Based on Shakespeare's tragic story and set to Prokofiev's lush score, this full-length ballet features a company of 30 dancers, stunning sets and costumes, and expressive choreography by Douglas Martin, Artistic Director of American Repertory Ballet. "ARB's production of Romeo and Juliet was an outstanding example of dance being perfectly adapted to dramatic interpretation, with the dancers in full command of their art." —Broadway World

Curriculum connections: dance, physical education, music, language arts, visual arts, theater arts

A perennial favorite returns to the State Theatre. Mermaid Theatre's magical production presents three of Eric Carle's storybook tales, adapted for the stage with brilliant black-light puppetry, fanciful music, and the author's original text. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a counting story that depicts a caterpillar's progress through a variety of foods and his eventual metamorphosis into a butterfly. In Little Could, the title character changes into the shapes of things he sees before rejoining his cloud family to make a rainstorm. The Mixed-Up Chameleon teaches children the importance of being true to oneself.

Curriculum connections: language arts, science, math, theater arts

In this classic holiday ballet, the gift of a beautiful nutcracker brings young Clara astonishing dreams of battling mice, enchanted forests, and the exotic Land of Sweets. Set to Tchaikovsky’s glittering score, The Nutcracker boasts spectacular costumes and scenic effects, inventive choreography, and a cast of more than one hundred performers! The American Repertory Ballet’s full-length production is a perfect introduction to the beauty and narrative power of dance.  Photo by George Jones.

Curriculum connections: dance, physical education, music, theater arts, language arts, visual arts

This electrifying production of Carmen, captured live at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, is shown full-length in crystal-clear HD on the theater's enormous 46-foot screen. The performance is larger than life in every way, as it presents the story of an ill-fated loved triangle in which a misfit soldier and a charismatic bullfighter both long to possess the free-spirited gypsy, Carmen. Destiny brings all three together in Seville, Spain, and sets them on a course leading to heartbreak and murder. The score includes a string of familiar melodies including Carmen's seductive "Habanera" and the bravura "Toreador Song." Sung in the original French (with English subtitles), Carmen is an ideal introduction to the world of opera.

Curriculum connections: music, world languages, theater arts, dance

Michael Rosen's award-winning children's book (inspired by the popular kids' song) is brought vividly and noisily to the stage in this fun-filled romp from Great Britain. Join our intrepid adventurers on their quest to find a bear; follow along with them as they wade through the tall swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river, the oozy squelchy mud, and other obstacles. This highly interactive musical journey presents concepts such as rhyme, repetition, alliteration, and problem solving, and—just as importantly—introduces children to the joys of live theater.

Curriculum connections: theater arts, language arts, music, physical education

The story of Irish immigrants in America is one of brilliant transformation from desperate refugees to cultural forces to be reckoned with. Virtuoso Celtic fiddler Eileen Ivers—founding member of Cherish the Ladies, original musical star of Riverdance, and lifelong traveler of Ireland's musical paths—brings to life the stories and sounds of Irish immigration in Beyond the Bog Road. The concert showcases how Irish music and dance have integrated with various roots music of North America, Africa, and Europe to create one of the richest cross-fertilizations of folk music styles in the world. Hailed by The New York Times as "the Jimi Hendrix of the violin," Eileen Ivers is a Grammy Award winner who has been recorded on more than 80 albums, performing with the likes of the London Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, The Chieftains, and Sting.

Curriculum connections: music, social studies

With words, humor, and extreme hip-hop energy, the Mayhem Poets raise poetry to a playful and powerful new level. Witty and wise, they boldly engage the audience with the issues that rock our world—from Dr. Seuss to school to fast food. Their clever, eclectic riffs are as much Mad Magazine and The Simpsons as Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. Home-grown in New Jersey but rapidly gaining international recognition, these beat-boxing bards keep the rapid-fire rhythms flying in a clever concert of words that will inspire students with the power of poetic/theatrical expression.

Curriculum connections: language arts, social studies, theater arts

What happens when fairies meddle with love? The three interlocking plots of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream reveal the heartbreak, confusion, and foolishness that love brings to mortals and immortals alike. In BAMA Theatre Company's acclaimed production, eight actors magically morph into 22 characters—everything from a duke to a mischievous sprite—all out of one trunk. The company's creative concept brings the complicated plot into sharp focus and makes Shakespeare's poetry crystal clear to modern audiences.

Curriculum connections: language arts, theater arts

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia transforms three of Leo Lionni's Caldecott Honor books into an enchanting theatrical experience for young children. Swimmy is the story of a tiny fish who uses ingenuity to fend off danger. In Frederick, a poetic mouse makes everyday life an artful experience. Inch by Inch features a lovable inchworm with a knack for measuring absolutely everything. The production incorporates an assortment of innovative puppetry styles, imaginative lighting techniques, and an original musical score.

Curriculum connections: language arts, math, visual arts, interpersonal skills, theater arts

Travel all the way back into a prehistoric world to visit a remarkable dinosaur zoo! The intrepid team of zookeepers and rangers takes the audience on an interactive journey to introduce an incredible cast of dinosaurs that inhabited Australia (and beyond) millions of years ago. Erth's menagerie of ancient beasts—from the adorable baby dryosaurs to the awe-inspiring giant allosaur and the hungry Tyrannosaur—is brought to life through various forms of human-powered puppetry. The large-scale, incredibly lifelike puppets were designed in collaboration with paleontologists using real fossil evidence.

Curriculum connections: science, theater arts