“BEST Children’s Program in Los Angeles!” L.A. PARENT, L.A. MAG, VARIETY, L.A. TIMES MAGAZINE
The Program
Student groups visit the Playhouse arts complex, see a professional production and participate in an interactive Q & A with cast and crew 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. Each theatre field trip also includes a certificate of participation, two free tickets to a future performance for each student and each accompanying adult, as well as a teacher’s manual, and consultation on how to apply theatre skills across all curricular fields.
“Thank you so much for our great field trip today! The kids loved the show and the awesome actors. They really enjoyed the Q&A after, and even wish that part could have gone on longer! You will definitely be seeing us again.” Jaclyn Balderas, St Catherine La Boure School
“Thank You so much for the awesome field trip!!!! The children enjoyed it so very much.
For many it was the first time ever seeing a live play. You were all so very kind and welcoming.
Once again Thank you for everything!” Maria Ruiz, Mildred P Janson Elementary School
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.
“Thank you! We really enjoyed it. I loved the Q & A time. Your actors really explained all aspects of theatre!” Pamela Alch, Calvert Charter for Enriched Studies
“I want to share with you that as an artist and a teacher, I really appreciate the materials/resources provided. They are detailed and cover all areas needed for a deeper theatre experience for the children!” Judy Ngo, Immaculate Heart of Mary School
- Productions, discussions and consultations are presented by members of Actors’ Repertory Theatre®, Santa Monica’s internationally acclaimed professional resident theatre company
- All Santa Monica Playhouse® Educational Programming augments the State Standards and Common Core requirements in English, Theatre and Reading
- A Theatre Field Trip for your school is more than 50% subsidized by the corporate and private sector of the community and the Santa Monica Playhouse® Arts-in-Education OutReach Project, so your school pays less than half of the total cost of the project
- Santa Monica Playhouse® is one of only ten Santa Monica arts organizations recognized through the SMARTS Arts in Schools and Demonstration Project for California Arts Council as qualified and selected by a peer review process to teach arts in the SMMUSD
- The Santa Monica Playhouse® Education Program is built upon forty years of experience with more than three-quarters of a million students and teachers
“Our Kindergarteners had an amazing time! The teachers loved it.” Brentwood Science Magnet
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 weekday beginning at 9:30am or later. Field Trips generally run 75-80 minutes (includes a one-hour performance, and post-show Q&A and photo opps with the performers) Workshops following the performance are also available. Great news! We receive funding for a major portion of your Field Trip. The actual cost for one field trip is $1595 (for 70 seats) or $1695 (for 88 seats starting June 2025). Wonderful corporate and private support brings that cost to the schools down to $695 (for 70 seats) or $795 (for 88 seats). If you have more than 70 people through December, we can do two shows back-to-back for $995. In the Spring, if you have more than 88 people, we can do two shows back-to-back for $1095.
We are available for weekend events!
We can also provide full day (9-hour) create-a-play theatre workshop programs.
We can also provide full day (9-hour) create-a-play theatre workshop programs.
"Thank you so much!! It was a great show, the kids had a great time. It was a great experience for them!! We hope that we can come back again next year." Patricia Torres, Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary School
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK A FIELD TRIP, PLEASE CONTACT US BELOW:
List of Shows
Below is a list of currently available productions. Shows are available 52 weeks a year!
EVER AFTER TAKE TWO:
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF CINDERELLA, SNOWHITE, HANSEL & GRETEL, ALICE, M. GOOSE AND THEIR FRIENDS
- Commissioned to support the Common Core in theatre, literature and music, and to support the VAPA fairytale component, the Playhouse brings you this delightful interactive musical where audiences get to help save the fairytale world as they follow the real-life adventures of Snowhite, Alice, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, M. Goose and a host of other beloved characters. Audience members answer questions posed to them by the characters, and sing the magical words which are projected on the cyclorama as they are introduced to a variety of musical and story-telling styles. Ever After Take 2 features original music by award-winning theatre artists Evelyn Rudie and Chris DeCarlo and is performed by the internationally acclaimed Actors’ Repertory Theatre.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE
EVER AFTER TAKE TWO gives audiences the chance to explore a host of musical theatre genres, including Americana, Broadway musical, Gilbert and Sullivan-style patter songs, ballads, and everything in between in a theatrical presentation that is both familiar and challenging. Distinct cultural, historical, theatrical and musical content gives clarity to the 5 W’s, while thematic content evokes an immediate personal connection with the music and the fairytale characters. Audience participation provides students with the opportunity to have an impact on the development of the piece itself.
An exciting feature of this production is its flexibility in terms of grade level. The production was created for grades 6 through 12. Actors’ Repertory Theatre® has created a special version for grades K – 5, however, which puts special focus on fairytales and story-telling. Take your pick...
An exciting feature of this production is its flexibility in terms of grade level. The production was created for grades 6 through 12. Actors’ Repertory Theatre® has created a special version for grades K – 5, however, which puts special focus on fairytales and story-telling. Take your pick...
EDUCATORS SAY"You are all such a pleasure to work with and your theater is just amazing. The children learn so much about literature, fairy tales, live theater, acting, audience behavior, play-writing…well, obviously I could go on and on. I feel like your unofficial biggest teacher fan!”
Nancy Levy, Juan Cabrillo Elementary School |
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"You won’t find more professional theatre—for children or adults—anywhere in the Los Angeles area then at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Family theatre is but one facet of the Playhouse’s extensive repertoire, and its modernized musical version of Cinderella delivers fairytale enchantment, visual wonderment and flashing humor in a top-quality production.” Terry Fisher, Pony Ride
|
CINDERELLA
|
The beloved audience favorite Rudie-DeCarlo musical has received a stunning multi-media makeover. It’s Cinderella like you’ve never seen her before, with wonderful songs, hilarious special FX, a silent movie segment that will have you falling out of your seat, dazzling costumes, amazing magical prestidigitation, and a story about being true to your dreams and loving yourself as you are that's as true to today as it was at the first telling. Everyone will love the handsome prince (who yearns to be loved for himself, not his royal position), silly stepsisters (who ultimately discover that looks really aren't everything), a controlling (but genuinely well-meaning) stepmother, a slightly-ditzy Steampunk Fairygodmother, a more-than-slightly befuddled King and a refreshingly independent, feisty Cinderella.
|
EDUCATIONAL VALUE
This charming musical comedy shows young people how to develop a positive self-image and perceive and interact successfully with others, both with their peer group and in the home, while discovering the dangers of stereotyping and the power of kindness and patience. The stepmother and stepsisters are portrayed as humorous rather than evil, serving to increase awareness that “stepmothers are people, too.” As in the original story, this version offers the philosophy that “it is not your financial or social status, but who you are on the inside, that counts.” Perhaps today, more than ever, this is a necessary belief for our young people to own.
EDUCATORS SAY
“We had a wonderful time today at the Playhouse. The show and cast were delightful, and our students really enjoyed the performances and the talkback session. Everyone is also really excited about the free return tickets and the (really impressive) certificates! I'm hoping we can make this a yearly event!”
Laura H, educator, Thomas Starr King Middle School
Laura H, educator, Thomas Starr King Middle School
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
“You won’t find more professional theatre—for children or adults—anywhere in the Los Angeles area then at Santa Monica Playhouse. Family theatre is but one facet of the Playhouse’s extensive repertoire, and its modernized musical version of Cinderella delivers fairytale enchantment, visual wonderment and flashing humor in a top-quality production."
“This Cinderella is a modern, independent miss who won’t allow the Prince to ‘look her over like a grocer’s tomato’. Cinderella’s witty sarcasm is lost on her stepmother and stepsisters, but not on the audience."
“The handsome, resplendent Prince disguises himself as a valet so that the kingdom’s maidens will like him for himself. He and Cinderella meet, fall in love and almost lose each other through a mix-up. However, all ends up happily, with the stepsisters repenting their ill treatment of Cinderella and the Prince’s father promising them other royal matches.”
LA PARENT
LA PARENT
