Curtains Up For Kids
Nearly 10,000 students visit the Basie Center every year as part of its Curtains Up for Kids school show 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 Center inspires students to dream forward through culture and artistic expression.
To register for a SCHOOL SHOW performance please CLICK HERE
WHAT TO EXPECT:
- A live performance at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in one of our venues: The Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre or The Vogel.
- Teacher study guides with pre and post-show activities are provided before the performance to maximize learning in the classroom and gain a deeper appreciation for the school show itself.
- Limited pre and post show workshops are available upon request.
TICKET PRICING:
- $12 each – Individual Sales
- $10 each – Education Groups of 10 or more students
- One complimentary chaperone ticket for each 10 student tickets purchased.
Financial assistance is available. Please fill out our reservation form for more information.
The Basie Center is very grateful to the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and the Mary Owen Borden Foundation for their support of Curtains Up for Kids.
For tickets or more information, email [email protected]
Applicants will receive an email confirmation within one week of your reservation. In the event you do not receive a confirmation, email [email protected].
UPCOMING 2025-26 SCHOOL SHOWS
Performances have grade recommendations listed beneath each title, however teachers and administrators are encouraged to research and ask questions before booking to ensure content is age appropriate. School Shows are designed to be approximately one hour long (*some exceptions apply.)
BLACK VIOLIN
IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE: Fri. Oct 3rd 2025 @ 11:00AM
Recommended for grades: 4-12
LOCATION: Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre
Step into BLACK VIOLIN’s Full Circle Tour, where GRAMMY-nominated duo Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus redefine the possibilities of music by merging classical depth with hip-hop’s pulse. This tour captures the essence of returning to where it all began—transformed and reimagined. Each powerful performance invites audiences to reflect on their own journeys, discovering that even as we evolve, we’re often drawn back to our roots with renewed purpose.
From high school orchestra classmates to groundbreaking artists, BLACK VIOLIN’s path reflects resilience, creativity, and the courage to challenge expectations. With their BLACK VIOLIN Foundation reaching over 100,000 students each year, they’re building a legacy that transcends the stage, inspiring a new generation to dream boldly. Join them for an unforgettable night that celebrates growth, music, and the beauty of coming full circle.
• Music
• Hip Hop / R&B
• History + Roots
AILEY II
IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE: Tues. Oct 14th 2025 @ 10:30AM
Recommended for grades: 4-12
LOCATION: Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre
For over 50 years, AILEY II – The Next Generation of Dance – has merged the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers. Founded by Alvin Ailey in 1974, this universally renowned company embodies his pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programs for all people. Under the leadership of Sylvia Waters, who served as artistic director for 38 seasons, AILEY II flourished into one of the most popular modern dance companies, combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programs. Today, with Artistic Director Francesca Harper at the helm, she brings fresh perspectives to Mr. Ailey’s legacy, while nurturing new creative voices and propelling the company forward.
• Dance
• Rhythm
• Creativity
THE NUTCRACKER
~ Back by popular demand! ~
Presented by The Company of Dance Arts
IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE: Fri. Dec. 12th 2025 @ 10:30AM*
Recommended for grades: 2-12
LOCATION: Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre
Experience Tchaikovsky’s THE NUTCRACKER as brought to life by the Company of Dance Arts, New Jersey’s premiere pre-professional ballet company. Join Clara as she journeys through the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy in this magical performance.
*Please note, this performance is 90 minutes long.
• Dance
• Storytelling
• Music
• Cultural Traditions + Celebration
THE MAYHEM POETS
IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE: Jan. 28th 2026 @ 10:30AM
Recommended for grades: 4-12
LOCATION: Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre
“Let’s go see a poetry show.” That is a sentence rarely proclaimed and usually responded to with cringes and excuses. The Mayhem Poets are on a mission to change that. Having been dubbed “an amazing ride” by the New York Times, this mind boggling performance has been described as “The Simpsons meets Malcolm X at a Notorious B.I.G. concert”. 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.
• Poetry
• English Language Arts
• Social + Emotional Development
• Social Studies
DINO-LIGHT
Presented by Lightwire Theater
IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE: Mon. Mar. 16th 2026 @ 10:30AM**
Recommended for grades: K-4
LOCATION: Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre
This glow-in-the-dark adventure is visually stunning and has been praised for its cutting edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance by audiences all over the world. In this story, a famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love.
**Please note, this performance is not sensory friendly and contains loud music in a dark setting.
• Storytelling through Puppetry
• Music
• Hero’s Journey
• Belonging
Dr. Seuss’
THE CAT IN THE HAT
Live On Stage!
IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE: Mon. Mar. 23rd 2026 @ 10:30AM
Recommended for grades: K-4
LOCATION: Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre
Step into the world of THE CAT IN THE HAT and experience Dr. Seuss’s timeless classic comes to life on stage! With its zany characters, imaginative storytelling, and playful humour, The Cat in the Hat is more than just a children’s book – it’s a cultural phenomenon. Adapted for the stage in 2009 by the National Theatre of Great Britain, this live show stays true to the original story. Join Sally, her brother, and their overprotective pet Fish as they meet the mischief-making Cat in his iconic red-striped hat on a rainy afternoon. What follows is an afternoon of fun, chaos, and valuable lessons about creativity and imagination.
• Children’s Literature
• Creativity
• Storytelling
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’
The Fats Waller Musical Show
Presented by Phoenix Productions
IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE: Fri. Mar. 27th 2026 @ 10:30AM*
Recommended for grades: 6-12
LOCATION: The Vogel
Assembled under the expert eye of director / lyricist, Richard Maltby, Jr., Ain’t Misbehavin’ is one of the most popular, well-crafted revues of all time and winner of the 1978 Tony Award for Best Musical. The inimitable Thomas “Fats” Waller rose to international fame during the Golden Age of the Cotton Club and that jumpin’ new beat, swing music. Although not quite a biography, Ain’t Misbehavin’ evokes the delightful humor and infectious energy of this American original as a versatile cast struts, strums and sings the songs that he made famous, in a career that ranged from uptown clubs to downtown Tin Pan Alley to Hollywood and concert stages around the world. The intoxicating music of Fats Waller will delight and energize audiences as well as provide great insight into a vibrant time in American history and music.
*Please note, this performance is approximately 90 minutes long.
• Music
• Dance
• Harlem Renaissance
• American Jazz
• Tin Pan Alley
THE GREAT GATSBY
Presented by Literature to Life
By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Directed and Adapted by Kelvin Grullon
IN-PERSON PERFORMANCE: Tues. May 12th @ 10:30AM*
Recommended for grades: 8-12
LOCATION: The Vogel
Literature to Life adapts F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic work as their newest title in their Signature Performance series. The Great Gatsby takes place on Long Island and New York City in the early twentieth century, at the height of the Jazz Age and the Prohibition Era. Considered to be one of the great American novels, The Great Gatsby is about the privilege and pitfalls each character encounters as they each reach for their own “green light.”
*Please note, this performance is approximately 90 minutes long.
• Storytelling
• Literature
• Social Class
• Environmentalism
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.
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
Anthony Greco
Arts Education and Outreach Manager
732-224-8778 x 151
[email protected]