School Matinee Program

About the Program

Every year, thousands of K-12 students come from throughout the Central Coast to attend live performances at the Performing Arts Center. The performances are open to all San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County K-12 students and teachers at no admission cost with subsidized transportation. The Outreach Student Matinee Program is free for all schools and students and is made possible by the generous support of the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust, along with Foundation for the Performing Arts Center partners listed below.

Registration for each season typically begins in August. To learn more or register your school, please navigate through the tabs for detailed information. We hope to see your school at the PAC!

12,000 students attend annually

100% free for local schools

80 local schools participating

Reservations & Policies

* Not applicable for the virtual season *

Steps to Request Seats

1. Please review the PAC School Matinee reservation policies and procedures listed below. 

2. Coordinate with the teachers and principal at your school to determine which performance(s) your school would like to attend – be sure to indicate first AND second choices in case your first choice performance is already full. Then designate one person to be the main administrative contact for all PAC reservation correspondence (this person will fill out and submit the reservation form). This step is of the utmost importance as only one form is accepted per school.

3. Fill out and submit the Reservation Request Form. Be sure to include teachers and chaperones in the total number of requested seats.

4. Receive an email notification of your confirmed seat reservation.

Please note that submitting a reservation request does not guarantee seats to a performance. Please call Andrea Castillo at 805-756-7223 with any questions or for further information.
 

Early Reservation Requests (Public Schools)

Reservations are first open to SLO County & Santa Barbara County public schools with a maximum request of 200 seats total per school. All requests will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis with additional consideration given to Title I schools. Confirmations will then be sent out via email.
 

Standard Reservation Requests (Private & Home Schools)

Reservations are next open for all private & home schools. During the standard reservation period, a single public or private school group can request up to 200 seats total per school. To provide these live performance opportunities to as many students as possible, we ask that an individual class or home school group request no more than one performance per season during the standard reservation period. All requests for home school groups will be considered case-by case and processed on a first-come first-served basis and if space is available. Confirmations will then be sent out via email.
 

Open Reservation Requests (Public, Private & Home Schools)

If there are still seats available, Open Reservation Requests will be accepted beyond the 200-seat total limit per school and one-performance limit per class/home school group. All Open Reservation Requests will be processed on a first-come first-served basis and if space is available. Notifications will be emailed within two weeks of each request.
 

School Participation

To keep these performances “community-sponsored” (in compliance with the guidelines of the program funders), K-12 teachers at each of the participating schools are expected to:

1. Print and attach the “School Matinee Performance Parent Information Letter” (emailed to you) to the student permission slips sent home for parent/guardian approval of participating in a school field trip.

2. Use the performance-specific Study Guide you receive prior to the students attending the performance.

3. Complete an online survey after attending a School Matinee Performance at the PAC. Survey results are confidential and will be used to improve and inform future K-12 Performing Arts programming and planning.

4. Send a few samples of student work from one of the post-performance activities outlined in the Study Guide to pacoutreach@gmail.com or Performing Arts Center, PAC Outreach, 1 Grand Avenue, SLO, CA 93407-0441.
    

How Seating is Determined

Seating is pre-assigned by the Performing Arts Center staff, typically based on grade level (we try to seat younger students towards the front as much as possible while still keeping school groups all together). Once your entire group arrives, please do a final head count and be ready to share your total number present with one of the ushers standing outside on the PAC plaza. The usher will let you know which door to enter through and your group will be directed to your pre-assigned seats. Please note any special seating needs on the reservation request form (wheelchair accessibility, etc.); the PAC may not be able to accommodate special seating needs without adequate advanced notice. Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the House Manager.
 

Cancellations / No-Shows / Requesting More Seats than Needed

If your school group makes a reservation and ends up not being able to attend, please contact the Outreach Services Specialist at least one month in advance to formally cancel the reservation. If a school group cancels less than a month prior to the show date, or doesn’t show up on performance day, that school group will be given a lesser priority for reserving seats the following year. Similarly, if on performance day a school group shows up with significantly less people than they reserved seats for, that school group will be given a lesser priority for reserving seats the following year.
 

Reservation Waitlists

If your school group requests seats to a show that is already full, you will have the option to request seats to a different show that is not currently full, or request to be put on the waitlist for that show in case of cancellations.
 

Sharing Performance Etiquette with Students

As a part of utilizing the Study Guide, teachers are encouraged to share proper performance etiquette with their students prior to attending a School Matinee Performance. Every confirmation packet will have an etiquette section that outlines clear expectations for good audience behavior and observation techniques that will help students get the most out of a quality live performance. Thank you for helping ensure a positive theatre experience for everyone!

PLEASE NOTE: Failure to adhere to these policies may jeopardize your school group's eligibility for attendance at future PAC Outreach School Matinee Performances.

Questions? Contact PAC Outreach at pacoutreach@gmail.com.

Transportation

Thanks to generous donors, transportation support is available for schools across San Luis Obispo County and Northern Santa Barbara County in order to make PAC Outreach School Matinee performances accessible for everyone.

The transportation program is first-come, first-served, and funding is capped at $1,000 per school. Each school is responsible for scheduling their transportation to the PAC. The PAC will pay final invoices of documented expenses. School districts are encouraged to invoice the PAC directly.

Funding is limited to schools in San Luis Obispo County and Northern Santa Barbara County only. Funds may be applied to rented vehicles, hired driver fees and parking permits. Funding does not cover gas or milage. Only one form per school, per matinee may be submitted. Please fax or email Transportation Funding Form and receipts to 805-756-6088 or pacoutreach@gmail.com. For questions, contact Outreach Services at 805-756-7223.

Arriving

Teachers and parents are responsible for student transportation to and from performances. Please note that the drop off circle in front of the PAC is for buses only. If you are arriving by car, do your best to carpool as spaces are limited and parking passes are required. We ask that you arrive 30 to 45 mins prior to the show time and park in the K1 parking lot, PAC parking structure, or parking structure 131. Parking permits are required throughout campus. A two hour parking pass can be purchased at the automated parking dispensers in the K1 lot only. Parking structure 131, and the PAC parking structure, will require a $10 full day pass in all spaces.