The school year is in full swing, and that means school buses filled with eager students will be lining Euclid Avenue. These students and their educators are visiting Playhouse Square to create memorable arts experiences at our in-person school matinee performances. Educators also have the opportunity to choose from virtual performances for their classrooms throughout the year, as well. The 2026-27 season features 15 different productions for young audiences, including The Ugly Duckling, Clifford the Big Red Dog the Musical, Ocean Blue, Sankofa: An Epic Adventure and A Thousand Cranes.
Ahead of this year’s performances, we chatted with the Playhouse Square field trip team Morgan Chilton (Education Engagement Supervisor), Sarah Rounds (School Performances Supervisor), and Lynsey Bachman and Meganne Evans (School Performances Coordinators) to learn more about the importance of these opportunities for students and what educators can anticipate with these experiences.
PSQ: What can educators expect from a field trip to Playhouse Square?
Sarah: Educators can expect a memorable field trip that goes beyond simply seeing a great performance. Students have the opportunity to experience productions from around the world in our beautiful theaters, and for many, it can be their very first time seeing live theater. A field trip can introduce students to everything from theater etiquette and the different parts of a theater to the incredible art, architecture and details that make these spaces so special. It’s always heartwarming to see students turn the corner, see the theater lobby for the first time and take it all in. There’s something really special about getting to be part of that experience.
PSQ: Are there resources that Playhouse Square provides educators prior to the performances?
Morgan: Yes! All our school performances come with both pre- and post-show lessons in an organized Teacher Resource Guide. Working alongside experienced educators, we develop meaningful classroom activities, vocabulary words, discussion prompts and worksheets that make it easy to connect each performance curriculum and classroom goals.
Many school performances also include Classroom Connections Workshops, which are short videos hosted by Playhouse Square teaching artists who lead your students through fact-filled, fun segments that help them explore the show's content in greater depth. These workshops are a perfect way to introduce the show before a field trip or continue the discussion about its themes after returning to school.
PSQ: For schools that can’t make the trip, what do streaming performances provide instead?
Lynsey: Our streaming performances provide schools that are unable to travel to Playhouse Square with the opportunity to experience theater right from their classroom. Each streaming order includes access to the performance and extra educational materials for a three-week viewing window. During the three weeks, schools have unlimited access to all the content as many times as they wish, allowing educators the flexibility to watch, revisit and incorporate the materials as often as needed to best fit their classroom schedule.
Why do you think educators should consider bringing their students to Playhouse Square for a show or experiencing a virtual performance?
Meganne: The impact goes far beyond just having a good time at a show. Our team takes great pride in creating “core memories” for students. I was fortunate enough to have access to arts experiences, field trips and enrichment opportunities throughout my childhood in Youngstown, Ohio. Those experiences expanded my worldview, fostered my love of storytelling, and showed me that learning can happen anywhere, not just in a classroom.
Before joining Playhouse Square, I worked as a teaching artist in the Youngstown area, often with underserved student populations. That experience continues to inform my work today, especially as I collaborate closely with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. I've seen firsthand how transformative arts experiences can be for students and how important it is to remove barriers to access.
Field trips, and the preparation leading up to them, create positive memories and connections that can strengthen students' sense of belonging and engagement. One of the educators who participated in our virtual performances with her classroom told us that she had perfect attendance for the three days as they experienced the theater in their own classroom.
Many of our shows are based on books, historical events or important cultural stories, making them natural tools for supporting literacy, discussion and critical thinking.
When you consider the educational value, accessibility, affordability and student engagement benefits, not to mention our gorgeous, iconic and historic venue, my question back is: Why wouldn't educators want to bring their students to Playhouse Square?
PSQ: What do you hope students and educators will take away from their visit?
Sarah: I hope students and educators leave realizing just how much live theater has to offer. We’re fortunate to have so many wonderful arts experiences right here in Cleveland, and I love that our field trips give students the chance to be a part of that. Theater isn’t just entertaining; it can encourage students to see things from another person’s perspective, build empathy and confidence and learn in a completely different way. I hope they leave knowing that theater is a place where everyone can learn, connect and feel inspired.
PSQ: What is your favorite part of school visits to PSQ?
Lynsey: Seeing students experience live theater, sometimes for the very first time! There’s something really special about watching their excitement as they arrive at the theater, take in the beautiful spaces around them, and become completely engaged in the performance. Whether it's the laughter, the moments of surprise, or the conversations that continue after the show, I love seeing young people connect with a story in a meaningful way. Knowing that we are helping create memorable arts experiences, and perhaps even spark a lifelong appreciation for theater, is the most rewarding part of what I do.
PSQ: What are some of your favorite things you’ve heard from students and educators after attending a field trip at PSQ?
Meganne: One of my favorite stories was from a teacher who told us that one of her students went into Sankofa: An Epic Adventure thinking it would be “corny.” During the show, she saw him on the edge of his seat, saying that he wanted to be onstage someday too. We’ve heard many stories of nonverbal students expressing excitement during and after the performance or otherwise engaging with the show. These stories are so encouraging for me, affirming that seeing oneself represented onstage and having an accessible theater experience is revolutionary for young learners.
Sarah: Oh, I have so many memorable moments from field trips! My favorite would have to be when students get off the bus, and they think they have been transported to another part of the world! I’ve heard students thinking they were in New York City, Las Vegas and Chicago. It’s always a surprise for them to learn that they haven’t even left Ohio and only took a short bus ride to downtown Cleveland.
Lynsey: One of my favorite things to hear from students is that they didn't realize theater could be so much fun or that they can't wait to come back and see another show. I also love hearing students say that this was their first time visiting Playhouse Square or seeing a live performance. On field trip days, there's nothing better than watching students walk into our theaters for the first time and hearing the collective "oohs" and "ahhs" as they take in the beauty of the space. Some students are so amazed by the theaters that they ask if they're in New York City! From educators, it's always rewarding to hear how engaged their students were and how much they appreciate being able to provide an arts experience that many students might not otherwise have the opportunity to access. Those comments are a great reminder of the impact these field trips can have and why arts education is so important.
Morgan: I always love hearing students repeat the words to the songs they heard onstage and sing them as they head out the doors and back to their school bus. Educators often leave expressing gratitude to us for the opportunity, but honestly, they should be patting themselves on the back! They are the reason these experiences happen. Every teacher who takes the time to plan a field trip is an essential part of making these opportunities possible. An educator's belief that theater is a valuable learning experience opens doors for performances like this to continue. Without teachers championing these opportunities, many students would never have the chance to experience them and create lifelong memories.
PSQ: If someone is interested in bringing their class to PSQ, how can they contact you?
Meganne: The best ways to contact our team are through these ways:
More information about our processes can be found at playhousesquare.org/schoolperformances.