Children's Theatre of Charlotte

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is a nationally-recognized theatre company in Charlotte, North Carolina, founded in 1948. We produce professional theatre experiences for children and families through Mainstage productions, educational programs, and outreach initiatives, inspiring generations to

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Children’s Theatre of Charlotte Field Trip for K-12

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Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is a professional theatre company serving young people and families. It selects scripts for artistic merit, audience appeal, curricular ties, variety of ages served, themes explored, diversity of programming and ties to our mission. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte hires professional directors, actors and designers from around the country. Additionally, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte employs a full production staff to build sets, design costumes and more. As stated in its core values, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is dedicated to excellence. It strives for professionalism and outstanding artistry in all its efforts.

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte offers weekday performances of professionally produced plays and musicals for school audiences. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s home at ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center features two performance spaces, the 550-seat McColl Family Theatre and the 250-seat Wells Fargo Playhouse. Serving a wide age range, these productions have set a new standard for professional theatre in our region. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s 2023-24 season features:

Narnia

NARNIA THE MUSICAL

BASED ON C.S. LEWIS’ THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
BOOK BY JULES TASCA | MUSIC BY THOMAS TIERNEY | LYRICS BY TED DRACHMAN
PRODUCED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH DRAMATIC PUBLISHING, WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS

Sept 27 – Oct 19, 2023 | McColl Family Theatre | For 1st – 4th Grade
Travel to a magical world filled with creatures of myth and fable where good and evil coexist. Adventure awaits four children who endeavor to help the mighty lion king Aslan save Narnia from the White Witch. Will her reign continue to bring perpetual winter across the land? Children and adults will delight in this fantastical adaptation for the entire family.

THEMES: COURAGE, WISDOM, REDEMPTION

Tired Souls

TIRED SOULS: THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY MIKE WILEY

Oct 3-6, 2023 | Wells Fargo Playhouse | For 3rd Grade and up
It’s December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Louise Parks refuses to give up her seat on a city bus to a white man. Her determination was a catalyst for change which sparked the Civil Rights movement, forever altering the course of U.S. history. Audience members become a part of this interactive show that pays homage to Mrs. Parks and those that came before her like Jo Ann Robinson and Claudette Colvin, blazing the path for racial equality.

THEMES: CIVIL RIGHTS, PRIDE, RESPONSIBILITY

Life Doesn't Frighten Me

LIFE DOESN’T FRIGHTEN ME

BY PAIGE HERNANDEZ
ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED & ARRANGED BY KRIS FUNN & PAIGE HERNANDEZ
BASED ON “LIFE DOESN’T FRIGHTEN ME” FROM THE BOOK AND STILL I RISE BY MAYA ANGELOU
USED WITH PERMISSION OF CAGED BIRD LEGACY, LLC

Nov 2-16, 2023 | Wells Fargo Playhouse | For K-4th Grade
Inspired by the poetry of Dr. Maya Angelou, this show brings to life the fears we face every day and how we combat them. Through the stories told with spoken word, hip-hop, and dance, we learn that each of us inside has what it takes to face our fears. This experience will have audience members singing from their seats, “life doesn’t frighten me, I am fearless royalty.”

THEMES: COURAGE, FEARS, SELF-ESTEEM

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY MIKE WILEY

THEMES: CIVIL RIGHTS, PRIDE, RESPONSIBILITY

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL

BY JAHNNA BEECHAM & MALCOLM HILLGARTNER
ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK BY BARBARA ROBINSON
ORCHESTRATIONS AND VOCAL ARRANGEMENTS BY DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA
PRODUCED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH BROADWAY LICENSING

Nov 29 – Dec 14, 2023 | McColl Family Theatre | For 1st Grade and upNov 30 – Dec 15, 2022 | McColl Family Theatre | For 1st Grade and up

The Herdmans are ready to wreak havoc! What happens when the “worst kids in the history of the world” find out about free food at Sunday school? What if they decide to audition for the annual Christmas pageant? This hilarious and heartfelt musical comedy, adapted from Barbara Robinson’s classic story, will have your family laughing and crying as we celebrate the holidays.

THEMES: COMMUNITY, TRADITIONS, BELONGING, EMPATHY

Schoolhouse Rock

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!

ORIGINALLY ADAPTED AND PRODUCED FOR THE STAGE BY THEATRE BAM
FROM THE SERIES CREATED BY GEORGE NEWALL AND TOM YOHE
BASED ON AN IDEA BY DAVID MCCALL
BOOK BY SCOTT FERGUSON, GEORGE KEATING AND KYLE HALL
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY LYNN AHRENS, BOB DOROUGH, DAVE FRISHBERG, KATHY MANDRY, GEORGE NEWALL AND TOM YOHE
PRESENTED THROUGH SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI). ALL AUTHORIZED PERFORMANCE MATERIALS ARE ALSO SUPPLIED BY MTI. WWW.MTISHOWS.COM

Jan 10-26, 2024 | Wells Fargo Playhouse | For K-4th Grade
The alarm clock rings and Tom awakens, nervous to start his first day of teaching. He turns on the TV to relax and is surprised when the voices he hears in his head come to life as characters in the television set! Tom is hesitant at first to accept them, but eventually they help him see how great a teacher he has been all along.

THEMES: FRIENDSHIP, IDENTITY, INCLUSION

Pinocchio

PINOCCHIO

BY GREG BANKS
FROM THE STORY BY CARLO COLLODI
PRODUCED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH PLAYS FOR NEW AUDIENCES

Jan 31 – Feb 16, 2024 | McColl Family Theatre | For 1st Grade and up
High among the scaffolding, a group of painters begin the day’s work. Using the objects around them, they bring the story of Pinocchio to life in real-time, creative fashion. Kind-hearted Geppetto carves a little puppet from wood to call his own. But Pinocchio dreams of being a “real boy” and seeks adventure unaware of the danger it brings. When he learns his papa is in trouble, Pinocchio sets his selfishness aside learning that he doesn’t need to be real to be brave.

THEMES: HONESTY, BRAVERY, LOYALTY

Catching the Moon

CATCHING THE MOON: THE STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL’S BASEBALL DREAM

BOOK AND LYRICS BY NICHOLE JACKSON
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY TYRONE L. ROBINSON
ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK BY CRYSTAL HUBBARD
ADAPTED FROM CATCHING THE MOON: THE STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL’S BASEBALL DREAM. TEXT COPYRIGHT © 2005 BY CRYSTAL HUBBARD. ILLUSTRATIONS COPYRIGHT © 2005 BY RANDY DUBURKE. PERMISSION ARRANGED WITH LEE & LOW BOOKS INC., NEW YORK, NY 10016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. LEARN MORE AT LEEANDLOW.COM

Mar 6-22, 2024 | Wells Fargo Playhouse | For 2nd Grade and up
With the crack of a bat, Marcenia Lyle rounds the bases with ease and slides into home. It’s the ballfield she knows and loves best. So when famous baseball manager Gabby Street comes scouting players for summer camp, Marcenia steps up to the plate to compete. She’s determined to pursue her passion and defy the naysayers who discourage her from following her dream because she’s a girl. Catching the Moon tells the spirited story of the Black girl who grew up to become “Toni Stone”, the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team.

THEMES: DETERMINATION, SELF ESTEEM, OVERCOMING ODDS, KINDNESS

Djembe Fire

DJEMBE FIRE!

CREATED AND PERFORMED BY THE MAGIC OF AFRICAN RHYTHM

Mar 6-8, 2024 | McColl Family Theatre | For K-4th Grade
Master drummers and dancers combine the fire of the djembe (drum) with colorful costumes and high-energy music that will make you want to get up and dance. Feel the heartbeat of Africa come to life in this powerhouse performance.

THEMES: THE POWER OF MUSIC, AFRICAN RHYTHM, STORYTELLING

Elephant & Piggie

ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE’S “WE ARE IN A PLAY!”

BASED ON THE ELEPHANT & PIGGIE BOOKS BY MO WILLEMS
PUBLISHED BY HYPERION BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
SCRIPT AND LYRICS BY MO WILLEMS
MUSIC BY DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA
PRESENTED THROUGH SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI). ALL AUTHORIZED PERFORMANCE MATERIALS ARE ALSO SUPPLIED BY MTI. WWW.MTISHOWS.COM

Apr 10 – May 2, 2024 | McColl Family Theatre | For PreK-2nd Grade
Celebrated author Mo Willem’s beloved characters come to life in a jazzy musical based on the award-winning, best-selling children’s books. After fumbling and breaking their new toy, bestus friends Gerald and Piggie realize they are in a play and use their powers of persuasion to move the audience. The vaudevillian-style show will have families saying “banana”, “flippy floppy floory”, and clapping along.

THEMES: FRIENDSHIP, SHARING

Danny

DANNY, KING OF THE BASEMENT

BY DAVID S. CRAIG

Apr 17-26, 2024 | Wells Fargo Playhouse | For 4th Grade and up
10-year-old Danny “Delco” Carter is the “king of moving.” When Danny and his mom move into a basement apartment on an upscale street, the kids he meets have more material things, but they seem to have bigger challenges than he realizes. Danny’s imaginative play creates a sense of community that allows his friends to cope with their problems and, ultimately, to help Danny—because Danny’s challenge isn’t losing a home—it’s gaining one.

THEMES: POVERTY, FRIENDSHIP, THE POWER OF POSITIVITY

All productions meet specific language and theatre arts curriculum standards. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte has designed teacher resource guides, which provide innovative connections to additional Common Core and North Carolina Essential Standards, to complement each production, deepen the theatre experience, extend the educational value and spark classroom conversations. Guides include information about the author/playwright, discussion questions, vocabulary words, recommended reading lists and engaging activities.

Convenient bus lane and other amenities help field trips go smoothly and efficiently. An average of 350 schools from Mecklenburg and 19 surrounding counties bring their students to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte to experience the magic of live professional theatre.

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Booking / scheduling contact

Chris Stonnell

704-973-2829

chriss@ctcharlotte.org

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Program Detail

Program type: Assembly/Performance, Day Trip

Artistic Discipline: Theater

Cultural Origin: African, American, European, Multicultural, Native American, Other

Subject: Dance, History, Language Arts, Literacy, Music, Social Studies / History, Theatre Arts

Population Served Grade 1, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Kindergarten, Pre-K

Bilingual: No

Available dates:

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s school performances run from late September through early May. Our productions offer memorable, educational field trips for kindergarten through twelfth grade. Visit ctcharlotte.org for more information.

Available times:

Performance times vary by show, but generally school shows are 9:30/9:45 AM and 11:30/11:45 AM Tuesdays through Fridays. Performance times are generally 60-90 minutes on average.

*Narnia the Musical runs 2 hours and will have one daily performance at 10 AM.

Max number of students: 550

Length of :Program 60-90 minutes on average

Space / technical requirements:

None

Location(s):

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is located in ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center in the heart of uptown Charlotte. In this 102,000-square-foot facility, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte enjoys two performance spaces: McColl Family Theatre, a 550-seat fully-equipped theatre, and Wells Fargo Playhouse, a 250-seat intimate theatre space.

Fees / Ticketing:

Field trip tickets are $13 to $16 per person (students, teachers, and chaperones all require tickets) depending on the production. School performances are for groups of 20 or more. One complimentary ticket will be made available for every 20 seats reserved for traditional 1st-12th grade classrooms. Two complimentary tickets will be made available for every 20 seats reserved for traditional Pre-K and kindergarten classrooms. Infants and children under 4 years of age are not permitted.

EDUCATION STANDARDS

NC Standard Course of Study:

SL2: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media. RL2: Recount stories, including fables, folktales and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text. RL7: Analyze the extent to which a live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors.

NC Essential Standards:

From the Arts Education, Theatre Arts Standards: 4.A.1.2: Critique choices made about characters, settings and events as seen or portrayed in formal and information productions. 3.CU.2.1: Illustrate theatre etiquette appropriate to the performance situation. 2.AE.1.2: Understand how the use of costumes, props and masks enhance dramatic play.

Supporting Materials

Sample Resource Guide for The Night Diary

CTC_Night_Diary_RG.pdf

Sample Resource Guide for Annie

Annie_Resource-Guide.pdf

Qualifications

Conducts educational programming for 2 or more years: Yes

Performs criminal background checks on staff with youth contact: Yes

Maintains general liability insurance (Individuals and organizations listed in this Directory can provide proof of insurance upon request. ASC does not hold copies of current documentation for providers): Yes

Three letters of recommendation / references available: Yes

Provides study guides for teachers and or students: Yes

Connects to State and or Common Core Curriculum Standards: Yes

Provides tools to assess student learning (workshops and residencies): Yes

Provides scholarship and reduced fees: Yes

Conducts ongoing assessments of program quality: Yes

PHOTOS

The Night Diary

Cancellation Policy

You may cancel your reservation in full eight weeks prior to your scheduled performance. Cancellations must be submitted in writing to chriss@ctcharlotte.org. We’re happy to work with you to reschedule your group to another performance if space is available.