School Day Matinee Series
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is proud to present matinees appropriate for all grade levels. School Day Matinees are only open to educators bringing school groups. These shows feature theater, dance, and music performances from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Dentons Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents Series, Children’s Theater Series, and Pittsburgh Dance Council Series.
Upcoming School Day Matinees
2025-2026 Season
The 4th Witch — Fri, Oct 24, 2025 — Grades 6-12
Friday, October 24, 2025, 10:30 am
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Recommended for grades 6-12
Length of Performance: 75 minutes plus 10 minutes Q & A following the performance
Curriculum Connections: Theatre, English Language Arts, Social Studies, World History
Introducing The 4th Witch, Manual Cinema's newest feature—a bold and imaginative inversion of Macbeth. An 11-year-old girl, orphaned and completely alone due to an on-going war, is taken in by three enigmatic witches. Under their guidance, she becomes their apprentice. Fueled by grief and a desire for justice, she sets out to confront the man responsible for her family’s death - Macbeth.
How To Reserve Paid Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
Omnium Circus: I’mPossible — Fri, Nov 21, 2025 — All Grades
Friday, November 21, 2025, 10:30 am
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Recommended for all ages
Length of Performance: 60 minutes plus 10 minutes Q & A following the performance
Curriculum Connections: Theatre, Dance, Music, Social Studies, Social Emotional Learning, STEAM
Follow young Johnny on his journey to courage, strength and perseverance through a death defying, awe inspiring, madcap circus adventure with no limits, no boundaries, and no barriers.
Omnium Circus is a world renowned comprehensively inclusive and accessible circus company bringing excitement, thrills and joy to people of all ages as only a circus can! Step into a world of all things possible where we discover the power, the passion, and the perseverance of the human spirit within each one of us!
How To Reserve Paid Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
Dinosaur World Live — Fri, Jan 16, 2026 — Grades K-5
Friday, January 16, 2026, 11 am
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Recommended for grades K-5
Length of Performance: 55 minutes plus 10 minute Q & A following the performance
Curriculum Connections: Performing Arts, Science – Paleontology, STEAM
Discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs. Meet a host of impressive creatures, including every child's favorite flesh-eating giant, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus!
How To Reserve Paid Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
Step Afrika: The Migration — Feb 12 & 13, 2026 — Grades K-12
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 10:30 am
Recommended for grades K-5
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Length of Performance: 60 minutes
Curriculum Connections: Theatre, Dance, Music, Career Education and Work, Social Studies, American History, Social Emotional Learning
Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities; traditional African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Performances are much more than dance shows; they integrate songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation. The blend of technique, agility, and pure energy makes each performance unique and leaves the audience with their hearts pounding.
Friday, February 13, 2026, 10:30 am
Recommended for grades 6-12
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Length of Performance: 60 minutes plus 10 minutes Q & A following the performance on Feb 13
Curriculum Connections: Theatre, Dance, Music, Career Education and Work, Social Studies, American History, Social Emotional Learning
Step Afrika!’s signature work The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence charts the story of African Americans moving from the rural South to the industrial North to escape Jim Crow, racial oppression, and lynchings in the early 1900s. Inspired by Jacob Lawrence’s iconic 60-panel “The Migration Series” (1940-41), this signature work from the award-winning dance company uses the images, color palette, and motifs in the painting series to tell this astonishing story through pulsating rhythms and visually stunning movement.
Special thanks to Museum of Modern Art and The Phillips Collection for providing Step Afrika! access to all of Jacob Lawrence's paintings for the very first time.
How To Reserve Paid Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac — Fri, Mar 13, 2026 — Grades K-5
Friday, March 13, 2026, 11 am
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Recommended for grades K-5
Length of Performance: 50 minutes plus 10 minute Q & A following the performance
Curriculum Connections: Performing Arts, Language Arts, History/Social Studies, Social/Emotional Learning Development
Follow Freddie & Ivy alongside their grandparents, Po Po and Kung Kung, as their Chinese New Year celebrations take a turn from dumpling-making to discovering the incredible origin story of the Chinese Zodiac. In their journey of learning about the Jade Emperor’s decree, who won & how, why the rat and cat are enemies, and how each animal earned its place in the 12-year Chinese Zodiac cycle, this show also features traditional Chinese music, Jingju and martial arts, and a ton of fun!
How To Reserve Paid Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
Robot Song — Fri, Mar 20, 2026 — Grades 3-6
Friday, March 20, 2026, 10:30 am
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Recommended for grades 3-6
Length of Performance: 60 minutes plus 10 minutes Q & A following the performance
Curriculum Connections: Performing Arts, Language Arts, Social Studies, Social Emotional Learning, STEAM
Based on a true story, eleven-year-old Juniper May finds the transformative nature of creativity and love while confronting bullying, differences, and the power of being true to yourself. Full of hope and humor, Robot Song utilizes cutting-edge technology, a beautiful original score & startling animatronics (in the form of a giant singing robot, no less) to open a window into director Jolyon James’ experiences parenting a child on the Autism Spectrum.
How To Reserve Paid Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
The American Revolution – 250th Anniversary Tour — Tue, Apr 14, 2026 — Grades 4-12
Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 10:30 am
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Recommended for grades 4-12
Length of Performance: 50 minutes plus 10 minutes Q & A following the performance
Curriculum Connections: Performing Arts, Dance, US History and Social Studies, Social Emotional Learning
History in 50 minutes—seven actors, two feet off the ground, share 21 square feet of space and recreate the entire American fight for independence from Lexington to Yorktown. Using only the actors’ bodies, voices and (pantomimed) cannons, the show evokes an epic time period in American history. Combining tongue-in-cheek humor with a dash of derring-do, the American Revolution displays the company’s rowdy brand of bare-boned and imaginative physical theater.
Created by Marc Frost, Theater Unspeakable, Chicago, IL
How To Reserve Paid Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
Hare & Tortoise — Mon, Apr 20, 2026 — Grades PreK-3
Monday, April 20, 2026, 10:30 am
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Recommended for grades preK-3
Length of Performance: 60 minutes
Curriculum Connections: Performing Arts, Fine Arts, Music, Language Arts, Science, Emotional/Social Development
Hare is ready to race, but Tortoise has many things to do before it’s the right time. And time moves so slowly! From sun-shining spring to snow-falling winter, the duo go through all four seasons. Does Hare have the patience? When will they actually start the race? Brimming with charming characters, live music and singing, and wonderful physicality, Tutti Frutti brings you this much-loved story about opposites and friendship.
How To Reserve Paid Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
Pout Pout Fish — May 14 & 15, 2026 — Grades PreK-2
Thursday, May 14 & Friday, May 15, 2026, 10:30 am
Byham Theater, 101 6th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Recommended for grades preK-2
Length of Performance: 60 minutes
Curriculum Connections: Performing Arts, Communication and Language Arts, Music, Science, Social Emotional Learning
Turn the poutiest of frowns upside down in this musical featuring whimsical puppets and live performers in a sweeping oceanic adventure. When Mr. Fish sets out on a quest to find Miss Clam’s missing pearl, he discovers there is more to him than his permanently plastered pout.
How To Reserve Paid Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
Two Ways to Order Tickets
Reserve with Bus and Ticket Subsidies
The Trust Arts Education Department offers bus and ticket subsidies to reduce any transportation and financial barriers for students and teachers getting to the Cultural District. Please fill out the following form to be considered for bus and ticket subsidies. While we prioritize LEAs and schools that are most under-resourced, we recognize that budgets are complicated and nuanced and strive to meet organizations where they are to ensure that we can move forward with programming whenever possible.
Please Note: Subsidy requests must be filled out at least four weeks prior to your performance date. If you would like to request a subsidy to pay for tickets or for transportation, please fill out the form below.
Reserve Paid Tickets
School day matinees are $5 per ticket.
School Tickets
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org. Call 412-471-6930 with questions.
If you have already applied for ticket subsidies for the current season, please do not request tickets again through this form.
Reserve TicketsHomeschool Tickets
For Homeschool groups, contact Kalee George, Manager of Arts Education Programs at george@trustarts.org.
Expand Your Experience
Expand your students’ and staff’s experience in the Cultural District! From in school residencies, to masterclasses with the artists in the show, or even just a space to eat lunch, Trust Arts Education offers diverse opportunities to enrich your theatrical experience with us!
Pre/post show workshop
At the Trust Arts Education Center (Day of Show)
Either before or after the show, visit the Trust Arts Education Center, just minutes from the theater, for a show-inspired workshop facilitated by a Trust Arts Education Teaching Artist. Workshops can cover any art form and be tailored to curriculum standards, student interest, and availability.
At your school
Either before or after the show, host a show-inspired workshop facilitated by a Trust Arts Education Teaching Artist. Workshops can cover any art form and be tailored to curriculum standards, student interest, and availability.
Examples include:
- Sugar Skull!: Dia De Los Muertos Dance & Music Workshop
- Sugar Skull!: Flower Crown and Sugar Skull Visual Arts Workshop
- Giraffes CAN Dance: Find Your Groove Dance & Music Workshop
- Giraffes Can’t Dance: Animal Puppet Creation and Movement Workshop
ArtsMASTERS- Masterclass with touring artists
Learn acting, singing, and/or dancing from one of the touring artists from the show at the Trust Arts Education Center! Masterclasses generally last 1.5 hours (Schedules permitting).
4 Session Residency in your school
Deepen student learning and engagement around the matinee performance with a 4-session residency in your school, facilitated by a Trust Arts Education Teaching Artist. Teaching Artists collaborate with educators to incorporate the content and art from the show with one or more core academic content areas. Whether it’s math, science, or language arts, our teaching artists can create a fun and engaging residency to excite and enrich your students learning in class and expand their love of the arts!
Space for students to eat lunch
Logistics can be the biggest barrier to bringing students to the Cultural District to see a show. Let us help by providing a safe and easy space for your students to eat their lunch before or after the show! Please Note: Lunch space has extremely limited availability.
Study Guides and Teacher Resources
Learn more about study guides and teaching resources for Pittsburgh Cultural Trust shows.
School Day Matinee FAQ
What shows are a part of the School Day Matinee Program?
Children’s Theater Series, Denton Cohen & Grigsby Trust Presents, Pittsburgh Dance Council, PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh. See above for a list of shows.
Who can participate in School Day Matinees?
School Day Matinees are designed for all students in grades PreK-12. Each production has grade recommendations.
What is the cost?
School Day Matinees are $5.00 per ticket (except PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh) for students and chaperones. Please include educators, staff, and chaperones in your group’s total count.
Can I reserve tickets if I am not with a school?
No. Schools Day Matinees are only open to educators bringing school and homeschool groups.
Can homeschoolers attend?
Yes. We require a minimum group size of 10 to make a school group reservation. For security purposes, homeschool groups must contact Kalee George, Manager of Arts Education Programs, to register for The School Day Matinee Series: .
How do I reserve seats?
Fill out an online reservation form or email groupsales@trustarts.org (please do not fill out a form if you’ve already applied for a bus subsidy).
When is payment due and how can I pay?
Payment plans are determined when the order is officially placed. One check or credit card may be used to pay for the entire order. Checks should be made payable to Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and mailed to PCT GROUP SALES; 803 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15222. Tickets cannot be resold, transferred, or distributed to any ticket broker or other person/entity.
Can I select my groups seats?
Unfortunately, it is not possible for teachers to select seats. Groups will be seated in the auditorium upon arrival. Requests for Accessibility or other special needs are welcomed, and we will do our best to honor such requests.
What if I have a student with accessibility needs?
Review our accessibility page and include anticipated needs on the ticket or subsidy request forms.
Are ticket and bus subsidies available?
Yes. We offer bus and ticket subsidies for under-resourced schools. While we prioritize schools that are most under-resourced, we recognize that budgets are complicated and nuanced and strive to meet organizations where they are to ensure that we can move forward with programming whenever possible. Note: Subsidy requests forms must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the performance date. Schools are responsible for scheduling buses and confirming with preferred transportation providers.
Will I receive tickets after I register?
You will not receive individual tickets after you register for a School Day Matinee. You will receive an email confirmation containing a group ticket as well as an email reminder prior to your performance.
Where do School Day Matinees take place?
School Day Matinees take place in the Cultural District at the Byham Theater, 101 Sixth Street Pittsburgh, PA. 15222 and Benedum Center, 237 7th Street Pittsburgh PA. 15222.
How long are School Day Matinees?
Unless otherwise noted, all performances are 60 minutes in length and sometimes offer an optional Q & A after this time. Check your show listing above or your confirmation email for exact details.
How early should my group arrive?
Doors open one hour before the start of each show. Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the show.
How is dismissal handled?
We make every effort to get you out of the theater as soon as possible. On average, School Day Matinee dismissals take 25 minutes from the time the show end but may take longer depending on the total number of schools in attendance. Please be patient and plan accordingly.
Is there a place for students to eat lunch?
The theater has limited availability for students to eat lunch. Space is not guaranteed. If you are interested in your students eating lunch in the theater, please contact education@trustarts.org to discuss availability and scheduling. The Trust does not provide lunch.
What is the cancellation policy?
Contact the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Group Sale Department at groupsales@trustarts.org to cancel or change your reservation.
Will additional resources be available?
Study Guides for extended learning will be available at least one month prior to the performance. These resources will be available under the show listings above and an email will be sent to all registered educators when additional resources become available.
What if I have additional questions?
If you have other questions about the School Day Matinees, please email education@trustarts.org.
Looking for more School Day Matinees? Check out other Cultural District Organization's offerings.
Questions? We're here to help! Contact education@trustarts.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
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