Education Initiative

	Student Matinees. Court’s Student Matinee program brings classic theatre to Chicago-area high school students through a series of deeply discounted weekday performances of productions. Each performance is enhanced by pre-performance study guides prepared by Court Theatre staff, and post-show discussions with members of the cast and artistic staff. Seeing performances of the classics gives life to texts and prompts students to consider stories in a new light.
	Artists-in-the-Schools. Each year, Court Theatre’s Artists-in-the-Schools (AIS) initiative partners with South side high schools to enhance existing theatre arts programs or to create new programs. AIS endeavors not only to cultivate a life-long appreciation for classic theatre, but also to nurture fundamental skills such as literacy and teamwork and to build self esteem.
	South Side Youth Fest. Approximately 250 students in the Artists-in-the-Schools program participate in the annual South Side Youth Performance Fest, in which they work with Court Teaching Artists in-class and after school to create their own productions of classic plays.
	Learning Guides for the Classroom. Court Theatre study guides focus on the historical context, themes, and artistic process that transforms a literary text into a piece of theatre. Study guides typically include biographies and background, a list of characters, a glossary of terms, a detailed synopsis, and discussion questions.

Education Initiative support provided by

William D. and Diane S. Anderson

Betty Lou Smith Fund

Photos by Joe Mazza.