This season, our amazing Education Team organized 12 Student Matinees over 3 weeks for students visiting The Wells for this monumental production.
We hosted 72 groups visiting from all of Hampton Roads 7 cities, with some traveling as far as Chesterfield, Eastern Shore, and NC. Over 6200 students, teachers, and parents attended these performances traveling in 148 buses. One morning we even had 19 buses for one performance. With our excellent staff and organized procedures, each morning seating close to 600 students took approximately 20 minutes and post-show loading of all buses under 30 minutes!
Actor Ryan Clemens greeting students for the Student Matinee. Photo by Emel Ertugrul
"We all really enjoyed the performance, as always!! Thank you!"
- Tarah Fontenault, Churchland Elementary (117 attended, 3 buses)
"You all always do such a great job getting our kids in and out safe. I don't know ya'll you do it!"
- Tim Schneider, Great Bridge Middle (457 attended, 10 buses)
"Emel and her staff were extremely helpful and amazingly supportive from beginning to end as I coordinated our field trip for Brandon Middle. I was pleasantly surprised that they helped with our seating and the buses for drop-off and pick-up."
- Dr. Michele Dabney (139 attended, 4 buses)
"Thank you, Emel. We really enjoyed the play."
-Kimberly Adams, Independence Middle (470, 15 buses) 15 year Christmas Carol Student Matinee attendee
Our very own Ryan Clemens and other Christmas Carol actors answered the questions of hundreds of patrons and students throughout fifteen talkbacks this December. The children were delighted to learn about the technical elements of the show, the work of the cast and crew, and how Tiny Tim and the other young actors came to be a part of this exceptional production.
Emel: When Future is too scary to face head on, you peek through the door with someone that knows what's to come. (Photo courtesy Emel Ertugrul)