These literary-based productions don’t just entertain children, but also give them a different level of understanding about the books’ characters and storylines,” Boyd says. “These particular shows offer students so many valuable lessons, including the importance of kindness, empathy and believing in yourself.”
Introducing New Cultures
Anticipated student matinees will also introduce students to world cultures and music.
Students will experience electrifying percussion stylings dating back centuries at a student matinee featuring Kodo, one of the world’s foremost Japanese taiko drum groups. The center will also offer a student matinee performance with JazzReach, a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to the promotion, performance, creation and teaching of jazz music.
“These matinees will give students a taste of artforms they don’t experience every day, and which can heighten their interest in other cultures and musical styles,” Boyd says.
The Smith Center will also continue to offer virtual programming to accommodate the varying needs of classrooms and to reach more students, she notes.
All of these student matinees help to nurture the next generation of theatergoers, Boyd adds.
That’s why she always delights in seeing kids visit The Smith Center for the first time.
“When children first walk into the Grand Lobby, their eyes get so big and they are so excited to be there,” Boyd says. “When they watch a performance, their faces light up and you can see the gears turning in their heads. You just know this experience will affect them for the rest of their lives.”
LEARN MORE
The Smith Center offers impactful education and outreach efforts for over 1 million Southern Nevada students. To learn more, visit thesmithcenter.com/education.
Please direct any questions about the center’s student matinees to [email protected].