Student Matinees
World-Class Field Trip Experience
2027 Theater Field Trips
At Hudson Valley Shakespeare, we believe that Shakespeare isn’t just something to read—it’s something to experience. His plays are alive, urgent, and deeply connected to the questions students ask about their own lives and the world around them. Every student, no matter their background or experience, can find themselves in his stories.
Invite your students to Hudson Valley Shakespeare’s Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center located in Garrison, NY for an inspiring day of world-class performance and discovery. Our morning student matinees offer the same thrilling full cast productions that have made HVS one of the cultural treasures of the region, with the Hudson River itself as the spectacular backdrop of the stage.
What You Need To Know
Performances run 2.5–3 hours (depending on the play).
Plays are appropriate for ages Grades 6 and up.
The Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center has seating for 474.
Study Guides will be available in advance of the play to enhance your play-going experience and accompany the performances.
$15 per student (One complimentary chaperone ticket for every 10 paid student tickets*).
Free parking for buses is available in a large surface lot a short distance from the theater.
*additional subsidies, including travel stipends are available upon request
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
September 15, 16, 17, 22 & 24*
Bursting with romance, laughter, and glorious mischief, A Midsummer Night's Dream is a joyful reminder that love is messy, maddening, and rarely follows the rules. But beneath the moonlight, the most wondrous transformations may await those brave enough to surrender to the unexpected.
As the longest day of the year gives way to a midsummer night, the boundaries between reality and fantasy begin to blur. Deep in an enchanted forest, four young lovers lose their way, a troupe of amateur actors stumbles into the supernatural, and a mischievous fairy named Puck turns love upside down. Under the spell of the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania, hearts are stolen, affections are misplaced, and nothing, or no one, is quite as they seem.
*Performance dates are subject to change
MACBETH
September 30, 31 & October 1*
A prophecy. A promise of greatness. A crown within reach. When three witches foretell Macbeth's rise to the Scottish throne, ambition becomes obsession. Spurred on by his wife, he murders his king and claims the crown. But one act of betrayal unleashes a deadly chain of consequences. As guilt gives way to paranoia and suspicion turns to slaughter, Macbeth discovers that seizing control is one thing. Keeping it is another.
Jenn Thompson (Les Misérables) returns to direct one of Shakespeare's best-known tragedies. Set against the dramatic landscape of the Hudson Highlands, this spine-tingling thriller crackles with supernatural intrigue as the seductive promise of power sends Macbeth careening towards his own undoing, plunging an entire kingdom into violence and chaos in his wake.
*Performance dates are subject to change
Teacher Testimonials
It is rare in my life as a teacher to have a 'field-trip' experience that was so unequivocally positive. From the moment that they helped us park and put our lunches in a cool place, they were unfailingly professional and courteous. They treated our students with respect, and they made us feel at home.
—Mark Rigg, English Teacher (The Storm King School)
Programs like these are invaluable. We're so fortunate and lucky to have Hudson Valley Shakespeare so nearby.
—Elizabeth S. Morehead, English Teacher (Orville A. Todd Middle School)
Everything was organized and the production flowed seamlessly, from the moment Julia met us, until we left. They were so welcoming and helpful and the theater is just spectacular. For almost every student, this was their first time seeing a play by Shakespeare; I'm so glad they experienced it for the first time at Hudson Valley Shakespeare!
—English Teacher (The Storm King School)
In-Classroom Programs
Transform your classroom into a rehearsal room
We believe that the greatest learning experience we can provide is one that invites students to approach the plays as actors do: as a company of artists that uses active, exploratory problem-solving techniques to develop a greater understanding and enjoyment of Shakespeare’s stories, characters, and language.
Shakespeare’s plays speak powerfully to our world today, and our programs empower students to find aspects of their own lived experience reflected back to them in Shakespeare’s language, stories, and characters.
HVS Education programs are designed to support the New York State Next Generation English Language Arts (ELA) Learning Standards, which define the knowledge and skills students should develop in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language across grade levels. Participating New York State public schools that engage with BOCES Arts in Education service may be eligible to receive New York State aid for the program, provided the program is processed through BOCES service in accordance with applicable NYSED guidelines.
Workshop & Residency Programs
Our Programs
increase understanding and accessibility.
develop skills in communication and collaboration.
challenge students to make creative choices that require close reading and text analysis.
create pathways for students to make personal connections with the text.
Programs are available year-round and can be customized upon request. Prices below reflect 1-2 teaching artists and 1-5 workshops per day.
HVS teaching artists engage students in an exploration of Shakespeare’s story, character, and language. Workshops can focus on the text of your choice! $400 – $650 per day (up to 5 workshops).
Residency Programs
HVS teaching artists engage students in an in-depth study of Shakespeare’s language, story, characters, themes, and plot. Residencies can focus on the text of your choice! Minimum 5 days. $630 per day (up to 5 workshops).
Skilled Based Theater Workshops
HVS teaching artists engage students in skill-based workshops such as stage combat, voice, improvisation, and more.
Pricing
Workshop & Residency Programs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Great For | Price | Availability | Duration | |
One-Day Workshops | All grades | $500-$725 | Year-Round | 1 Day (minimum) |
Residency Workshops | All grades | $630-$700 | Year-Round | 5 Days (minimum) |
Skills Based Theatre Workshops | All grades | $500-$725 | Year-Round | 1 Day (minimum) |