
Please note: School Matinees for the 23/24 season will go on sale starting August 15, 2023.
The Citadel Theatre is proud to share our productions and our passion for theatre with school audiences from Edmonton and the surrounding communities. We offer special matinee performances for school groups for many of the productions in our season, and consider these to be an essential part of our programming. We believe that all individuals should have the opportunity to experience, appreciate, and participate in live theatre. Sharing live theatre with new audiences, be they youths or adults, requires education and cooperation as it is a communal and participatory art form. The Citadel Theatre works to ensure that all patrons have a positive experience when visiting the theatre.
For school matinees, we rely heavily on the support of participating schools and teachers to ensure that students come to the theatre prepared to enjoy the production and be good audience members. The following information is provided to help you plan for your school’s visit to the Citadel Theatre.
Please be aware that the age recommendations provided are subjective. We will do our best to provide age recommendations and any applicable warnings in advance; however, things are subject to change at the Director’s discretion during the rehearsal process.
Some productions in the Citadel’s 2023-24 Season may have limited or no school matinees at this time. If schools express enough interest, additional matinee performances may be added to the schedule. Alternatively, group tickets to an evening performance can also be arranged. Please read through this information in detail, and do not hesitate to contact the Education and Group Sales Administrator if you have any questions regarding a production or the booking process.
2023-24 SHOW DESCRIPTIONS
The following productions have scheduled school matinees. Dates are listed below.
October 4, 2023 @ 12:00PM
Maclab Theatre
Recommended Ages: 12+
Approximate run time: 2 hours and 15 minutes (20-minute intermission included)
Warning: Contains mild sexuality.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
By Oscar Wilde. Directed by Jackie Maxwell
The classic comedy by Oscar Wilde comes alive on the Citadel stage. Two society bachelors, Jack and Algernon, both secretly pretend to be a man called Ernest. After meeting two beautiful women who know them only as their alter egos, a weekend in the country sparks mayhem and hilarity in this farce about mistaken identities as they attempt to conceal the truth and keep up the charade.
October 31 and November 8, 2023 @ 11:45AM
Shoctor Theatre
Recommended Ages: 12+
Approximate run time: 1 hour and 45 minutes (20-minute intermission included)
Warning: Contains domestic violence, dental sadism, theatrical fog, and scenes that may be frightening for young children.
SPECIAL HALLOWEEN PRESENTATION
For the presentation on October 31st, guests are invited to dress up during the matinee performance for Halloween! We kindly ask that any costumes do not obstruct others’ views, do not impair their ability to fit into our theatre seats, and do not light up or make noise. Weapons of any kind (including plastic/toys) are strictly prohibited. If any costumes cause a disruption, the attendee will be asked to remove the costume for the duration of the show. If anyone wants to dress in theme of the show, plant-themed and dentist-themed costumes are more than welcome!

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman Music by Alan Menken. Based on the film by Roger Corman, Screenplay by Charles Griffith. Directed by Ashlie Corcoran. A Co-Production with the Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver.
A sci-fi comedy musical about the meek and bumbling assistant of a struggling floral shop who happens upon a strange new plant that causes business to boom. But when the plant starts to speak, promising fame and fortune, he finds the plant also develops an unquenchable thirst for human blood. One of the longest running Off-Broadway shows, Little Shop of Horrors has an electrifying, 60s inspired, pop/rock score.
November 28, 29, and December 6, 13, 20, 2023 @ 11:45AM
Maclab Theatre
Recommended Ages: 6+
Approximate run time: 2 hours and 15 minutes (including one 15 minute intermission)
Warning: Contains frightening scenes that may not be suitable for younger children

A CHRISTMAS CAROL
By David van Belle. Based on the novella by Charles Dickens.
Directed by Daryl Cloran
Packed with your favourite classic Christmas tunes, this adaptation of the beloved tale of a miserly old man who is invited to change his ways by the Ghosts of Christmas, will carry you away into the magical era of films like It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street.
February 21, 2024 @12:00PM
Maclab Theatre
Recommended Ages: 10+
Approximate run time: 90 minutes (no intermission)
Warning: Contains theatrical fog.

RUBABOO
By Andrea Menard. Music by Andrea Menard & Robert Walsh. Directed by Alanis King
Derived from the Michif word for “leftovers stew” or “big pot,” Rubaboo will take audiences on an intimate, moving, and joyous journey—guided by powerhouse Métis performer Andrea Menard. An acclaimed singersongwriter and actor, Menard’s lyrical voice and masterful storytelling will envelop you in the beauty of Métis culture. Featuring the sounds of drums and guitar, this grand musical feast includes songs of reconciliation, unity, love, frustration, and resilience.
March 13 and 20, 2024 @11:30AM
Shoctor Theatre
Recommended Ages: 6+
Approximate run time: 2
hours and 30 minutes
(20-minute intermission
included)
Warning: Contains frightening scenes that may not be suitable for younger children.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by
Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp.
Directed by Rachel Peake.
Set in late 1930’s Austria, the freespirited Maria, set to take religious orders at an abbey, becomes a governess in the home of a widowed naval captain with seven children. In her new position, she brings a new love of life and music into the hearts of each of the children and the surly Captain Von Trapp. A Tony Award winning musical with music and lyrics by Rogers and Hammerstein.
May 1 and 8, 2024 @ 12:00PM
Shoctor Theatre
Recommended Ages: 12+
Approximate run time: 2 hours (20-minute intermission included)
Warning: Contains violence and death, poisoning, mild sexuality, and theatrical smoke.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS
Adapted by Catherine Bush. From the novel by Alexandre Dumas. Directed by Daryl Cloran.
Adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, this comedy follows the swashbuckling adventures of Athos, Porthos, Aramis and the young, brave D’Artagnan. Newly arrived to Paris, with the skill of a swordsman and the heart of a warrior, D’Artagnan wishes to join the renowned Musketeers, but first he must prove himself worthy. To win the heart of Constance and save king and country he sets off with The Musketeers to thwart a plot by the evil Cardinal Richelieu. Together, they’ll fight All For One, and One For All!
PLEASE NOTE: The following productions do NOT have a school matinee performance scheduled at this time. Instead the run dates of the production are listed below. If you would like to discuss school matinee options, to join a waitlist, or if you are interested in bringing your students to an evening performance, please contact our Education and Group Sales Administrator at groupbookings@citadeltheatre.com.
January 6 – 28, 2024
Shoctor Theatre
Recommended Ages: 12+
Approximate run time: 1 hour and 45 minutes (20-minute intermission included)
Warning: Contains some discussion of sex, some coarse language, and theatrical fog.

THE ROYALE
By Farren Timoteo. Directed by Daryl Cloran.
An Italian teenager growing up in Jasper in the 1970s, caught between two worlds and determined to make his mark. This tour-de-force solo show is packed with disco, fantastic singing and a host of hilarious characters. Winner of both the Sterling Award (Edmonton) and Jessie Award (Vancouver) for Outstanding Comedic Performance, this is a fun, heartfelt coming of age story about a kid with the heart of Rocky Balboa and the moves (and hair!) of John Travolta.
March 30 – April 21, 2024
Shoctor Theatre
Recommended Ages: 14+
Approximate run time: 2 hours and 10 minutes (including one 15 minute intermission)

THE MOUNTAINTOP
By Katori Hall. Directed by Patricia Darbasie
A gripping reimagination of events the night before the assassination of the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 3, 1968, after delivering one of his most memorable speeches, an exhausted Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel while a storm rages outside. When a mysterious stranger arrives with some surprising news, King is forced to confront his destiny and his legacy to his people.
MAKE A DAY OF IT! ADD AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP FOR YOUR STUDENTS
The Citadel Theatre is home to many professional artists who would love to share their expertise with your students. Arrange a workshop either before or after the School Matinee at a reduced cost.
- Choose from the following topics, or ask
about something different! - Acting/Character Development
- Musical Theatre
- Stage Combat
- Improvisation
- Dialects
Workshops can be between 45 to 120 minutes and your students will pay as little as $5 per hour per instructor!
To book a workshop, please fill out the Workshop Booking Form on our website. For more information contact Luc Tellier, Director of Education and Outreach. ltellier@citadeltheatre.com
- We ask that you please fill out the following online form, our Student Matinee Booking Form, before your order is processed. Tickets will not be reserved or put on hold without a completed booking form. If you would like to request a PDF version of the booking form, please email groupbookings@citadeltheatre.com
- Orders will be processed in the order we receive a completed form.
- Orders are not confirmed until an invoice has been sent.
- A non-refundable 20% deposit is required to secure your order. If a deposit has not been received within 2 weeks, your order may be cancelled and the tickets released for sale.
- If paying the full balance at the time of your order, please note that any adjustments or
cancellations may still be subject to the non-refundable 20% deposit. - Final payment is due by your performance date. If a balance is still owing 30 days after the date of your performance, a 5% late fee will be charged per month a balance is overdue.
- If a performance is sold out, we will contact you to see if we can find an alternate date or add you to a wait list. We will follow up with you if there are cancellations/tickets released, or if we have enough interest from schools to open an additional school matinee performance.
- If you are interested in a production that does not yet have a scheduled school matinee, we will add you to a wait list for that production. If we have enough interest for that particular show we will schedule a school matinee, and our Education and Group Sales Administrator will reach out to you with concrete booking information. If you would like to add your school group to a wait list, please email groupbookings@citadeltheatre.com and provide your school’s name, your contact email, and a rough estimate of how many students you would like to bring.
- Orders for workshops will be handled by Luc Tellier, Director of Education and Outreach.
- All requests for changes must be submitted in writing to the Education and Group Sales Administrator at groupbookings@citadeltheatre.com for review.
- Adjustments should be within 15% of the original booking. If reducing your numbers by more than 15% of the original booking, the cancelled tickets are still subject to the non-refundable 20% deposit.
- The deadline to confirm your numbers will be on the Friday two weeks prior to your
After the confirmation deadline, there are no refunds. Please note: sometimes bookings are made on a very short timeline depending on how early a matinee is scheduled, and how soon you contact us to book. In that case your deadlines for the deposit, for confirming your numbers, and for the final payment will be specified by the Education and Group Sales Administrator when they contact you. Please adhere to these set deadlines. - Refunds will not be provided for students who are a “no show” and do not attend the
- Cancellations cannot be made within two weeks of the performance. An exception may be made if you have another school group that will be purchasing your cancelled tickets. If your school is cancelling because of extenuating circumstances (such as closures due to COVID-19, etc…) please contact the Education and Group Sales Administrator to discuss your options.
- Cancelled orders are still subject to the non-refundable 20% deposit.
- To keep costs low for school matinee performances, physical tickets will not be printed. Our Front of House ushers will have a guest list with the names of all schools attending, and the
total number of tickets booked. Supervisors must check in with the ushers when lining up at the theatre doors. At this time, please provide the ushers with accurate numbers in case of an emergency. - There are no reserved seats for each school (with the exception of reserved seating for
accessibility). Seating will be based on a first-come basis. Our ushers will seat everyone as they enter the theatre, starting from the front of the theatre to the back. In the Maclab Theatre, ushers will seat everyone in the middle section first, and then alternate between the left and right sections. - Everyone will be seated as they enter the theatre, filling every single seat in a row. Groups
arriving in more than one vehicle should wait until everyone has arrived before lining up to enter the theatre if they wish to be seated together. There is a small chance that groups may be split up once a row or section ends. - Supervisors should be spread out among the students. It can be difficult for ushers to address students in the middle of a row, so please have supervisors seated among your students.
- Please do not seat yourselves. This can cause congestion and confusion in the aisles while schools are being seated and delay the start time of the performance. It is also unfair to schools that have arrived early to line up for seats closer to the stage. Any schools found seating themselves will be removed from the theatre and seated at the back after all other schools have been seated. If students/supervisors need to rearrange themselves within your allotted seats, please wait until after your entire group has been seated.
- Latecomers and re-admittance into the theatre after the performance has started cannot be guaranteed.
- Patrons will be allowed into the theatre at an appropriate time at the ushers’ discretion. In some cases, Stage Management may request that no late/re-admittance be allowed.
- Once admitted, patrons will be seated at the back of the theatre and will only be able to return to their original seat at intermission.
- Because patrons may be left waiting in the lobby or seated alone at the back of the theatre, young children must be accompanied by a supervisor if leaving the theatre during a performance.
- No children under the age of 5 will be admitted into the theatre. If a young child under the age of 5 is turned away at the theatre doors, no refunds will be provided.
- Age recommendations are subjective and are not strict restrictions; however, please be aware that some productions may contain mature language and/or subject matter.
- The Education and Group Sales Administrator will try to provide any applicable warnings in advance, but they are subject to change at the Director’s discretion during the rehearsal process. Please feel free to inquire further about the content of the show you are attending with your students.
At this time, masks are not mandatory for guests. The Citadel will continue to evaluate their safety procedures, and will update their website and the public if they make any changes.
For more information please see our COVID FAQs page on our website, which we will continue to update.
- Please review this section with all supervisors and students attending the performance. We ask that supervisors spread themselves out and seat themselves among their students. It can be
difficult/disruptive for our ushers to go through the seats if there is a disturbance in the middle of a row. The Citadel relies on the assistance of the schools’ supervisors to supervise their students during performances.- Please be respectful of the venue. This includes all lobby décor and furniture. If eating your lunch or snacks in the lobby, please deposit all garbage into the provided bins.
- Photography, video, and audio recordings of performances are not allowed and are strictly
- Turn off and put away all electronics such as cell phones, iPods, video game systems, etc.
Other sound or light-emitting items should not be used (e.g. laser pointers). - The actors on stage can see and hear the audience during the performance – it is important for audience members not to talk, move around, or fidget during the performance, as it can be distracting to the actors as well as fellow audience members.
- Please keep bags under your seat and do not leave them in the aisles in front of your feet, or on the sides. It may impair the ability of persons to exit the row in an emergency. Some productions may also have actors walking through the aisles during a performance.
- Do not put your feet on or climb onto the theatre seats or hand railings.
- Do not interfere with the actors or the performance (e.g. tripping, throwing items on or near the stage, etc.)
- There is no dress code at the Citadel, but we respectfully request that patrons refrain from
wearing hats in the theatre. - No outside food or drinks allowed. Only drinks in Citadel sippy cups or other bottled beverages sold at the Citadel bar or will be admitted.
- Students are allowed to eat their lunch or snacks in the lobby. Other food items are not permitted in the theatre, students may be asked to throw away or leave their drinks/food outside in the lobby.
- Any individuals behaving in a disruptive manner may be removed from the theatre. No refunds will be provided. Please note that the Citadel recognizes that all individuals should have the opportunity to experience art and culture. We will do what we can to ensure special needs patrons are able to attend Citadel productions and some exceptions may be made.
2023-24 STUDENT MATINEE BOOKING FORM LINK
Student Matinees go on sale on August 15th, 2023. You may fill out the booking form before this time, but you will not receive your invoice until after the on-sale date. Please follow this link to fill out our Student Matinee Booking Form. If you would prefer a printable PDF version, please email the Education & Group Sales Administrator.
SHOW DATES AND PRICE BREAKDOWN
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST — $21.00 per ticket (including GST)
- Wednesday, October 4, 2023 @ 12:00PM
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS — $31.50 per ticket (including GST)
- Tuesday, October 31, 2023 @ 11:45AM
A CHRISTMAS CAROL — $31.50 per ticket (including GST)
- Tuesday, November 28, 2023 @ 11:45AM
- Wednesday, November 29, 2023 @ 11:45AM
- Wednesday, December 6, 2023 @ 11:45AM
- Wednesday, December 13, 2023 @ 11:45AM
- Wednesday, December 20, 2023 @ 11:45AM
RUBABOO — $21.00 per ticket (including GST)
- Wednesday, February 21, 2024 @ 12:00PM
THE SOUND OF MUSIC — $31.50 per ticket (including GST)
- Wednesday, March 13, 2024 @ 11:30AM
- Wednesday, march 20, 2024 @ 11:30AM
THE THREE MUSKETEERS — $21.00 per ticket (including GST)
- Wednesday, May 1, 2024 @ 12:00PM
All prices include GST. A $10.50 handling fee is applied to all orders.
Your order has not been confirmed until you have received an invoice.
If you are interested in a School Matinee for a production not listed here, please contact the Education and Group Sales Administrator at groupbookings@citadeltheatre.com.