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At Meany Center, we believe providing meaningful art experiences to young people is a powerful way to encourage their intellectual curiosity, inspire a sense of connection and support their overall well being. Read about Meany Center's Artistic Joy to Collective Wellness initiative.
Register to Attend a Youth Matinee
Meany Center's free matinee program features some of the world’s most inspiring artists. We are excited to welcome you and your students to Meany Hall in the 2025–26 Season.
Dance company Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE engages with students from the stage at a recent youth matinee.
2025–26 Student Matinees
Each performance is followed by a brief Q&A, connecting students directly with the artists who create and perform the work on our stage.
FULL—WAITLIST ONLY
Mariachi Herencia de Mexico: Herederos
11:30 a.m. | Friday, October 17, 2025
Herederos is a lively concert experience that takes students on a musical journey through México, highlighting the rich cultural tradition of mariachi music. Mariachi Herencia de México is more than just a musical group — they are also ambassadors of their heritage and role models for their generation.
FULL—WAITLIST ONLY
Ephrat Asherie Dance: Shadow Cities
11:30 a.m. | Friday, January 30, 2026
Ephrat Asherie Dance is a company rooted in various street and club dance forms, including breaking, hip-hop, house, and waacking. Their newest work, Shadow Cities, features original music by the world renown pianist and composer, Arturo O’Farrill. The performers in Shadow Cities represent a multitude of backgrounds and life experiences and connect through their commitment to moving, making music and exchanging ideas from a place they recognize as "the in-between." What does it mean to feel like sometimes you don't fit in anywhere at all and in another moment you feel like you could belong everywhere? It is from this in-between space that Shadow Cities comes to life.
FULL—WAITLIST ONLY
Circa: Duck Pond
11:30 a.m. | Friday, April 3, 2026
Circa's "Duck Pond" features a narrative inspired by the stories of “Swan Lake” and “The Ugly Duckling”, incorporating both classic ballet and circus elements. Touching, funny and utterly entertaining, Duck Pond is a tale of identity and finding your true self. Students will also meet some of the Circa team, hear how a show comes together, and learn about the skills needed to be a circus performer.
Min Kwon: America/Beautiful
11:30 a.m. | Monday, May 11, 2026
Korean-born American pianist Min Kwon presents a selection of pieces from her America/Beautiful project that commissioned 70 American composers to create a variation on the patriotic hymn, “America the Beautiful.” In this educational performance, Min will share stories of her immigrant experience in the context of her musical journey, and will discuss the marriage of music and poetry in the songwriting process.
Teacher FAQs
When will I receive a placement confirmation?
Placement confirmations will be emailed the week of August 19, and on a rolling basis thereafter. Priority is given to schools with 50% or more students receiving free or reduced lunch.
What time do matinees begin?
All matinees begin at 11:30 a.m. and last approximately 55 minutes.
Check-in begins at 10:50 a.m. and groups must be fully present to be seated.
What is the age range for student matinees?
Our matinees are recommended for grades 3 and above. Contact us for any exceptions.
Where are student matinees located?
All student matinees take place at Meany Hall, in the Katharyn Alvord Gerlich Theater, on the University of Washington campus.
Should I bring chaperones?
Teachers are responsible for bringing an appropriate number of chaperones for the size of their group.
Is the venue accessible?
The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities.
Where can I request accessibility accommodations?
Please inform us of any accessibility needs for your group in advance of your visit so we are prepared to make every student and guest feel welcome in our hall.
To request accommodation for your youth matinee, please email us at mcengage@uw.edu.
What if I have financial barriers to bringing my students?
Our matinee program is free and prioritizes schools with 50% or more students receiving free or reduced lunch.
If funding for transportation is a barrier to your group attending, please reach out and we will do our best to connect you with resources to support your travel.
How can I prepare my students for the performance?
Meany Center engagement staff will provide supplementary curricular materials for each matinee, to help prepare students for the work they will experience on the stage and extend the learning into the classroom with pre and post visit activities.
What if I need to make a change to my registration?
If you have a change to your numbers, date preferences, accessibility requests, or anything else, please send us an email at mcengage@uw.edu.
Have more questions? Contact Meany Center’s Engagement Team by email at mcengage@uw.edu.
Know Before You Go
Directions & Parking
Explore how to get to Meany Hall, where to park and other ways to plan your visit.
Get Directions
Accessibility
Meany Center and the University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.
Read About Accessibility
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