Season Brochure
ABOUT THE PIONEER CENTER
The Pioneer Center is northern Nevada’s premier performing arts venue, located in the heart of downtown Reno. Our mission is to cultivate exceptional performing arts experiences in our historic venue and throughout the region because we envision a community that is connected, enriched, and inspired through the power of live performance. Education is fundamental to a thriving community and the Pioneer Center aims to strengthen educational outcomes while inspiring the next generation of creative, compassionate citizens. Pioneer Center Youth Programs [PCYP] is the Pioneer Center’s flagship K-5 educational outreach program, serving well over 1 million Nevada children since 1967.
ABOUT PCYP
PCYP performances are designed to educate, entertain, and enlighten elementary age children and families through interactive presentations. PCYP artists incorporate school subjects into their work and create a curriculum guide for teachers and parents to enhance the learning beyond the show. Performances are designed to enrich the community and provide greater arts access in our region. PCYP programs are available to all public and private elementary schools, public libraries, and community center venues throughout northwestern Nevada. Explore this season’s artists, presentation format options, and affordable prices.
SELECT your programs from the 2025-2026 Artist Roster.
CONSULT
the Artist Availability sheet and your master calendar before scheduling.
FILL OUT
the attached order form, including the desired format and (2) choices of dates.
your order by e-mail to: youth@pioneercenter.com.
100 South Virginia Street Reno, NV 89501
Phone: 775.686.6143
youth@pioneercenter.com
OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS
Thank you to the following organizations:
The Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation
BOXTALES THEATRE COMPANY
BASED IN SANTA BARBARA, CA
AVAILABILITY
March 2-7, 2026
*Bilingual (Spanish)
BRUKA THEATRE FOR CHILDREN
BASED IN RENO, NV
AVAILABILITY
February 22-June 30, 2026
2025-2026 ARTIST ROSTER
Boxtales Theatre Company is an award-winning touring company based in Santa Barbara, CA. Since 1994, Boxtales has been entertaining and educating, creating original works of theatre to bring myths and folktales from around the world to young audiences using masks, movement, music, and storytelling. Their shows fire imaginations, inspire creativity, strengthen cultural pride, encourage tolerance, and engage young people in the excitement and immediacy of live performance. They have toured much of the western states and perform in the greater Los Angeles area at The Getty Center, Getty Villa, Geffen Playhouse, Museum of Tolerance, The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, La Mirada and the 24th Street Theatre.
Wisdom of Emotions – Life Lessons from Around the World features myths, folktales, and music from different cultures that were chosen with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in mind. The stories offer examples of the 5 SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills.
Brüka Theatre has been presenting live theatre in our community for 33 years. This production features professional actors bringing the story to life with a small set of props and costumes, incorporating physical theatrics, improvisation, audience interaction, and links to curriculum. Funny and insightful, this theatre troupe features topnotch performers and writers who consistently involve young people in learning and participating in theatre and related arts.
This season, Brüka Theatre for Children presents a new original work The Sporkals League: A Hero’s Adventure. Named for the spoon/fork variety utensil in lunchrooms, this kooky group of problem solvers is in a league of their own as they focus their talents on values and creating community. Select children are invited to participate in the creation of each performance, ensuring that every show is unique.
LARRY WILSON
BASED IN RENO, NV AVAILABILITY
October 27, 2025-June 30, 2026
MOLODI LIVE!
BASED IN LAS VEGAS, NV
AVAILABILITY
April 30-May 6, 2026
2025-2026 ARTIST ROSTER
Direct from TV, Emmy-nominated performer Larry Wilson was voted Comedy Magician of the Year and has headlined in Las Vegas, Reno/Tahoe, Atlantic City, and more! In addition to appearing on network television hundreds of times, including ABC’s The Jimmy Kimmel Show , Larry has blown the minds of guests at Sony, Colgate, Disney, Sunkist, Ford Motor Co., CocaCola, and countless others. Larry returns this season with amazing demonstrations of unbelievable magic that can always be explained by scientific principles.
Larry performs magic tricks using student volunteers in direct, hands-on learning applications. As astounding as these tricks may be, the secrets behind them are often more incredible. Under Larry’s master tutelage, the most bewildering magic will be broken down into easy-to-follow steps that students can re-create at home with common household items like pencils, rubber bands, paper clips, and string.
Molodi (Moe-LAH-dee) is a high-energy body percussion ensemble that transforms the human body into an instrument, creating explosive rhythms without a single traditional drum. Blending stepping, poetry, and interactive storytelling, Molodi delivers performances that are both visually captivating and rhythmically intricate. Recently selected to represent the United States as cultural performers at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, Molodi continues to showcase American artistry on the global stage. Past highlights include appearances at the European Games in Azerbaijan and the International Body Music Festivals in Indonesia, France, Ghana, and Greece. The ensemble’s credits include performing with Usher’s Las Vegas Residency, Cirque du Soleil, STOMP, Step Afrika!, corporate campaigns, television, film, and festivals worldwide.
Molodi’s performance is an engaging, curriculumconnected experience that blends performing arts with Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Students build teamwork, leadership, and self-confidence while connecting to music, movement, and cultural history in an unforgettable, high-energy program. Get ready for an unforgettable school assembly that gets EVERYONE moving!
THE NOTE-ABLES
BASED IN RENO, NV
AVAILABILITY
October 27, 2025-June 30, 2026
*Please note venue accessibility requirements
To book The Note-Ables, your venue must meet all ADA wheelchair and accessibility requirements for parking, venue navigation, restrooms, and stage/ performance space access. No exceptions will be made.
2025-2026 ARTIST ROSTER
The Note-Ables is the flagship performing group of Note-Able Music Therapy Services (NMTS), a nonprofit that provides music therapy and adaptive music programs to more than 2,500 people per year. As the only one of its kind in Nevada and one of only a few across the country, the mission of The NoteAbles band is to change the face of disability in our community through music. In 2021, they were selected as a finalist for the Danny Awards, an international music competition for musicians with disabilities. The group traveled to New York City in March 2022 to accept their award and perform at Symphony Space on Broadway.
Children will enjoy an engaging, informative, and interactive live performance by The Note-Ables Band and be encouraged to sing and clap along to age-appropriate popular songs, learning about basic concepts of disability, access, and inclusion. Students will have opportunities to ask band members questions about their lived experiences as people with disabilities. The program will end with a collaborative musical experience.
PIANO HEIST
BASED IN VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA
AVAILABILITY
April 22-28, 2026
*Bilingual (French)
Lifelong friends and colleagues Nico Rhodes and Patrick Courtin set off on a divine quest to redeem the keyboard and reinstate its reputation as the greatest instrument of ALL TIME! Armed with the music of the greatest composers, songwriters and performers of the past 300 years, and the technology of the 21st century, Nico and Patrick deliver everything from classical piano raptures to bombastic boogie woogie in their show Piano Heist: Keyboard Explosion!
Nico is an in demand arranger/musical director in Canada, with 40 stage musicals to his credit. He’s written 400 original compositions, four original musicals and arranged two symphonic pops concerts. In 2019, he was honored with Nanaimo’s Emerging Cultural Leader Award. Patrick is classically trained (Royal Conservatory of Music) and holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Vancouver Island University. He has directed musical theatre productions, played in recording sessions, created music for film + TV, and toured across Canada, the United States and China.
2025-2026 ARTIST ROSTER
RENO TAIKO TSURUNOKAI
BASED IN RENO, NV
AVAILABILITY
October 27, 2025-June 30,2026
*Bilingual (Japanese)
Reno Taiko Tsurunokai brings the ancient art of Japanese Taiko drumming to our community. Traditional Taiko drums have been used in warfare, martial arts, religious ceremonies, and festivals throughout Japan for over 1400 years. The beating of the Taiko drum echoes the beating of the heart and the rolling of thunder. The powerful sounds of Taiko drums will transport your students on a cultural adventure through Japanese history and customs. Tsurunokai performs traditional Japanese folk music and original compositions. Students will be invited to participate in drumming and dancing during the performance.
Tsurunokai was founded in 1997 by Rieko Shimbo, a Japanese native who studied traditional music and dance in Tokyo before moving to the U.S. Rieko has assembled a group of talented and dedicated Taiko drummers whose credits include performances at many local and regional festivals and art exhibitions. She has been teaching and performing in our community for over 25 years and is passionate about introducing people to the rich culture of Japan through the art of Taiko.
OCTOBER 2025 - JUNE 2026
PLEASE NOTE: Some artists have limited availability. Book early to ensure the best selections.
OCTOBER 2025 - JUNE 2026
LARRY WILSON
OCTOBER 27, 2025 - JUNE 30, 2026
OCTOBER 27, 2025 - JUNE 30, 2026
RENO TAIKO TSURUNOKAI
OCTOBER 27, 2025 - JUNE 30, 2026
BRUKA THEATRE FOR CHILDREN
FEBRUARY 22 - JUNE 30, 2026
BOXTALES THEATRE COMPANY
MARCH 2 - 7, 2026
PIANO HEIST
APRIL 22-28, 2026
MOLODI LIVE!
APRIL 30-MAY 6, 2026
Boxtales Theatre Company at Sage Ridge School, Reno
PERFORMANCE PRICING OPTIONS
A | $250
Our traditional in-person elementary school assembly format includes 2 back-to-back programs of 30 minutes each performed at the school. The entire student body is divided into 2 groups to ensure all children experience the show in a comfortable space. Each performance includes Q&A time with the performers. Schools have the option to live stream the performances to students working remotely at home. (The school must provide the equipment and facilitate the streaming. Recording the show for later viewing is strictly prohibited.)
B | $250
This family-friendly format is a 60-minute program performed in-person for one audience group. It is most often used on-site in libraries, community and performing arts centers, and small-sized schools. It includes audience Q&A time with the performers at the end. The performance may take place outdoors, pending weather, access to power, and performance surface approval.
C | $375
The artists provide three 30-minute performances to accommodate smaller gatherings. Two of the performances are scheduled back-to-back with a required 30-minute break period between the second and third performance for the health of the performers. All programs include Q&A time with the performers. This option is not available with all artist groups.
Brüka Theatre for Children at Hidden Valley Elementary, Reno
The Note-Ables at South Valleys Library, Reno
Reno Taiko Tsurunokai at Minden CVIC Hall, Minden
PROGRAM ORDER FORM
PROGRAM ORDER FORM
Please indicate your desired artists, format choice, and two different possibilities of dates and times. Double check the artist availability and your master calendar (note holiday breaks, school testing, conference weeks, etc.) prior to completing the form. After your bookings are confirmed, an invoice will be provided.
Please indicate your desired artists, format choice, and two different possibilities of dates and times. Double check the artist availability and your master calendar (note holiday breaks, school testing, conference weeks, etc.) prior to completing the form.
After your bookings are confirmed, an invoice will be provided.
EMAIL YOUR COMPLETED ORDER FORM TO YOUTH@PIONEERCENTER.COM
EMAIL YOUR COMPLETED ORDER FORM TO YOUTH@PIONEERCENTER.COM
SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION NAME
SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION NAME
CONTACT NAME/TITLE
CONTACT NAME/TITLE
PHONE EMAIL
PHONE EMAIL
MAILING ADDRESS
MAILING ADDRESS
PERFORMANCE VENUE NAME/ADDRESS (IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE)
PERFORMANCE VENUE NAME/ADDRESS (IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE)
NOTES:
NOTES:
Theatre Company
Brüka Theatre for Children
Molodi Live
Larry Wilson
The Note-Ables
Piano Heist
Reno Taiko Tsurunokai
Boxtales