Student Matinees at Proctors
Students experience live theatre while engaging with curriculum-based programming at one of our historic venues: Proctors, theREP, or UPH.
At Proctors, students attend professional productions during the school day—combining live performance with an unforgettable field trip to a magnificent historic theater. Whether in the MainStage or the GE Theatre, students experience the beauty and history of downtown Schenectady.
“Pure Poe: Three Tales of the Macabre”
By Edgar Allan Poe
Adapted by Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill
Directed by Margaret E. Hall
Get ready for an electrifying return of one of Capital Repertory Theatre’s most adored touring shows – “Pure Poe” is back, and it’s more thrilling than ever! Step into a world of passion, madness, and chilling mystery as Edgar Allan Poe’s unforgettable characters burst to life. Witness lost loves, gruesome murders, and a desperate prince fighting his deadly fate as the legendary master storyteller himself, Edgar Allan Poe, rises from the grave to weave his dark tales. Prepare to be captivated as Poe recites his iconic poem “The Raven,” alongside the spine-tingling “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and the haunting “Masque of the Red Death.” This is a show you don’t want to miss!
Show Details:
Date: 10 a.m. Oct. 29, 2025
Location: GE Theatre at Proctors
Price: $9
Grade level: 6+
Length: 45 min. with a 15-min. talkback
CC: Literature, ELA
SUGAR SKULL! – A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure!
“SUGAR SKULL! – A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure!” is a touring bilingual/bicultural musical for young audiences and families that uses traditional regional music and dance from Mexico to tell the story of 12-year-old Vita Flores. Vita thinks her family has gone loco planning a celebration for deceased loved ones. Why throw a party for the dead? But when a spirited candy skeleton suddenly springs to life, Vita finds herself on a magical, musical journey to unravel the true meaning of Día de Muertos.
Show Details:
Date: 10 a.m. Nov. 13, 2025
Location: MainStage at Proctors
Price: $12
Grade level: 3+
Length: 65 min.
CC: Mexican Culture, Music, Storytelling
Northeast Ballet’s Annual “Nutcracker”
Northeast Ballet’s Annual “Nutcracker” is a dreamland for every young person to explore. Elaborate costumes create a story about Clara’s dream at holiday time, inspired by a gift from her Uncle Drosselmeyer–a NUTCRACKER! Complete with a growing tree, magical dolls, soldiers led by the Nutcracker, and nasty rats led by a scary rat queen, she journeys through a snow squall to learn about the dances of the world until she finds her special sugar plum, and all is well in the world.
Show Details:
Date: 10 a.m. Dec. 12, 2025
Location: MainStage at Proctors
Price: $11
Grade level: 4+
Length: 60 min.
CC: Music, Dance, Storytelling
Pete The Cat
For Pete the Cat, life is an adventure no matter where you wind up. The minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second-grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. Join Jimmy and Pete on an adventure of friendship, all the way to Paris and back in a VW Bus!
Show Details:
Date: 10 a.m. Jan. 22 2026
Location: MainStage at Proctors
Price: $10
Grade level: Pre-K – 3
Length: 50 min.
CC: Music, Storytelling, Creativity
“BUGS”
This multimedia show for young audiences incorporates Kaki King’s signature guitar projection mapping and drum-triggered effects into a fun-filled story of bugs, beetles, critters, and all things sugar. BUGS is engaging and interactive, encouraging audiences to participate and dance along. They are invited to shout out their favorite bug, dance like one of the insect characters jiggling around on the guitar, and feel the freedom to interact with Kaki and glow in their own discovery processes.
Show Details:
Date: 10 a.m. Feb. 4, 2026
Location: MainStage at Proctors
Price: $10
Grade level: Pre-K – 3
Length: 60 min.
CC: Music, Nature, Insects
“They Built America: Workers of the Erie Canal”
By Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill
Directed by Margaret E. Hall
Join Kelly McPhearson, a fearless Irish lass, on an incredible journey to find her brother (her only family in America), who’s working on the canal. Sourced from more than 35 historical records, this original work celebrates the real men, women, children, politicians, farmers, merchants, and laborers who built the Erie Canal – the miraculous waterway that transformed America from a burgeoning country into a great nation! Told with live music and text, history comes to life with figures such as physician Dr. Finch, Italian mason Antonio, Swedish packet boat Captain Gus, Governor DeWitt Clinton, congressmen, and many more!
Show Details:
Date: 10 a.m. March 27, 2026
Location: GE Theatre at Proctors
Price: $9
Grade level: 3+
Length: 45 min. with a 15-min. talkback
CC: Literature, ELA, American History
“The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System”
Families will love watching their favorite characters from the classic book and TV series explore the atmosphere on Mercury, Venus, and Mars on an epic interplanetary field trip. Guided by Ms. Frizzle, the class must pull together to find their way across the galaxy while learning as much about teamwork as they do about the solar system.
Show Details:
Date: 10 a.m. May 7, 2026
Location: MainStage at Proctors
Price: $10
Grade level: K-5
Length: 50 min.
CC: Science, Music, Social Studies, Language Arts, Communication
Important information:
Personal Responsibility Statement: Proctors prides itself on offering a diverse selection of arts entertainment. Not all productions may appeal or be appropriate for every person or all ages. Patrons are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the shows we offer, in order to make informed decisions prior to purchasing tickets.