Education K-8


Theatre Field Trip Project “Fairytale enchantment, visual wonderment and flashing humor in a top-quality production.” L.A. PARENT	Programs for K-8
The Playhouse
Santa Monica Playhouse, now celebrating its 48th anniversary, is acknowledged as a world leader in theatre arts education, presenting effective and accessible critically acclaimed theatre-for-youth to over one million students in grades K through 12. Santa Monica Playhouse is recognized through the SMARTS Arts in Schools and Demonstration Project for the California Arts Council as qualified and selected by a peer review process to teach arts in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and proud to be listed as an approved program on www.LAArtsEd.org, Los Angeles County's one-stop-shop for quality arts education programs.
The Program
Student groups visit the Playhouse arts complex, see a professional production, participate in an interactive Q & A with cast and crew and take a backstage tour for an arts education experience that allows them to test new ideas, use their imagination and discover how to use the creative process to enhance such study and communication skills as teamwork, imaginative problem-solving, decision-making, leadership, conflict resolution, research, language arts and meta-cognition.
The Productions
More than critically hailed explorations of classic children's literature, more than internationally acclaimed musical comedies, these productions, each presented before more than 50,000 audience members to date, offer young audiences access to positive role models and social and personal values, as well as a wide variety of theatrical and musical genres, through the use of familiar stories, world-class performances, inspiring music and colorful word play. Mounted with authentic and professional costumes, props, sets, make-up, lighting and sound, the plays deal with contemporary issues in a theatrical manner, couched in a historical setting, and are presented by Actors' Repertory Theatre, Santa Monica's internationally acclaimed professional acting company.
The Time, The Place, The Price
Productions are presented in one of two Santa Monica Playhouse performance auditoriums. You may book one or two performances of the same play on any week day, beginning at 9am or later. Plays are one hour with a short intermission (complimentary refreshments are served). Workshops are also available. Great news! We have received funding for a major portion of your 2007-2008 Field Trip. The actual per show cost is $1450. Cost to your school is only $695 for one show, or $975 for two shows on the same day.
State Standards
The Santa Monica Playhouse Theatre Field Trip Project is crafted to augment the State Educational Standards. Performances, discussions and workshops place special emphasis on fulfilling requirements in Theatre, Reading, Writing, Oral English Language Conventions, Music, History, Dance, Listening and Speaking.
Productions
A selection from the following list is available 52 weeks a year. Different versions are available for grades K-8. Click on a Show Title to learn more about the show.
Single most requested show! A musical comedy classic! “Enchanting!” L.A. TIMES Filled with poetry, word-play and puns! Hilarious! “A Splendid Children's Theatrical Experience!" L.A. PARENT Fairytales are highlighted in this interactive musical! “Fine and fanciful…an ‘A’!” showmag.com Are we ever too old for fairytales? A delightful musical comedy! “Should not be missed!” L.A. PARENT
In addition to historical settings and a variety of musical genres, productions explore such issues as self-image, social interaction, the dangers of stereotyping, kindness and patience, tolerance, cultural exchange, communication, team spirit, friendship, sharing, making choices, sibling rivalry, personal commitment and the dangers of commercialism and over-spending.
“Please continue to give students this terrific opportunity!” ORANGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL “Your enthusiasm, your professionalism, and the scope of your material were all impressive and the students loved every minute!” LONE HILL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL “On a very important note, this particular program will also help us address the state educational standards...Artistic Perception, Creative Expression, Cultural Context and Aesthetic Valuing... vocabulary development, literacy response and analysis.” WILL ROGERS LEARNING COMMUNITY
Booking a Show
Only a limited number of performances are available each semester. To book a show, a workshop, or for more information, contact us at:
phone: 310- 394-9779 ext. 3 e-mail: education@SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com

Santa Monica Playhouse, a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 educational corporation founded in 1960, provides exciting and entertaining dramatic and comedic, classic and contemporary live theatrical productions, Family Theatre musicals, birthday and tea parties, year-round and summer theatre workshops and educational programming for young people, teens and adults, create-a-play classes and Mommy and Me events for pre-schoolers, daytime and after school enrichment classes and in-service in public and private schools, cultural exchange, international touring, and community outreach, as well as theatre rental space for productions, seminars, solo shows, concerts, recitals, lectures, meetings and more.