Curtains Up For Kids
Over 10,000 students visit the Basie every year as part of its Curtains Up for Kids school performances program — and for many, it’s their only opportunity to experience live performing arts. From classical music with modern twists, to the diversity of Asian and African artistry or historical plays like I Have a Dream, the Basie inspires students to dream forward through culture and artistic expression.
The Basie knows that COVID-19 has made it difficult for schools to attending live performances. For the 2020-2021 school year all Curtains Up for Kids performances will be offered for you via virtual package.
Given the uncertainty of this school year, all reservations and requests can be changed up to three weeks prior to the start of access.
Interested in seeing a performance virtually or in person? Click here for a reservation form.
VIRTUAL PACKAGE
- Pre-recorded performances available through secure and password protected links *Recordings and steaming performances are only available for a limited time surrounding the performance dates as per the artist.
- Virtual Pre and Post show Workshops *Max of 30 students per workshop
- Teacher study guide and educational materials
ACCESS PRICING:
- $25 – Individual / Homeschool (performance only)
- $85 – School Classrooms of 10 or more students
- $150 – Schoolwide access
- Support a classroom or school and gift them access to a virtual performance
IN PERSON ATTENDANCE *Calpulli Mexican Dance Company performance only
- Live performance at Count Basie Center for the Arts
- Performance capacity will be determined by state and government guidelines. Reservations will be honored first come, first served.
- Optional Pre and Post show workshops
- Teacher study guide and materials
TICKET PRICING:
- $12 each – Individual Sales
- $10 each – Education Groups of 10 or more students
Financial assistance is available. Please fill out our reservation form for more information.
The Basie is very grateful to the Mary Owen Borden Foundation, Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and Horizon Foundation for New Jersey for their support of Curtains Up for Kids.
For tickets or more information, call 732-224-8778 x 124 or email education@thebasie.org
Applicants will receive an email confirmation within one week of your reservation. In the event you do not receive a confirmation, email education@thebasie.org.
Download the guide and FAQ. (PDF)
UPCOMING SCHOOL SHOWS
Nambi E. Kelley’s production of
“Jabari Dreams of Freedom”
PRE-RECORDED CONTENT AVAILABLE: February 1 – February 12, 2021
Recommended for grades: 3-6
10-year-old Jabari loves to paint. And through these paintings and in his dreams, he escapes the reality of the turbulent world around him and meets children and young people from the Civil Rights Era, including Ruby Bridges, Claudette Colvin, and others, who teach him how to be fearless. He also meets his hero, Barack Obama, as a 7-year-old boy. Will Jabari be able to instill in 7-year-old Barack the lessons he’s learned and therefore ensure that Barack will have the necessary tools to become president? Will Jabari learn to take these lessons back into his own life and heal his community? Using rap, freedom songs, hip hop dance, history, and humor, this play explores what it means to have courage in the world.
• Storytelling
• Theatre
• Social/Emotional Learning
• Global Literacy/Awareness
• Multi-Cultural
• History/SS: African American History including Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter
YogaPalooza
PRE-RECORDED CONTENT AVAILABLE: March 15 – March 26, 2021
Recommended for grades: PK-4
Yoga with a dancing bear? A giant roller coaster of kids? Welcome to Yogapalooza. Beloved family music artist and pioneering kids’ yoga educator, Bari Koral leads this highly interactive concert that blends imaginative songs, yoga poses, dance breaks and play. Ideal for open spaces but with modifications for traditional theater seating, this is the most fun you can have doing yoga guaranteed. No prior experience necessary! Pre-recorded content includes 5 mini kids & yoga mindfulness videos AND a 30-minute performance.
• Movement
• Multi-Cultural
• Physical Fitness
• Yoga
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Connections
Mayhem Poets
PRE-RECORDED CONTENT AVAILABLE: April 12 – April 23, 2021
Recommended for grades: 5-12
These theatre-trained, comedically-gifted, lyrical virtuosos seamlessly blend raw elements of hip hop, theatre, improv, and stand-up comedy to tell gut-wrenching truths that leave audiences forever changed. “Let’s go see a poetry show,” is a sentence rarely proclaimed and usually responded to with cringes and excuses. The Mayhem Poets are on a mission to change that. Pre-recorded content is a full-length performance the Mayhem Poets’ stage show!
• Storytelling
• Interpretation
• Movement
• Multi-Cultural
• Language
• Poetry
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company:
Puebla: The Story of Cinco de Mayo
LIVE IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE: May 5, 2021 @ 10:30AM
PRE-RECORDED CONTENT AVAILABLE: May 3 – May 14, 2021
Recommended for grades: 1-12
Explore the native and traditional cultures of the Mexican state of Puebla, where on May 5, 1862 a small Mexican army scored a seemingly impossible victory over the French. Through dance and live music, this new production celebrates the story of the historical significance of May 5th, shares the culture of Mexican immigrants from the state of Puebla—lesser known even among Mexicans in the U.S.—and presents the historical characters that influenced the Battle of Puebla.
• Music
• Dance
• Global Literacy/Awareness
• Multi-Cultural
• Roots and Heritage
• History
The Gaggle: An interactive theatre & education Podcast by Actors Playground Mini Misfits troupe
PRE-RECORDED CONTENT AVAILABLE ONLINE: Mini Misfits – The Gaggle Podcast
NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED!
Recommended for grades: 4-7
The Gaggle is a one-act play transformed into a podcast to provide an arts experience from the safety of your classroom. Following a group of middle schoolers, The Gaggle is about a clique’s rein over the school and how their bullying effects the students and themselves. This episodic podcast focuses on anti-bullying, social-emotional learning skills, and relevant relatable topics for you and your students to explore. A teacher study guide with prompts for lessons and activities to follow each episode is included. Workshop experiences (virtual or in-person) are available for an additional cost.
• Theatre
• Media Arts
• Anti-Bullying
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Connections
*Seeing live theater offers a range of academic, social, and emotional benefits to children. This includes:
- A greater ability to accept people with different opinions from their own and understand the diversity of ways others experience the world
- An increased hope for their own future, with the ability to imagine attending college and envisioning success
- A greater recognition that the arts can have a place in their lives in the present and future
- Improved engagement and behavior in school environments, which can impact success
- Increased success on standardized tests; higher writing scores; and a stronger command of narrative devices.
*Read more about the impact of viewing performing arts on students.
In-School Arts Classes
We believe participation in the arts:
- is essential to a well-rounded education and motivates lifelong learning
- fosters creativity, self-esteem, teamwork, and problem solving skills
- develops a strong work ethic and the ability to focus
- advances community connections and promotes inclusivity and diversity
- inspires empathy, compassion and tolerance
- enriches life and generates joy
During this time it’s more important than ever that we all learn creative solutions that inspire, educate, and entertain.
Through a variety of arts-based activities students will build their social-emotional learning and 21st Century learning skills. These are increasingly important given the current level of challenges both in and out of the classroom.
These engaging workshops and residencies are designed to build upon your current classroom strategies while layering curriculum with fun.
VIEW RESIDENCIES
Please click here for more information or to request a residency
Our Outreach program began as a collaboration with the Red Bank Borough School District in 2005. Today, we serve over 550 students annually with in-school, after-school, and summer performing arts classes in the Primary and Middle schools in Red Bank and the Joseph R. Bolger Middle School in Keansburg.
Our goal as educators is to instill a passion, appreciation and love of the arts. Besides enhancing one’s perspective and interpersonal skills such as communication, cooperation and creative problem solving, arts education is truly a magical elixir that raises one’s self–esteem, self-efficacy and confidence.
Need Help? Have Questions?
Contact the Education Department
Phone: 732-224-8778 x124
Email: jlee@thebasie.org
99 Monmouth Street,Red Bank, NJ 07701