Student Matinees
UtahPresents provides private matinees for K-12 schools. Our multi-disciplinary programs bring diverse artistic and cultural experiences to our guests, exploring and enriching the human experience through the lens of creativity and the arts. As stewards of the iconic Kingsbury Hall, we provide a valuable gathering space that encourages curiosity, enhances cultural vibrancy, and creates connections beyond the stage.
We strive to curate programming relevant to the educational purposes of school districts, including shows that may occasionally explore political themes or potentially challenging content. Because art is subjective and contextual, we encourage all our patrons, including school districts, schools, teachers, and parents, to be proactive in researching our shows to make sure they meet the educational, social, and unique needs of your students. We welcome all feedback about your experience with us at UtahPresents.
The 25-26 season includes five different matinees, ranging from acclaimed dance companies Ballet Hispánico and Ailey II to the the musical stylings of Ukrainian duo Kurbasy to our annual collaboration with Youth Theatre at the U. For more information, please review the shows below. Study guides are provided for all shows.
Registration will open on July 7.
Do you work with a Title-1 School or is your school district in need of financial assistance for the field trip or transportation? Click here to view the guidelines for financial assistance, then contact the Community Engagement Manager Melissa Salguero at Melissa.Salguero@utah.edu.
Wednesday, October 15 • 11:00am • Kingsbury Hall
Ballet Hispánico was founded on the principle that everyone deserves dance, quality dance training and innovative performances. Today, as the largest Latino cultural organization in the United States and one of America’s Cultural Treasures, Ballet Hispánico’s mission brings together communities to celebrate the ever growing and multifaceted Hispanic diasporas. interested classes can stay after the matinee for lunch and educational activities on campus, more info to come.
Recommended for grades K - 12
Cost: FREE
Run time: Approx 60 minutes
Registration opens July 7
Wednesday, November 5 • 11:00am • Kingsbury Hall
Embodying the notion that music is an affirmation in a time of violence and resistance, Kurbasy channels contemporary connections to an archaic past with its time bending Songs of the Ukrainian Forest. An avant-garde musical project, the duo’s folk-based multimedia performances vibrate in tight vocal harmonies, resonant lyrics, distinctive instrumentation, and visual imagery. Born out of the renowned Les Kurbas Theatre in Lviv, Ukraine, the group has performed across the world.
Recommended for grades 7 - 12
Cost: $4 per person
Run time: Approx 60 minutes
Registration opens July 7
Tuesday, January 20 • 11:00am • Kingsbury Hall
For over 50 years, Ailey II – The Next Generation of Dance – has merged the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1974, this universally-renowned company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community. Alvin Ailey was a groundbreaking African American choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater to celebrate the African American cultural experience and make dance accessible to all.
Recommended for grades K - 12
Cost: $4 per person
Run time: Approx 60 minutes
Registration opens July 7
Performed by Youth Theatre at the U
Thursday, March 19 • 11:00am • Kingsbury Hall
Friday, March 20 • 11:00am • Kingsbury Hall
An unforgettable musical adventure about friendship, growing up, and the magic we sometimes leave behind. Filled with heart, humor, and a touch of the otherworldly, Imaginary is a whimsical and deeply moving story for audiences of all ages. Featuring a vibrant cast of youth and university performers, this production celebrates the boundless creativity of childhood—and the friendships that shape us for a lifetime.
Recommended for grades K - 12
Cost: $4 per person
Run time: Approx 60 minutes
Registration opens July 7
Thursday, March 26 • 11:00am • Kingsbury Hall
Known internationally for presenting works of astounding inventiveness and physical beauty, MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists founded and directed by Moses Pendleton. Seamlessly blending illusion, acrobatics, magic, and whimsy, MOMIX sends audiences flying down the rabbit hole in Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, ALICE, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland.
Recommended for grades 5 - 12
Cost: $4 per person
Run time: Approx 60 minutes
Registration opens July 7
