Free student matinees

More than 6,000 precollege students from the local and surrounding schools are bused to McCain Auditorium each year to see a live arts educational performance. Teachers receive in-depth study guides to connect curriculum to these free student matinees.

If you or your class is interested in attending, please call 785-532-6425 for more information.

THE ADVENTURES OF TORTOISE AND HARE
Oct. 5, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and noon
Recommended for grades K and up.

The story begins with Aesop’s classic fable of The Tortoise and The Hare where the “slow and steady” Tortoise defeats the nimble but overconfident Hare. For those who ever wondered what happened after the race, Lightwire Theater continues the story which finds the two opponents 10 years down the road, now with children of their own and exploring modern day distractions. Smartphones and video games create a new landscape of lost connections to life experiences.

The Next Gen features Tortoise Junior and Lil’ Hare in a whole new kind of race, where their adventures lead them into unexpected territory. Old man Tortoise and Big Daddy Hare must come together despite their differences to find and save their children. What hurdles will they have to overcome to make it to the finish line? With dazzling visuals, poignant storytelling, and creative use of music from classical to pop, this production brings this classic tale into a brilliant new light.

TREASURE ISLAND REIMAGINED — JANE HAWKINS AND THE PIRATE'S GOLD
April 6, 2027 at 10 a.m.
Recommended for grades 3 and up.

The year is 1754. The place, the western shores of England. Jane Hawkins, 12 years old, works at a sleepy seaside inn. When a sinister vagabond arrives with a mysterious trunk, Jane’s humdrum life swerves toward adventure…

In this “live action graphic novel” adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, three performers provide all the character voices and sound effects – live and in front of your eyes – as more than 1,200 comic-book panels blast one by one on a huge screen to tell an on-the-edge-of-your-seat tale of danger and adventure for the kid in everyone.