Iowa State Center Announces 2012-2013 Youth Matinee Series

Monday, May 07, 2012

Designed to enhance school curricula and stimulate lively discussions about literature, history and music, the Youth Matinee Series brings nationally touring theatre for youth to Stephens Auditorium at an affordable price.

We’ve set the stage for a compelling season of learning through the performing arts. From the great big fun of Clifford to the dramatic tragedy of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the Youth Matinee Series, sponsored by the Martha-Ellen Tye Performing Arts Institute of the Iowa State Center, is designed to enhance school curricula at an affordable price. These weekday matinees are sure to stimulate imaginations and provide lively discussions about literature, history, and music! Admission is an affordable $4 in advance or $5 at the door. The Iowa State Center further supports these school-time matinees by offering full scholarship admission to students enrolled in the federal lunch program. Accompanying study guides offer parents and teachers related activities and additional resources for each performance. Performances are in ISU’s beautiful Stephens Auditorium and begin at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Clifford the Big Red Dog, Live!
Monday, October 22 at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – Grades PreK-2

Clifford celebrates his 50th anniversary in 2012. We’ll celebrate with this charming musical production as Clifford and his friends – Emily Elizabeth, Cleo and T-Bone – explore BIG Ideas: share, play fair, have respect, work together, be responsible, be truthful, be kind, believe in yourself, be a good friend and help others.

The Great Mountain
Friday, November 2 at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – Grades 2-6

In a re-telling of the traditional Northern Plains story of Jumping Mouse, a young girl discovers the transformative power of nature and the importance of courage in this production by Red Sky Performances of Toronto.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie & Other Story Books
Tuesday, November 13 at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – Grades K-4

TheatreworksUSA presents a sparkling musical revue based on several popular children's books, including: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema, Imogene's Antlers by David Small, Master Man by Aaron Shepard, Math Curse by Jon Scieszka, and Owen by Kevin Henkes.

Charlotte’s Web
Friday, February 1 at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – Grades K-5

Based on E.B. White's loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte, this treasured tale explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship.

Iowa State University Symphony Orchestra
Tuesday, February 12 at 10 a.m. – Grades 4-12
Presented by Ames International Orchestra Festival Association with additional support by Ames Commission on the Arts

The 80-member ISU Symphony Orchestra returns with a narrated program that explores the instruments and sounds of the orchestra performing Ottorino Respeghi’s Pines of Rome and Mason Bates’ YouTube sensation, Mothership. And don’t miss the popular ‘'instrument petting zoo,' an opportunity to see and hear the instruments up close.

The Civil War
Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – Grades 3-9

As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of this complex, tumultuous chapter of American history, this production illuminates the humanity and sacrifices of those who fought and the many who died. The Civil War uses traditional songs of the era and focuses on individual soldiers caught up in the conflict.

Seussical
Monday, April 15 at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – Grades K-5

"Oh, the thinks you can think" when Dr. Seuss's best-loved stories collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper! Adapted from the Broadway version, The Cat in the Hat is the host and emcee (and all-around mischief-maker) in this romp through the Seuss classics.

Romeo and Juliet
Thursday, April 25 at 10 a.m. – Grades 7-12 – 90 minutes

Love can be a thrilling ride, but it can also be a dangerous thing. National Players, America’s longest running classical touring company, brings Shakespeare’s most enduring tale to Ames.

Ramona Quimby
Monday, April 29 at 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – Grades 1-5

Ramona Quimby may be one of the world’s most and animated and exasperating elementary students, but this lovable third-grader has delighted young readers for over fifty years through the books of Newbery Medal-winning writer Beverly Clearly.

Call the Iowa State Center at 515-294-3347 or 1-877-843-2368. Connect online at www.center.iastate.edu/education for more information or to pre-register.

The Iowa State Center (managed by SMG) is a multi-building conference and performing arts complex. The Center's Stephens Auditorium, a 2,729-seat hall, hosts a dazzling array of international performances of music, theater and dance, as well as world-class orchestras, popular Broadway musicals, and explosive country and rock concerts. Fisher Theater seats 450 in an intimate setting, perfect for drama, dance and ISU theater productions. The Scheman Building, with 25 meeting rooms, two large lobbies and the 456-seat Benton Auditorium is a great meeting space for conferences, seminars and social events.

SMG is a privately held company whose majority stockholder is American Capital, Ltd. Organizationally, SMG has three operating divisions; convention centers, stadiums/arenas/theaters/others, and food and beverage, providing the same effective business principles to distinctly different business segments.

At the current time, SMG manages over 220 facilities which include: 72 arenas, 10 stadiums, 55 performing arts centers, 66 convention centers, 7 equestrian centers and 16 other recreational facilities. Overall, SMG controls more than 1.45 million seats and 12.2 million sq. ft. of exhibition space in venues privately managed by the firm. The SMG corporate headquarters are located in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

Provided by: Iowa State Center

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