Each year, the Schauer Arts Center welcomes over 6,000 students to its Schooltime Matinee Series where they experience the best of professional theater.  Exposure to live theater ignites a child's imagination in a unique way, opening the door to a greater understanding of the world and a life-long love of the arts.  You may place a reservation via phone (262-670-0560, ext 0), by email to Jennifer@SchauerCenter.org.

View 2025–26 Schooltime Brochure

How To Book Your Visit to the Schauer Arts Center

Email

Please send requested show title, time, total number of seats needed (adults and children combined), grade attending and any special needs requests to Jennifer@SchauerCenter.org.

Phone

Call Jennifer Rodriguez at 262-670-0560, ext. 0.

All Seats: $10 Each
Buy Twenty, Get One Free

When you purchase twenty seats to a single performance you will receive one additional complimentary admission. For example, if you pay for forty seats you receive two additional, free bonus admissions. Bonus seats may be used by any member of your group—you decide!

The More the Merrier!

In appreciation of our “frequent flyers,” we will be issuing a $25 Schauer Center gift certificate to each individual teacher who books 150 or more seats over the course of the 2025–26 season. We will also give a $10 Schauer Center gift certificate to each homeschool family who books twelve or more seats. Just our way of saying thank you!

Order Information

Confirmation

A confirmation letter/invoice, along with a Schooltime Matinee contract, will be mailed within two business days of your reservation. Please review your reservation carefully. If there are no changes, sign and return the contract to the Schauer Center by the stated due date. If you do not receive your confirmation or your reservation is incorrect, please contact the Schauer Center as soon as possible. Reservations may be canceled without notice if the Schauer Center does not receive the signed contract from you.

Payment

Although payment is not due when the reservation is placed, please adhere to the following:

• A minimum of sixty days notice is required in order to completely cancel your reservation. If a cancellation is requested after this deadline, the school will still be responsible for payment of 50% of the original reservation. Reservations placed within sixty days of the performance are considered final sales.
• Payment must be received at least thirty days prior to the performance or seats may be forfeited. Payment due date is located on your invoice.
• If additional seats are needed within thirty days of the performance they must be paid for, in full, at time of order.
• No cash or checks from individual students/parents, please. Payment must be made on a single check (payable to ‘Schauer Center’).
• After payment is received, the price of additional seats will be at the same price as the original order.
• No changes can be made within one week of scheduled performance.
• No refunds will be issued for unused seats.

Everything You Need to Know About the Show

Age Guidelines

• Each show has grade level recommendations that the Schauer Center has received from the performers; please follow them as suggestions.

• Regardless of recommendations, all children must have turned four years old by September 1, 2025 in order to attend the Schooltime Matinee series. No babies in arms will be admitted.

About the Show

• Performances are held in the Schauer Center’s 549-seat Ruth A. Knoll Theater. Seating capacity for Schooltime Matinees is approximately 485 seats due to sight line obstructions for youth.
• Performances run approximately one hour, unless noted. Occasionally, a Q&A session will be included.
• All events, dates, and times are subject to change.

Chaperones

• A minimum of one chaperone is recommended for every fifteen students attending a performance and should be included with your reservation. 
• Parents/chaperones may not purchase tickets separately from the school group. Schooltime Matinee performances are not open to the public. 
• Chaperones may not bring other children. Babies in arms will not be permitted in the theater. 

Seating

• The requested number of seats will be held at time of reservation, however, seating assignment is not determined by reservation date.
• A seat must be reserved for everyone in your group. Reservation totals must reflect all students, aides, teachers, and parents/chaperones attending.
• Tickets are not issued. Ushers will take your group to their assigned seats.
• Please mention special needs requests (wheelchair seating, hearing/vision impairment), at time of reservation so your school may be seated in the appropriate area on the day of the show.

Arrival

Please arrive no less than 15 minutes before show time. Late arrivals will be seated when appropriate, based on the performance. Late arrivals are not guaranteed entry to the performance.

Weather-Related Cancellations

• Schooltime Matinees are only canceled if performers cannot make it due to weather. Weather-related cancellations issued by the Schauer Center will offer an alternate performance date or a full refund. 

• If a school is unable to attend a performance due to weather (ie, school is closed or delayed), a credit will be issued to the school so they may attend a future Schooltime Matinee performance.

Study Guides

Please visit the Schooltime Matinee page/Study Guides on schauercenter.org to find information regarding the performances, links to artists’ websites, and downloadable study guides that help bring the show into your classroom.

Lunch with Us

Lunch facilities are available, but please let us know in advance if you want to eat lunch on our premises. Chairs and tables will not be provided. Space is limited and requests will be considered on a first come, first serve basis. Call 262-670-0560, ext. 0 to check for availability. An additional $30 fee is required.

Where to Find Us

The Schauer Center is conveniently located in downtown Hartford, near the intersection of Highway 60 and Highway 83. On-site parking is free and buses may drop students off at the front door.

"Schooltime Matinees bring books to life! I'm a homeschooling mom and the Schauer has allowed my kids to appreciate the drama arts. The staff is very friendly and there is always a good seat in the house, regardless of where you sit!" - Schooltime Matinee Educator