Alliance Theatre for Youth and Families produces developmentally appropriate shows each season. These productions adhere to the same mission statement as the Alliance Theatre adult programming, which is to set the highest artistic standards and create the powerful experience of shared theatre for a diverse audience. A major goal of the Alliance Theatre for Youth is to diminish the age gaps between us, and no other regional theatre of the Alliance’s size consistently produces the same quality of work for all age groups. These plays are chosen with an eye to the needs of school curriculum and of young people and families in our community. They are also chosen to appeal to an age range that extends beyond the target age determination of each.
Research conducted through the Woodruff Arts Center’s Multi-Visit Program in partnership with the University of Arkansas’ National Endowment for the Arts Research Lab showed students who attend multiple arts field trips have higher levels of social-emotional skills, stronger school engagement, and higher standardized test scores.
Social and Academic Benefits of Attending Multiple Arts-Based Field Trips
Data Shows Arts Field Trips Improve Test Scores & Social-Emotional Skills
Alliance field trips are made possible through permanent school access funds contributed to the theatre's Imagine Endowment, including:
The Wilner Family Access Fund
The Mr. and Mrs. Quill Healey II and Family Fund
The William and Margarita Sleeper Fund
2024/25 Field Trips
Grades K–12
To reserve tickets for your school group, call 404.733.4690 or email allianceschoolday@woodruffcenter.org.
Please note that some shows are not be able to be booked right away, but schools are welcome to submit estimated group size and dates to allianceschoolday@woodruffcenter.org for more information.
Pearl Cleage's Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard
Hertz Stage
Award-winning author and playwright Pearl Cleage explores the election of Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first African American mayor, from the vantage point of an artist and an insider – Cleage served as Jackson's press secretary during his campaign and followed him into City Hall for two years as Director of Communications. In choosing to tell the story of this 1973 landmark election, Cleage creates a cast of characters drawn from her own participation in this transformative moment in our city's history. By looking back, Cleage invites us to reflect on the meaning of leadership and the kind of future we want to build.
Recommended Grades: Grades 7 – 12
Curriculum Standards: ELAGSE7RL2, ELAGSE7RL5, ELAGSE8RL3, ELAGSE8RL7, ELAGSE9-10RL2, ELAGSE9-10RL5, ELAGSE11-12RL1, ELAGSE11-12RL3, SS8H11, SS8H12, SSIPS2, SSIPS5, TA7.CN.1, TA7.CN.2, TA8.CN.1, TA8.CN.2, TAHSA.CN.2
Price: $12.50 per person
Date(s): AUG 8, 9 // 10:30am
The Mountaintop
Coca-Cola Stage
A play that “pulses with a new sense of urgency” (Entertainment Weekly), The Mountaintop is a gripping reimagining of events the night before the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Taking place on April 3, 1968, an exhausted Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis after delivering one of his most memorable speeches. When a mysterious young woman named Camae delivers room service, the two engage in humorous conversation that progresses into a soul-searching discussion about their mutual hopes and fears. When Camae reveals her secret, King is forced to confront his destiny and his legacy to his people. “Audacious [and] inventive” (Associated Press), the Olivier Award-winning play offers an intimate and empathetic portrait of one of history’s most consequential figures told by one of today’s most important writers, Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall (The Hot Wing King).
Recommended Grades: Grades 9 – 12
Content Advisory: contains occasional explicit language, including derogatory language regarding sexuality; depicts drinking alcohol and smoking a cigarette
Curriculum Standards: ELAGSE9-10RL2, ELAGSE9-10RL3, ELAGSE9-10RL4, ELAGSE9-10RL5, ELAGSE11-12RL2, ELAGSE11-12RL3, ELAGSE11-12RL4, ELAGSE11-12RL5, SSCG7, SSUSH21, SSUSH23, TAHSA.CN.2, TAHSFT.RE.1, TAHSFT.CN.1, TAHSFT.CN.2
Price: $12.50 per person
Date(s): SEP 10, 18, 19 // 10:30am
Roob & Noob
Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at Marietta
Meet Roob and Noob: two overly curious scientists who love nothing more than discovering something new. Join them on an interactive adventure, as they build machines from simple objects and explore the wonder and sensations of each of the four seasons. Inspired by Rube Goldberg's magical machines, this unique theatrical performance combines science and the arts, proving that sometimes the most profound discoveries are achieved by simply playing.
Recommended Grades: Grades K – 2
Curriculum Standards: ELAGSEKRL1, ELAGSE1RL9, ELAGSE2RL3, SKP2a, S2P2, CSS.IDC.K-2.4, CSS.CT.K-2.5, TARE.1, TARE.2, TACN.1, TACN.2
Price: $6.50 per person; $5.75 per person (Title I)
Date(s): OCT 23–25 & October 28 – November 1 // 10:45am
The Chinese Lady
Hertz Stage
Inspired by the true story of Afong Moy, The Chinese Lady is a darkly poetic, yet whimsical portrait of our collective past seen through the eyes of a young Chinese woman. Afong is only 14 years old when she’s brought to the United States in 1834 and displayed as “The Chinese Lady” – the first to step foot on U.S. soil. Decade after decade, she performs as a living exhibit, showing curious white visitors how she eats and what she wears as merchants sell tea and Chinoiserie in the lobby. As time wears on, the lines between her performance and her identity begin to blur. Described as "moving and often sharply funny" (The New York Times), The Chinese Lady examines the ongoing struggle for empathy and understanding across cultural divides.
Recommended Grades: Grades 7 – 12
Content Advisory: depicts drinking alcohol and smoking a cigarette
Curriculum Standards: ELAGSE7RL2, ELAGSE7RL6, ELAGSE8RL3, ELAGSE9-10RL3, ELAGSE9-10RL4, ELAGSE11-12RL3, ELAGSE11-12RL5, SS7G12, SSUSH7, SSSocC2, SSWH16, SSUSH12, SSUSH11, MLI.CU, TA7.CN.2, TA8.CN.2, TAHSA.RE.1, TAHSA.RE.2
Price: $12.50 per person
Date(s): OCT 3, 9, 10, 15-18 // 10:30am
Business Ideas
Hertz Stage
Winner of the 21st annual Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition, Business Ideas is a comedy about getting rich. In a too-cute café, a desperate mother and daughter brainstorm get-rich-quick schemes to pay for college (or maybe to make ends meet?), while their hapless server tries to network with a revolving cast of customers (hilariously played by one actor). Inspired by playwright Milo Cramer’s own experiences with his enterprising mom, Business Ideas is a cross-generational look at wealth – who has it and why? – and the value we place on it. Theatrical Outfit's Artistic Director Matt Torney directs.
Recommended Grades: Grades 9 – 12
Content Advisory: contains occasional explicit language
Curriculum Standards: ELAGSE9-10RL2, ELAGSE9-10RL3, ELAGSE9-10RL4, ELAGSE11-12RL2, ELAGSE11-12RL3, ELAGSE11-12RL5, ELAGSE11-12RL6, SSEF1, SSEF4, SSEPF1, SSEPF8, TAHSFT.CN.1, TAHSFT.CN.2
Price: $12.50 per person
Date(s): DEC 5 & 12 // 10:30am
A Christmas Carol
Fully booked. Please email an estimate of your numbers to be added to the waitlist.
Coca-Cola Stage
The Alliance Theatre’s beloved production A Christmas Carol returns to The Coca-Cola Stage with its stunning adaptation, featuring a magical set design and striking costumes. Described as “high art of the season…a nostalgic feast for the eyes,” by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, audiences will be transported to the streets of London for the timeless redemption story of Ebenezer Scrooge, told with beautiful live music and an all-star cast. Join the Alliance Theatre for one of Atlanta’s most treasured holiday traditions.
Recommended Grades: Grades 2 – 12
Curriculum Standards: ELAGSE2RL3, ELAGSE2RL5, ELAGSE2RL6, ELAGSE4RL3, ELAGSE4RL5, ELAGSE4RL7, ELAGSE6RL5, ELAGSE7RL9, ELAGSE8RL7, ELAGSE9-10RL5, ELAGSE11-12RL9, SS2E1, SS2E3, SS2E4, SS4E2, SS6E13, SSSocC3, SSSocSC4, SSSocIC1, TA.RE.1, TA.RE.2, TA.CN.2, TAHSFT.CN.1
Price: $15.00 per person; $13.00 per person (Title I)
Date(s): NOV 14–15, 19–21 // 10:30am; DEC 4–5, 11–12, 18 // 10:30am
View K-5 Study Guide View 6-8 Study Guide
Doctor De Soto
Hertz Stage
Award-winning playwright Idris Goodwin brings William Steig's tale of wit, wisdom, and whimsy to the stage with an eye-popping blend of live-action, puppetry, music, and rhyme. Despite the sign outside stating that they do not treat predators, Doctor De Soto and Mrs. De Soto take pity on a suffering fox with a rotten tooth. But once he opens his jaws and they must step inside, they begin to rethink their decision. Full of excitement and laughter, this modern-day fable proves that even the smallest creatures can make a big difference with kindness and a little quick thinking.
Recommended Grades: Grades K – 4
Curriculum Standards: ELAGSE1RL2, ELAGSE1RL3, ELAGSE1RL7, ELAGSE2RL3, ELAGSE2RL6, ELAGSE3RL2, ELAGSE3RL3, ELAGSE3RL6, ELAGSE4RL5, HE1.1.d, HE1.3.a, HE1.3.b, HE1.4.a, HE3.1.a, TARE.1, TARE.2, TACN.1, TACN.2
Price: $6.50 per person; $5.75 per person (Title I)
Date(s): JAN 15–17 // 11:45am; JAN 21–24, 28–31 // 10:15am & 11:45am; FEB 4–7, 11–14, 19–21, 25–28 // 10:15am & 11:45am; MAR 3–6 // 10:15am & 11:45am
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The Melvin Invention
By Megan Tabaque
In-School Tour
When Max and Abby, two brainy students, use a 3D printer to invent Melvin – the coolest, most confident 7th grader ever – their plan to fit in with the popular crowd takes an unexpected turn. A hilarious and heartwarming play for middle schoolers, The Melvin Invention celebrates creativity, individuality, and the true meaning of "cool." Packed with laughs and relatable moments, this play shows students that being themselves is the coolest thing of all.
Recommended Grades: Grades 6 – 8
Curriculum Standards: Coming soon
Price: $1000 per performance; $800 per performance (Title I); 2-performance rates available
Date(s): FEB 24–28; MAR 3–7
Bust
Coca-Cola Stage
It’s not only hell that breaks loose in this ground-breaking, form-defying, laugh-out-loud new drama from Pulitzer-Prize finalist playwright Zora Howard. Retta and Reggie are enjoying their usual evening on the porch when a longtime neighbor is pulled over by the police just before turning into his driveway. Everything goes as expected — until the unexpected happens. Humor, spectacle, and surrealism converge in this gripping interrogation of what it costs to be Black and free. Lileana Blain-Cruz, a “master of curating chaos” (The New York Times), directs.
Recommended Grades: Grades 11 – 12
Content Advisory: contains considerable explicit language, including derogatory language regarding race; depicts drinking alcohol and marijuana use; addresses issues related to police brutality and systemic racism
Curriculum Standards: ELAGSE11-12RL1, ELAGSE11-12RL3, ELAGSE11-12RL5, ELAGSE11-12RL6, SSSocIC1, TAHSFT.CN.1, TAHSFT.CN.2
Price: $12.50 per person
Date(s): FEB 27 // 10:30am
The Reservoir
Hertz Stage
Following an acclaimed presentation as a finalist for the Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition, The Reservoir will have its fully staged world premiere in a three-theater co-production. Josh’s life is a mess. He’s come home to Denver from NYU to get his life together but can’t manage to stay sober. Desperate for camaraderie, he decides to bring his four loveable grandparents on his road to recovery. He drags them to Jazzercise class. He pressures them into playing memory games. He forces them to eat spinach by the handful. And eventually, when he can no longer help his grandparents, they begin to help him. Served up with outrageous humor and truth, The Reservoir reminds us that sometimes the path forward isn’t the one we expect.
Recommended Grades: Grades 11 – 12
Content Advisory: contains considerable explicit language; depicts drinking alcohol and addresses issues related to addiction, illness, and end of life
Curriculum Standards: ELAGSE11-12RL1, ELAGSE11-12RL3, ELAGSE11-12RL5, HEHS.1, HEHS.2, SSPBF2, SSSocSC4, TAHSFT.CN.1, TAHSFT.CN.2
Price: $12.50 per person
Date(s): APR 16, 24 // 10:30am
Pre/Post-Show Workshops
Interested in enriching and engaging workshops for your students that relate to your Alliance Theatre field trip? Pre/post-show workshops are a great chance to extend learning beyond the stage and can occur virtually or in-person. Pre/post-show workshops can be drama-based or literacy-based. Drama-based workshops focus on using the tools of the actor (voice, body, and imagination) to explore moments from the play. Students will act as the characters themselves, recreate scenes from the play, and/or explore central themes. Literacy-based workshops make a stronger connection to school curriculum and grade level standards. For example, students explore the characteristics and qualities of the main characters, setting, problem/solution, etc. through arts-integrated exercises. If your group would like to attend a pre/post-show workshop, please fill out the form at the link below. We recommend that you book your group's tickets to a production before initiating plans for a pre- or post-show workshop.
2024/25 Bernhardt Theatre for the Very Young Field Trips
Ages newborn to 5 years old
For field trips, group sales, touring information, and pricing email attvy@alliancetheatre.org.
The Curious Cardinal
Sifly Piazza
Join CC on their adventure beyond the city and soar to new heights in the spring, bid a fond farewell to the friendly otters in the summer, bicker and befriend squirrels in the fall, and explore the crisp, cool air in the winter.
Recommended Ages: newborn – 5 years old and their caregivers
Date(s): SEP 19–20 & 25–27 // 10:00am & 11:15am
Knock, Knock
Selig Family Black Box Theatre
Join us on a floor-to-floor adventure, meeting and celebrating with a variety of friends who all call The Apartment Building home. Surprises hide behind each door — all you need to do is (Knock, Knock).
Recommended Ages: newborn – 5 years old and their caregivers
Date(s): NOV 20–22; DEC 4–6, 11–13 & 18–19 // 10:00am & 11:30am
GIMME PLEASE
Selig Family Black Box Theatre
Audiences are invited to watch and explore as the two friends pretend, provoke, and persist in getting what they want and need from the world and each other.
Recommended Ages: newborn – 5 years old and their caregivers
Date(s): JAN 17, 22–23 & 29–31; FEB 5–7 & 12-13 // 10:00am & 11:15am
DINOSAUR
Selig Family Black Box Theatre
Get ready to find out how even the simplest day-to-day task can turn into an epic dino-tastic adventure that will leave little ones laughing and roaring for more.
Recommended Ages: newborn – 5 years old and their caregivers
Date(s): MAR 20–21; APR 2–4 // 10:00am & 11:15am
