Student Matinees | Cleveland Play House

Walter & Jean Kalberer Student Matinees

Attention Students and Educators!

Student matinees are back this season at CPH! Reserve your seats today for a unique opportunity to experience captivating performances as part of your school day curriculum.

Our student matinee program includes:

The opportunity to see a full-length professional show at highly discounted prices
Participate in a post-show discussion with the cast, crew, or other artists involved in the show

Through the generosity of Walter & Jean Kalberer, we are able to offer student matinees all season long. Don’t miss your chance to join the thousands of students that have experienced the thrill of live theatre. Book your tickets today!

For student matinee tickets, please call (216) 400-7097.

Pricing Details

Tickets for students, chaperones, and teachers are $15 per ticket. For school groups of 50 or more, chaperones receive complimentary tickets.

If you receive Title 1 school funding, Cleveland Play House will work to accommodate your group. Please contact Audience Services Associate Julie Gill, at (216) 400-7097 or jgill@clevelandplayhouse.com for more information.

Private Lives

November 11, 2026

All performances start at 10:30am,

Students will get a lively look at how sharp dialogue and comic timing reveal what characters say, what they mean, and what they refuse to admit.

Annie

December 9 & December 16, 2026

All performances start at 10:30am,

Set during the Great Depression and filled with songs students will recognize, the show offers a lively starting point for conversations about resilience, belonging, and what it means to care for one another.

The Da Vinci Code

February 10 & February 17, 2027

All performances start at 10:30am,

This fast-paced mystery that begins with a murder in the Louvre and leads to clues hidden in works of art. As the characters race to solve each riddle, students can explore how symbols, history, and competing interpretations shape the stories we believe.

Working: A Musical

April 14 & April 21 & April 28, 2027

All performances start at 10:30am,

Working brings the voices of everyday workers to life through folk, rock, and popular music. With stories shaped by Northeast Ohio, the production invites students to consider whose work keeps a city running and why every person’s story deserves to be heard.

Walter and his beloved wife Jean served Cleveland Play House for over 25 years with unwavering commitment. They were instrumental forces in guiding the vision and direction of Cleveland Play House and were jointly inducted into the Cleveland Play House Hall of Fame during the 2001-02 season.

Walter and Jean were known for their extraordinary philanthropy in service to Greater Cleveland and beyond. They were dynamic leaders on numerous nonprofit boards, leading giving drives and capital campaigns to generate funding for some of Cleveland’s most vibrant arts and culture organizations. They established the Walter & Jean Kalberer Foundation, which annually grants funding to artistic, cultural, and educational institutions across Cleveland.

The Kalberers’ spirit of giving extended far beyond financial contributions, as they shared their wisdom, time, “never-say-no” mantra, and unreserved support with those around them, fostering a culture of compassion within Cleveland Play House and beyond.

Their transformative gift to our Student Matinee program is an enduring testament to the Kalberers’ love for the arts, especially theatre. The words of Jean will forever reside within the halls of Cleveland Play House:

“Music and theatre comfort us during the difficult times… and they are critical to helping people, especially young people, figure out how they relate to the world around them.”