Submission of a Student Matinee order form is NOT a guarantee of a reservation.
If we are able to accommodate your request, a Student Matinee reservation contract will be sent via e-mail within 5 business days. Please call 612.872.5166 if you do not receive your contract within 1 week.
Your order can be cancelled up until 6 weeks prior to the date of your performance.
You may change your number of tickets up to 6 weeks prior to your scheduled performance. No tickets may be dropped after this date. (If this date falls on or near a holiday for your school, you are still responsible for confirming the final number of tickets by this date. Additional tickets are subject to availability.)
Final Payment will be due 4 weeks prior to your scheduled performance. No refunds are given for unused tickets as we are unable to resell them.
All sales are final. There are no compensations for absent students or adults.
If payment is not received within 2 weeks of your scheduled performance your tickets may be released at the discretion of Children’s Theatre Company.
Everyone entering the Theatre must have a ticket, including all teachers, chaperones, bus drivers, siblings, and infants. For productions on the UnitedHealth Group Stage lap passes are available for children 18 months and under. For productions on the Cargill Stage lap passes are available for children 18 months and younger. (All lap passes must be purchased the day of the show at the Student Matinee check-in window, however, it is recommended that lap passes are reserved with your original order) Please contact Nina Stultz, Student Matinee Coordinator at 612.872.5166 for pricing.
Half priced chaperone tickets will be determined by Children’s Theatre Company. 1 Chaperone Ticket will be allotted for every 15 student tickets purchased. (15/1 is our recommended student/adult ratio). Any adult, regardless of position or title, who falls outside that ratio, is subject to the regular Student Matinee rate.
Limited Lunch Space is available following Student Matinee performances. Only groups with a confirmed reservation may use the Lunch Space, and usage restrictions apply. (For the preschool show Lunch Spaces are only available following the weekday performances at 10:30 am.)
If a reservation is made less than 6 weeks before a performance final numbers and payment are due upon reservation.
If a show is sold out, you may request to be placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.
Student Matinee Rush Tickets are available to the public on the day of the show beginning 1 hour prior to the performance (Subject to availability). If we are sold out and no tickets are available you will need to wait until all the school groups have checked in; if there are absences, those tickets will then go on sale at the Rush ticket price. Please contact Nina Stultz, Student Matinee Coordinator at 612.872.5166 for pricing and availability.
Who can attend a student matinee?
Any educational group made up of students. Preschools, Graduate schools, home schools, daycares, and ECFE are all eligible groups. For a complete list of qualifying schools please contact Nina Stultz, Student Matinee Coordinator at 612.872.5166.
What time is the show?
All our Student Matinees begin at 10:30 AM.
When will the length of the show be announced?
We will announce the running time after Opening night. If you have a reservation you will receive an email with the run time and other key show facts and details. On average our shows are no longer than 2 hours.
When should I arrive the day of the performance?
We recommend arriving at least 30-45 minutes before curtain time. Performances start promptly and latecomers are seated at the discretion of the Theatre management.
Where do I go when we arrive?
Buses may unload in the turnaround driveway on 3rd Ave. Please have your students and chapereones remain on the bus. The Group Lead needs to first check-in at the Student Matinee Check-In window (located on the first level to the left of the entrance) and present your final count for the day to receive your Group Check-In Pass.
What if everyone in my group is not present for check-in?
Your group will not be seated until everyone is present to check in. We recommend remaining downstairs, in the granite lobby, by the ticket office until your group lead has checked in and received your Group Check-In Pass.
What if someone in my group arrives late?
Everyone in your group must be present for check-in. Tickets can not be left at the ticket office. Seats cannot be saved. Late arrivals will be seated at the discretion of the Theatre management.
When will we be seated once upstairs in the Target Lobby?
Groups are seating in the order that their Group Check-In Pass is presented to the Check-In Usher. As the group lead once you have your Group Check-in Pass please have your students unload the bus and proceed upstairs in a SINGLE FILE LINE. Wait at the top of the stairs for the Check-In Usher and they will lead you to the entrance to the theatre in a single file line to be seated.
Does everyone in my group need a ticket?
Yes. Everyone coming to the theatre must purchase a ticket regardless of age or position. Your group will have to have a “final head count” on the day of the show in order to check in.
Does my infant need a ticket?
Yes. For productions on the UnitedHealth Group Stage Lap Passes are available for children ages 3 and under. For productions on the Cargill Stage Lap Passes are available for children 18 months and younger.
How do I reserve a Lap Pass? When and how do I pay for this type of ticket?
Lap Passes should be reserved in the original Student Matinee Order Form but can ONLY be purchased at the Student Matinee Check-In window. If you did not reserve a lap pass ahead of time, only the Group Lead can add a Lap Pass when they check-in. Please provide one form of payment for multiple Lap Passes.
Can my group sit together?
Student Matinees are general admission. We do our best to keep groups together but cannot guarantee that they won’t be split between rows. We understand certain chaperones need to be with certain students, and for this reason we recommend spreading chaperones out amongst students. Seats cannot be saved. Please take the seats the ushers provide and allow them to direct the students to the seats.
Can we meet the actors?
There will be a 10-15 minute “Post-Show Artist Talk Back” session following the Student Matinee performances, with one actor and one crew person. You are welcome to stay, but it is not required.
Can we eat lunch there?
Yes. Lunch Space can be reserved on your original Student Matinee Order Form. We recommend providing your own lunch. The theatre does not provide concessions during the Student Matinee performance. Please see the Lunch Reservations tab for more information.
What if there is a storm?
During inclement weather, please allow extra travel time as the Theatre does not cancel or delay performances due to weather. If you are unable to attend your performance due to weather there are no refunds or exchanges.
Directions and Parking
CTC is located at 2400 3rd Ave South, Minneapolis, MN 55404.
Detailed directions can be found on the Plan Your Visit page.
Click HERE.
Buses may unload in the turnaround driveway on 3rd Avenue. Convenient bus parking is around the park to the north of the complex on the street or in the 24th street lot.
Student Matinee Check-In Procedures
Please read this important form to help your field trip run smoothly from the moment you pull into the circle on 3rd Avenue to the time you’re back on your bus, waving goodbye until next time!
Click HERE to download and print.
Lunch Space Reservation
If you have a lunch space reservation please review the five key facts found under Lunch Space Reservations.
Guidelines and Application
To reserve Lunch Space following a Student Matinee performance you must do so in your original Student Matinee Order Form.
If you reserve lunch space the day of the show but decide to use the courtyard or go somewhere else to eat please let House Management know the day of the show.
If you no longer need your lunch space please contact our Student Matinee Coordinator so we can offer the space to other groups on the waiting list.
Confirmation/Denial of Application
If there is lunch space available you will receive a Lunch Space contract via email within 5 days. Please note this will be separate from your Student Matinee Contract, therefore you must also AGREE to this contract to confirm your reservation.
If there is no lunch space available you will not receive a Lunch Space Contract, but can request to be put on a waiting list.
Day of Performance Details
If you have a confirmed lunch reservation here are five key facts you’ll need to know the day of the show:
- Please bring your lunches directly to the Target Lobby as you head upstairs to line up for your performance. (Lunches can be stored along the windows on either side of the lobby.)
- You can use the lunch space immediately following your performance for 45 consecutive minutes.
- You must clean up after your students and take your trash back to school with you. Trash bags are not provided by the theatre.
- If you do not take your trash with you, you WILL BE CHARGED a clean up fee of $25.
- If you are taking a tour of the MIA following a CTC performance and will be leaving your garbage until after your tour, please check out with our House Management Staff to avoid being charged a clean up fee.
NO FOOD OR BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED IN THE THEATRE
Note: If you would like to use the theatre’s facilities for your trash you can choose to pay the fee ahead of time. The clean up fee must be paid in a separate transaction then your ticket order so please plan accordingly if you choose to take part of this option. Please contact Nina Stultz, Student Matinee Coordinator for more details or to receive an invoice for charges.
Student Matinee Process at a Glance:
- Fill out a STUDENT MATINEE ORDER FORM(online, fax, or mail) or call Nina Stultz to reserve tickets 612.872.5166
- Receive and AGREE to Student Matinee Contract and/or Lunch Space Contract (This will be sent via email within 5 days)
- Confirm FINAL NUMBERS 6 weeks before date of attendance.
- Request updated INVOICE if numbers have changed from original Student Matinee Contract.
- Submit PAYMENT to be received by CTC 4 weeks before date of attendance.
- Receive and confirm TICKET PACKAGE in Mail (If you do not receive this within 1 week of performance date please contact Nina Stultz)
- Familiarize yourself with the DAY OF PERFORMANCE DETAILS found online.
- CHECK-IN at the Student Matinee Check-in window when you arrive at the theatre.
- ENJOY THE SHOW!
- If you received a Transportation Subsidy. Please submit your TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FORM within 30 days of attendance.
Educator Study Guides
Study guides can be found on the Plays and Events page. Click on the show you will be attending and find the Study Guide tab.
Educator Preview Night
This is an INVITE ONLY event that is available to Educators who have a current reservation to a show. If you have a current reservation to a show you will receive a formal invitation via e-mail a few weeks before the event and must RSVP to attend. Space is limited.
We have created EPN as an opportunity to better prepare you and your fellow chaperones for your upcoming trip to the theatre. Each EPN will include a dinner, an inspiring and educational teacher’s workshop, and complimentary tickets for you and 3 of your fellow chaperones (each school can bring up to 4 guests total) to preview the performance you will be bringing your students to. (Please note this is a FREE EVENT designed to help educators prepare their students to attend a CTC production and should not be used as a family event.)
Educator Preview Night Schedule 2013-2014Charlotte’s Web
September 17th 2013
The Wong Kids in the Secret of the Space Chupacabra Go!
October 24th 2013
Cinderella (Holiday Show)
November 28th 2013
The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favorites
January 14th 2014
The Scarecrow and his Servant
March 11th 2014
Shrek the Musical
April 4th 2014
(Please note there is no Educator Preview Night for Ballooncy or Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat)