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DonateMake classic theater come alive for your students! We introduce over 15,000 students to theater each year – many for the first time. Your field trip to Great Lakes Theater is just a click away. All student matinee performance dates are subject to availability. Please contact Kelly Schaffer Florian at 216.453.4443 or via email with any questions.
All homeschool groups are eligible for the following adult ticket benefits:
• Each student may be accompanied by one parent or caregiver at the student matinee group rate of $15 per ticket.
• Additional adults (e.g., a second parent, grandparent or other immediate family member) are welcome to attend at the group sales rate of $20 per ticket
• Homeschool groups will be seated together in designated sections. To ensure your group is seated together, all members must arrive at the same time. Please note that we are unable to hold seats for individuals arriving separately or to accommodate friend groups who wish to sit together after entering at different times.
For homeschool groups of 10+ total attendees, the following additional benefit applies:
• One complimentary ticket will be provided to the designated organizer. The organizer must be the adult responsible for coordinating the reservation and serving as the primary point of contact.
Example: A homeschool organizer registers a group with nine (9) students and their accompanying four (4) parents (each parent qualifies for the $15 rate). One grandparent joins at the $20 rate. Since the total group size is 14, GLT will apply one complimentary ticket for the organizer.
All patrons must have a ticket. Only children age two and older will be admitted to Great Lakes Theater performances. All ticket sales are final. There are no refunds unless Great Lakes Theater cancels a performance. (Should a cancellation occur, notification and ticketing options will be sent via email as soon as possible before the affected performance.) Plays, players, directors, and dates are subject to change. We do not provide refunds for inclement weather.
Reservation Form is at the end of the page, below the show information. Please scroll to complete your reservation.
Please note: Order confirmations, invoices and all other student matinee correspondence will be sent via email.
Grades: This production is appropriate for middle and high school students.
Runtime: TBD
All matinees begin at 10am, at the Hanna Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
About the Show
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Sara Bruner
"Something wicked this way comes..." This spellbinding story weaves a tale of power’s intoxicating promise and the heavy toll it demands. This timeless tragedy captivates with unforgettable characters, Shakespeare’s incomparable language and the relentless exploration of power’s corrupting force. The boundaries between heroism and villainy blur as the question begs an answer: will ambition lead to greatness or doom? Don’t miss this enthralling journey into the heart of human desire, danger and destiny.
Grades: This production is appropriate for middle and high school students.
Runtime: TBD
All matinees begin at 10am, at the Hanna Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
About the Show
By Kate Hamill
Directed by Maggie Kettering
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective duo is catapulted into a wild, modern-day adventure. Follow Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson, quirky, codependent roommates turned unconventional crime-fighting team, as they navigate mysteries, mayhem and a little pandemic fog. This fast-paced, highly theatrical escapade reimagines the world’s greatest sleuthing partnership with bold new energy. Who’s solving who? Find out as they face a cunning adversary who just might hold all the cards. Mystery has never been so clever or so much fun!
Reservation Form is at the end of the page, below the show information. Please scroll to complete your reservation.
Please note: Order confirmations, invoices and all other student matinee correspondence will be sent via email.
Grades: This production is appropriate for middle and high school students.
Runtime: TBD
All matinees begin at 10am, at the Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square
About the Show
By William Shakespeare
In a modern verse translation by Tracy Young
In partnership with Play On Shakespeare
The unfounded suspicions of the jealous King Leontes destroy his family, as he imprisons Queen Hermione and casts away their newborn daughter. Years later, the lost princess, raised in Bohemia, falls in love with a prince and returns to the kingdom she has never known, bringing hope, renewal and a chance to restore what was lost. In a story of heartbreak and healing, betrayal gives way to forgiveness, and love miraculously rebuilds what had been broken.
Grades: This production is appropriate for high school students.
Runtime: TBD
All matinees begin at 10am, at the Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square
About the Show
Book by Hugh Wheeler
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Based on an adaptation by Christopher Bond
Originally Directed on Broadway by Harold Prince
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Originally Produced on Broadway by Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, Martin Richards in Association with Dean and Judy Manos
Set in gritty 19th-century London, this razor-sharp musical combines suspense, wicked humor and extraordinary music. A vengeful barber returns to confront the corrupt judge who destroyed his family, partnering with the resourceful Mrs. Lovett to hatch a grisly scheme that turns her failing pie shop into a booming success. This Tony Award-winning musical thriller serves up a chilling tale of revenge, obsession and darkly comic mayhem.
"Sweeney Todd" is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Grades: This performance is appropriate for all grade levels.
Runtime: 1 hour and 45 minutes (including intermission)
All matinees begin at 11am, at the Mimi Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
About the Show
By Charles Dickens
Adapted and Originally Directed by Gerald Freedman
Experience the magic, wonder and joy of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol! Join Mother Cleaveland as she reads this classic to her family and ignites her youngest child’s vivid imagination, bringing the iconic tale to life before his eyes. With stunning visuals and heartfelt storytelling, this beloved tale of transformation captures the true spirit of the season. A must-see for all ages, this unforgettable production has enchanted generations and will create memories that last a lifetime.
Grades: This production is appropriate for middle and high school students
Runtime: TBD
All matinees begin at 10am, at the Hanna Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
About the Show
By William Shakespeare
In a modern verse translation by Christina Anderson
In partnership with Play On Shakespeare
Mistaken identity leads to escalating chaos and nonstop laughs in Shakespeare’s fastest, funniest farce. Separated as children, two sets of identical twins unknowingly arrive in the city of Ephesus, triggering outrageous misunderstandings and a whirlwind of comic confusion. Slapstick humor and witty wordplay abound as everyone involved stumbles through one bewildering situation after another before the truth is finally revealed.
Great Lakes Theater
By arrangement with CAMERON MACKINTOSH
Presents a New Production of BOUBIL and SCHÖNBERG'S
Grades: This production is appropriate for middle and high school students.
Runtime: TBD
All matinees begin at 10am, at the Hanna Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
About the Show
A musical by ALAIN BOUBLIL and CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG
Based on a novel by VICTOR HUGO
Music by CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG
Lyrics by HERBERT KRETZMER
Original French Text by ALAIN BOUBLIL and JEAN-MARC NATEL
Additional material by JAMES FENTON
Adapted and originally directed by TREVOR NUNN and JOHN CAIRD
Orchestrations by STEPHEN METCALFE
CHRISTOPHER JAHNKE and STEPHEN BROOKER
Original Orchestrations by JOHN CAMERON
Presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International and CAMERON MACKINTOSH LTD
The internationally acclaimed musical masterpiece that has won eight Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and moved audiences around the world. Set in 19th-century France, the epic story follows Jean Valjean, a former prisoner seeking redemption, while relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert as lives intertwine amid revolution, sacrifice and love. Featuring unforgettable songs such as “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own” and “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, this remarkable musical blends sweeping romance, heartbreaking drama and unforgettable music into a theatrical experience that remains as powerful and relevant today as ever.
"Les Misérables" is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Grades: This production is appropriate for all students.
Runtime: TBD
All matinees begin at 10am, at the Hanna Ohio Theatre, Playhouse Square
About the Show
By Oscar WIlde
A brilliant comedy of manners celebrated for its impeccable wit and exceptional one-liners. When two charming bachelors invent double lives to escape social obligations, their harmless lies spiral into a web of mistaken identities, romantic complications and one very inconvenient handbag. This timeless satire skewers Victorian society and the absurdities of love, marriage and social convention, delivering laugh-out-loud moments that remain as fresh and entertaining today as when it premiered.
No tickets will be mailed out; your group will have pre-assigned seats. Please note the payment due date listed on your paperwork. You may decrease your number of tickets up until the payment due date. No cancellations will be accepted or refunds given after that date. You are always welcome to increase your totals (based on availability) at any time. A link to a Teacher Preparation Guide will be emailed prior to your performance date. Please contact us with the number of buses that you will bring or include it on your paperwork.
GLT Teacher Workshop Series!
Bring Shakespeare to life in your classroom! Join the Great Lakes Theater Teacher Workshop Series for dynamic, hands-on training that builds confidence, inspires students and meets curriculum goals. Explore fresh, performance-based teaching strategies!
Backstage Bash: The Witches' Ball
Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Join us for a spellbound soirée of mystery and delight! Arrive in your most bewitching attire and take in a dazzling performance by Great Lakes Theater artists, then venture backstage for live music, spirited dancing an
Bring a Group and Save!
At Great Lakes Theater, we understand the importance of creating the perfect group outing and we are here to make it fun, easy and affordable!
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