Students dance onstage during a performance of ELF THE MUSICAL

Experience the Joy of Live Theatre


Are you an educator in the Marquette area looking for the perfect field trip for your students? Look no further! The Department of Theatre and Dance at Northern Michigan University is thrilled to provide fun and educational student matinee performances for several of our productions each year. These performances offer elementary, middle, and high school students the unforgettable opportunity to view a live theatre production and to learn more about acting, singing, dancing, and various design aspects, from puppetry to lighting to costumes! 

Interested in experiencing one of our student matinees? We'd love to have you! Click the links below for more information regarding upcoming student matinees. For specific questions or requests, please email us at nmutd@nmu.edu. 

Due to high demand, NMU Theatre and Dance student matinee reservations will be handled slightly differently this season. Once a reservation request is made and confirmed through our Google form and Box Office Manager, full payment will be required within 30 days or the reservation will be canceled. Invoices will now flow through NMU Billing and Accounting.

STUDENT MATINEE TICKET SALES FOR THE 2023-2024 SEASON WILL BEGIN ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2023.

A polar bear puppet looms over a student onstage during a performance of ABOVE THE TIMBERLINE

2023-2024 Student Matinee Dates


Want to learn more about a production? Click the title of the show you're interested in for a synopsis!

Tickets will go on sale via Google Form request beginning on Friday, September 8.


Monty Python's SPAMALOT

Friday, October 20, 2023 at 10:00am in the Forest Roberts Theatre

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HRS 30MINS | 15min Intermission

* Due to mature content, this student matinee is open to high school students only.

Clybourne Park

Friday, November 10, 2023 at 10:00am in the Panowski Black Box Theatre (McClintock)

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HR

* Due to mature content, this student matinee is open to high school students only.

A Christmas Carol (play)

Friday, December 8, 2023 at 10:00am in the Forest Roberts Theatre

Friday, December 15, 2023 at 10:00am in the Forest Roberts Theatre

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HRS | 15min Intermission

CO/LAB Dance Company

Friday, February 2, 2024 at 10:00am in the Forest Roberts Theatre

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR

PUFFS

Friday, March 1, 2024 at 10:00am in the Panowski Black Box Theatre (McClintock)

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 1HR

Anything Goes

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 10:00am in the Forest Roberts Theatre

APPROXIMATE RUN TIME: 2HRS 30MINS | 15min Intermission

Reserve Your Seats


Reserve tickets for your group today with our easy step-by-step process! 

  1. Fill out our student matinee reservation form with your group's information including your school's name, your contact information, and your group size.
  2. Receive an invoice and instructions on how to pay for your tickets via email.
  3. Pay your invoice by the deadline given in your confirmation email or your reservation will cancelled. All payments must be made at least 2 weeks prior to the student matinee performance.
  4. Enjoy the show!

Theatre Etiquette


We are so excited to share the experience of live theatre with you and your students, and want to encourage you to share these reminders with them, as well as your chaperones, to ensure that everyone has a great time!

  1. Please don’t run in the theater or the lobby; walk carefully and use the railings if you are going down the stairs.
  2. Please do not bring any food, drink, candy, or gum with you into the theatre. 
  3. Once you are in your seat, you may talk quietly until the performance begins.
  4. Please don’t put your feet up on the seats in front of you or step over seat backs.
  5. Make sure to silence all cell phones and beeping watches before the performance begins.
  6. When the lights go down for the performance to begin, please stop talking and turn your attention to the stage.
  7. Please stay in your seat during the performance unless it’s an emergency.
  8. Make sure to stay with your group at all times.
  9. Photography, video recording, and audio recording are not allowed in the theater.
  10. Have fun! Please feel free to clap after songs and laugh at jokes.

Frequently Asked Questions

A: Student matinee performances typically begin promptly at 10:00am. Doors to the theater will open a half an hour before showtime.

A: While run times vary based on the individual production, most performances are about an hour and a half to two hours long.

A: In most cases, yes, there will be a 15-minute intermission about halfway through the performance.

A: Yes. When you arrive to the Forest Roberts Theatre for a student matinee, our House Manager will direct you to your group's assigned seats.

A: Bus drivers can drop students/chaperones off in the parking lot directly in front of the Forest Roberts Theatre. Buses are not permitted to park on campus.

A: Yes! If you would like to eat on campus after a student matinee, please contact NMU Dining at dining@nmu.edu or 906-227-2520.

A: Please contact us as soon as possible at nmutd@nmu.edu or 906-227-2760. We will do our best to accommodate changes, but due to high demand cannot guarantee additional seats. Reservations are non-refundable once confirmed and paid for.

Please note that payment is due in full 30 days after the reservation is confirmed by our Box Office. If your reservation is not paid for within 30 days it will be canceled.

A: In the case of inclement weather, cancellations will be made on a case-by-case basis. If a student matinee is canceled, or if you are unable to safely travel to NMU due to inclement weather, your tickets will be refunded in full.