Promoting education is one of the core values of the Zeiterion. At the heart of our commitment lies the knowledge that learning through the arts can serve as a powerful tool for student achievement in the classroom and in life.
Education in the arts plays an integral role in the development of the whole child, connecting them more deeply to the world and opening them to new perspectives! Not only do Schooltime performances enable students to explore concepts and themes they’re studying in the classroom, they also provide an additional pathway to learning, foster empathy and understanding, boost critical thinking skills and spark meaningful discourse. Further, access to our performances can improve vocabulary and reading comprehension, nurture cultural awareness, and develop appreciation for the power of the imagination.
This season offers a wide range of opportunities for both students and teachers to explore the arts!
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
ABOUT THE SCHOOLTIME PERFORMANCE SERIES
The Z’s Schooltime Performance Series features performances by some of the world’s most respected and famed theatrical, dance and musical companies.
These engaging CURRICULUM-BASED PERFORMANCES are designed for students in grades K-12 and incorporate an array of subjects, themes, topics and issues of relevance, reaching nearly 20,000 students and teachers each year!
Each performance includes a CURRICULUM GUIDE which is helpful in preparing students for an enjoyable and educational theatre experience. You’ll find discussion topics, resource materials, and classroom activities that extend the impact of the performance and promote learning across the curriculum.
These guides can be downloaded from our website. www.zeiterion.org/learn/schooltime-curriculumguide
In conjunction with these performances, The Z often offers WORKSHOPS and IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCIES as well as POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS with the artists and companies. Designed to enrich and deepen your students’ experience with the arts, these opportunities also excite and engage participants in the subject matter, provide greater insight, understanding, and interpretation of the content, and enhance their overall theatre experience.
The Z will be on the road during the building's exciting renovation and restoration project! Our 2023-24 season will be at these locations:
University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth - Main Auditorium
285 Old Westport Road
Dartmouth, MA
New Bedford High School - Bronspiegel Auditorium
230 Hathaway Boulevard
New Bedford, MA
OTHER ZEITERION EDUCATION INITIATIVES FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
TEEN AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
Encourage your students to join our Teen Ambassador Program! This free program is open to young people ages 13-19.
Teen Ambassadors get…
• Free tickets to 6-8 Mainstage performances
• Free master classes and workshops with world renowned performing artists
• A behind-the-scenes look at what goes into putting on a show at The Z
• The opportunity to connect with other young people interested in the performing arts
• Skills they can add to their resume and use to pursue a career in the performing arts and beyond 15+ volunteer hours that can be applied towards their graduation requirements
Teen Ambassadors commit to…
• Meeting for 1 hour once a month from January-June
• Attending at least 1 Mainstage performance, class/ workshop, or community event each month
• Sharing their experience with the broader community through videos, voiceovers, and social media posts
To register visit: www.zeiterion.org/learn/teenambassadors
The Z recognizes that school budgets are under great strain. Below are resources that may be useful when looking for assistance in funding the cost of tickets and transportation.
YOUR LOCAL CULTURAL COUNCIL
The application for LCC grants opens September 1 and the deadline to submit is October 17. The Z highly encourages teachers to take advantage of this opportunity!
The LCC Grant funds field trips to attend a performance at The Z for children, grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12, by subsidizing the cost of admission. Public, Private, and Parochial schools are all eligible for LCC Grants.
For more information visit: www.massculturalcouncil.org/ communities/local-cultural-council-program/find-your-lcc/ Please note: grants from LCCs are reimbursement-based. The applicant must purchase tickets in advance. Then, if approved for a grant, submit the proper paperwork to the LCC for reimbursement.
STARS RESIDENCIES
Students and Teachers working with Artists, Scientists, and Scholars (STARS) Residencies provide grants of $500-$5,000 to schools to support creative learning residencies of three or more days in the arts, sciences, and humanities. The application opens in September and ends in October. STARS Residencies are a wonderful way to fund Zieterion workshops, residencies, or Page-to-Stage arts integration programs. For more information visit: www.massculturalcouncil.org/ education/stars-residencies/application-process/
PAGE TO STAGE ARTS INTEGRATION PROGRAM
Page to Stage is an authentic arts integration initiative, where students engage in a creative process connecting theatre and ELA while meeting evolving objectives in both. Throughout the program, students explore theatre fundamentals such as acting and characterization through the lens of a novel supporting their curriculum. A final script writing project and performance promotes group work, creativity, and critical thinking. Students attend a live performance of the novel at The Z at the conclusion of the project to see how professional actors bring to life the story they’ve been studying.
To learn more visit: www.zeiterion.org/learn/pagetostage
THE ZEITERION’S SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
The Zeiterion distributes scholarships to offset the cost of attending SchoolTime performances for schools serving highneeds students where cost would be a barrier to attendance. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, so we recommend applying early.
To apply visit: www.zeiterion.org/learn/schooltime-scholarship
Suggested Grades: 4th-12th
Living Voices: Bringing Life to History
Performance title to be determined. Updates available at: www.zeiterion.org/learn/schooltime-events
Using historical perspectives based on real people and events, Living Voices combines live performance with audio/video, visual aids, and discussion to bring history to life! All Living Voices performances include a historical introduction, engaging multi-media performance, and post-show discussion. Audiences view history through a personal, inclusive lens, and see themselves as a part of it—what is past, and what is yet to be written.
Thursday, November 9
10AM
Runtime: 45-50 minutes
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, Social Studies/History, American Studies, Film, Theatre, Diverse Cast
Suggested Grades: K-5th
Tomas and the Library Lady
A bilingual musical, based on the beloved book about the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, who became the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system. This inspirational production shows how reading, education, and self-esteem can make anything possible. When Tomas, the son of migrant farm workers, meets the “Library Lady” he shares the stories and language his grandfather passed down to him and she shares new tales that allow him to enter new worlds! Students will be able to engage in a post-show discussion with the actors.
Monday, November 20
Times: 10AM and 12:30PM
Runtime: 60 minutes including post-show discussion
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
Bilingual, English Language Learners, English, Spanish, Music, Theatre, Diverse Cast, Sensory Friendly
Suggested Grades: 3rd-6th
The Lightning Thief
When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he's a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus' missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods. This dynamic musical adaptation of Rick Riordan's bestselling book, The Lightning Thief, features an exciting rock score and life lessons about how we can turn our “disabilities” into superpowers.
Tuesday, December 19
Times: 10AM and 12:30PM
Runtime: 60 minutes
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, Greek Mythology, Music, Theatre, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Suggested Grades: 9th-12th
Drumline Live!
An international tour based on the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching band tradition. With riveting rhythms, bold beats and ear-grabbing energy, this stage performance incorporates original compositions and soul-infused interpretations of top 40 hits. Drumline Live! performances enthrall students with colorful, choreographed routines and heavy doses of drum riffs and cadences.
Monday, January 15
Time: 10AM
Venue: New Bedford High School, Bronspiegel Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
Dance, Music, College Readiness, Social Studies/History, Diverse Cast
Suggested Grades: 5th-12th
Living Voices presents: Through the Eyes of a Friend
Bear witness to the world of Anne Frank and other young people living through the Holocaust, from the point of view of Anne Frank's "best friend.”
Sarah is a historically accurate character, based on the testimonies of those who knew Anne Frank, as well as other victims, resisters and survivors of the Holocaust and World War II. Like Anne Frank, Sarah is a young Jewish girl in Amsterdam when Hitler comes to power in the 1930s, whose experiences under Nazi rule, in hiding and through the concentration camps parallel Anne’s story.
Thursday, January 25
10AM
Runtime: 45-50 minutes
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, Social Studies/History, WWII, Jewish Studies, Genocide Studies, Film, Theatre
Suggested Grades: 3rd-12th
Show Way
A new musical created by the Education Artist-inResidence at The Kennedy Center. It follows seven generations of women in award-winning children’s author Jacqueline Woodson’s own family, touching on the legacies of slavery. Soonie’s great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation. She began to stitch a Show Way, a quilt with secret meanings to show enslaved people the way to freedom. As each generation passes, the Show Way shines a light on the past and paves a road to the future, stitching together possibility and promise.
Wednesday, March 6
10AM and 12:30PM
Runtime: 50 minutes
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, History/Social Studies, Civil Rights, Music, Theatre, Diverse Cast, Sensory Friendly
Suggested Grades: 1st-5th
3rd –12th
Dot Dot Dot: A New Musical
A new musical based on the Creatrilogy trio of award-winning picture books by New York Times bestselling author Peter H. Reynolds The Dot, Ish and Sky Color When Marisol, a young artist and curator of the Musee de Marisol, decides that her gallery requires more than her own art, her search for emerging talent leads her to Vashti, whose dots inspire Ramon to become an artist in his own right. Marisol goes on a journey to help her new friends, and her entire community, break free from selfcriticism and let their imaginations soar.
Tuesday, March 12
10AM and 12:30PM
Runtime: 60 minutes
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, Art, Theatre, Social and Emotional Learning, Diverse Cast
Suggested Grades: 9th-12th
360 All Stars
Featuring BMX, basketball, breakdancing, beatboxing, acrobatics, drumming and more, this phenomenal physical performance explores all forms of rotation. 360 ALL STARS is a supercharged urban circus boasting a stellar international cast of World Champion and World Record-holding athletes and artists, who fuse art, athleticism, and street culture.
Monday, March 18
10AM
Venue: New Bedford High School, Bronspiegel Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
Dance, Music, Physical Education
Suggested Grades: K-5th
Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System
In this musical based on the hit book and TV series, Ms. Frizzle’s class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, so she blasts into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! But when rivalries both old and new threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk getting forever lost in the solar system.
Friday, March 29
10AM and 12:30PM
Runtime: 60 minutes
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, Science, Astronomy, Music, Theatre, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Suggested Grades: 3rd-7th
El Otro Oz A Bilingual Wizard of Oz
Click your heels together tres veces and take a transformative journey with this salsa, merengue, and Mexican folk-infused musical inspired by The Wizard of Oz. As her fifteenth birthday approaches, Dora struggles with her family’s ideas about tradition and dreads her impending quinceañera! But, when she gets swept away to a strange new land, she learns how to celebrate her cultural identity.
DATE: TBD
10AM and 12:30PM
Runtime: 70 minutes
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
Bilingual, English Language Learners English, Spanish, Dance, Music, Theatre, Diverse Cast
SEATS FILL QUICKLY! RESERVE YOUR TICKETS AT WWW.ZEITERION.ORG/SCHOOLTIME-EVENTS
Suggested Grades: PreK-3rd
The Rainbow Fish
An original stage adaptation of Marcus Pfister’s colorful story as well two of the author’s companion tales: Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea and Opposites. This performance incorporates puppets and original music to provide very young audiences with an introduction to the performing arts and the excitement of reading, all while emphasizing that sharing is caring.
Monday, April 8
10AM
Runtime: 60 minutes
Venue: New Bedford High School, Bronspiegel Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, Science, Marine Biology, Art, Music, Theatre, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), Sensory Friendly
Suggested Grades: 6th-10th
The Mayhem Poets
“Let’s go see a poetry show,” said few students ever. The Mayhem Poets are on a mission to change that. These theatre trained, comedically gifted, lyrical virtuosos seamlessly blend hip hop, spoken word poetry, theatre, improv and stand-up comedy to get students excited about poetry!
Tuesday, April 23
10AM
Venue: New Bedford High School, Bronspiegel Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, Poetry, Comedy, Theatre, Diverse Cast, Highly Interactive
Suggested Grades: 6th-12th
Literature to Life presents: Great Gatsby
Literature to Life takes on F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic work as their newest title in their Signature Performance series. Set in the Jazz Age of the roaring 20s, this story about dreams, love, and American idealism follows Nick Carraway and his interactions with mysterious millionaire neighbor Jay Gatsby and his former lover, Daisy Buchanan. Adapted and directed by Kelvin Grullon.
Thursday, April 25
10AM
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, Theatre
Suggested Grades: K - 5th
Charlotte’s Web
This musical, based on E.B. White’s beloved story, explores the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. Charlotte hatches a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman into saving Wilbur. This treasured tale, explores bravery, selfless love, the true meaning of friendship, and the cycle of life.
Tuesday, June 4
10AM and 12:30PM
Runtime: 60 minutes
Venue: UMass Dartmouth, Main Auditorium
Curriculum Connections:
English, Science, Animal Science, Music, Theatre, Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When should we reserve our seats?
Our SchoolTime performance series is popular, so we recommend you reserve your seats before the start of the school year or at the beginning of the school year to ensure we can accommodate your request. Reservations must be made at least 60 days prior to the performance.
How can we reserve our seats?
If you are able to pay for your seats via credit card, you can purchase tickets online at any time by visiting the K-12 Performance page on our website www.zeiterion.org/learn/ schooltime-events If you need an invoice for your district or need to pay via check, please call or email our Education and Community Department at btaylor@zeiterion.org or eyork@zeiterion.org or 508-997-5664 ext. 129 or 154. Please be prepared to provide your contact information, your school affiliation, both the number of student and adult seats you’d like to reserve, and the number of people in your group that require reasonable accommodation(s). This information is used to create a reservation for your group. An emailed invoice will provide the curriculum guide, a ‘Know Before You Go’ guide, and information about payment. School groups have up to 30 days prior to the performance to pay the full balance for their school group. Upon making your reservation, make sure the date/time of the performance is added to your school’s calendar, transportation is arranged, and the invoice is shared with your principal to ensure payment is processed prior to the 30-day deadline.
How many chaperones should we bring?
We offer 1 free ticket for every 10 tickets purchased. This helps to ensure that there is a 10 to 1 student-to-teacher ratio in addition to helping accommodate the cost of bringing teachers and chaperones.
What are the School Representative’s responsibilities?
The school representative is the point person for the SchoolTime field trip. This person is responsible for distributing important information to other teachers attending the trip, notifying The Z if there are any students who cannot be photographed or will need accommodations, and notifying The Z of any changes to the reservation at least 60 days prior to the performance. The school representative is also responsible for ensuring that payment is made in accordance with the invoice they receive at least 30 days prior to the performance.
How long are the performances?
Performances are approximately 60 minutes long unless otherwise noted. However, at a sold-out performance we have up to 1,200 students in our audience, so please budget 30-45 minutes on either side of the performance for The Zeiterion’s arrival and dismissal process.
The Z's 2023-24 Schooltime Season is going on the road! See page 2 for locations.
How much do tickets cost?
Performance prices range from $9 to $13 per ticket. For every 10 tickets you purchase, you will receive 1 free ticket to help accommodate teachers and chaperones. Additional chaperones and parents are welcome to attend the performances at the published ticket price. If your school serves a high-needs population and the cost of attendance is prohibitive, please fill out our scholarship request form before reserving your seats: www.zeiterion.org/learn/schooltime-scholarship Please note: Scholarships are awarded on a first come, first serve basis.
When and how do we pay?
Payment (or purchase order) is due 30 days prior to the performance. You can pay via check, credit card, or cash. Please make all checks out to The Zeiterion Theatre Inc. and mail or drop them off to our Box Office, temporarily located at The DeMello Center at 128 Union St, New Bedford, MA. You can pay via credit card by calling 508-997-5664 ext. 129 or 154. If neither payment nor a purchase order is received at least 30 days prior to the performance, your seats may be released to the next school on the waiting list.
What are the cancellation policies?
All cancellations must be made in writing at least 60 days prior to the performance. No refund will be issued if your order is not cancelled within the 60-day time frame. Should a cancellation by The Z occur, you will receive a full refund or, if you prefer, the opportunity to exchange your tickets for another SchoolTime performance. Please keep in mind that should there be a cost difference in exchanging tickets, your new reservation will reflect the difference.
How do I prepare my students for the performance?
Preparing your students for their theatre experience with a preperformance lesson is always beneficial! Check out the Curriculum Guide that accompanies your performance for creative ideas about how to preface and debrief the performance you plan to see. You can find all of our curriculum guides here: www.zeiterion.org/ learn/schooltime-curriculumguide. Visit the "Know Before You Go" section of our website to review how to be respectful audience members, and remember to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance to ensure you have enough time to check in, be seated by our volunteer ushers, and use the restrooms.
How do we arrange for special assistance?
The Z will gladly make the necessary reasonable accommodations and appreciate sufficient notice to ensure the accommodation is met. Please notify us when you initially request your seats if anyone needs accessible seating or accommodations.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day of the performance?
The Z is contractually obligated to pay artists regardless of weather conditions. If your school is cancelled due to bad weather, The Z cannot refund your payment, but with your written request, we will try to accommodate your group at another performance.
A big thanks to The Z’s volunteers who helps students and teachers have a wonderful experience at the theatre. These dedicated individuals provide an extraordinary service to the children of the South Coast, the community and to the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center.
The Zeiterion's educational programs are supported in part by grants from the
ASSOCIATION FOR THE RELIEF OF AGED WOMEN
THE CARNEY FOUNDATION
DARTMOUTH LOCAL CULTURAL COUNCIL
GRIMSHAW GUDEWICZ FOUNDATION
MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL
THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
NEW BEDFORD DAY NURSERY
NEW BEDFORD LOCAL CULTURAL COUNCIL
NEW ENGLAND FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS