2023-2024 Season
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is proud to present On Stage at the Center, a series of live performances intended for local students to attend during the school day as a field trip. This series offers a variety of performances from international, award-winning theater companies and professional artists to inspire and engage your students.
All performances are held in Segerstrom Center's 300-seat Samueli Theater and seats are filled on a first come first served basis. Tickets are only $5-8 per person and the Center will reimburse your bus costs (See "Bus Rebates" tab for more information)!
Our 2023-2024 performances are listed below. Please visit What to Know and FAQs for information and click here to register now. We encourage you to register as soon as possible because seats fill quickly!
Have questions? Click here to contact us.
It’s Okay to Be Different
Created by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
In this new production, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia brings to life three books by New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Todd Parr. It’s Okay to Be Different cleverly delivers the important messages of acceptance, understanding, and self-confidence. Equally whimsical and heartfelt, The Earth Book, is a sweet homage to our beautiful planet while This is My Hair is a funny exploration of how silly hair can be. This production features a diverse cast and an innovative approach to puppetry manipulation and construction, combined with playful original music.
Performance times:
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 9:30 am
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 11:30 am
Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 9:30 am
Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 11:30 am
Friday, October 13, 2023 at 9:30 am
Friday, October 13, 2023 at 11:30 am
Grade recommendations: Grades K - 3
Location: Samueli Theater (300 seats)
Ticket price: $8 per student/adult
On the web: IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT Preview
Study guide: Coming soon
123 Andrés
Deemed “a rockstar for little language learners” by Billboard, Andrés and Christina are the Latin Grammy®-winning music duo 123 Andrés (pronounced “uno, dos, tres, Andrés”). Their catchy songs and lively, interactive concerts get students and teachers dancing and learning—in Spanish and English. Featuring first-class musicianship and rich instrumentation, 123 Andrés has performed for thousands of children around the US and in Latin America, and has been featured by outlets like NPR, the Washington Post, CNN en Español, Univisión, and Telemundo.
Performance times:
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 9:30 am
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 11:30 am
Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 9:30 am
Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 11:30 am
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 9:30 am
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 11:30 am
Grade recommendations: Grades K - 4
Location: Samueli Theater (300 seats)
Ticket price: $5 per student/adult
On the web: 123 ANDRÈS Preview
Study guide: Coming soon
Dino-Light
Created by Lightwire Theater
In this original story, a famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. Dino-Light was the recipient of the prestigious Jim Henson Foundation Grant and is the first feature-length theatrical production created and performed by Lightwire Theater (semi-finalists on NBC's America’s Got Talent). This glow-in-the-dark adventure is visually stunning and has been praised for its cutting edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance by audiences all over the world.
Performance times:
Monday, February 5, 2024 at 9:30 am
Monday, February 5, 2024 at 11:30 am
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 9:30 am
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 11:30 am
Grade recommendations: Grades 2 - 6
Location: Samueli Theater (300 seats)
Ticket price: $6 per student/adult
On the web: DINO-LIGHT Preview
Study guide: Coming soon
Paper Planet
Created by Polyglot Theatre
Let your imagination run wild in a world made of paper! Students are invited to create a beautiful world inside a forest of tall cardboard trees, using only paper, tape, and their imaginations. Everyone plays together in this magical place to create creatures, plants, costumes, characters, stories, and adventures. Paper Planet builds and grows as more students visit, and every session is truly unique as imaginations go wild and play takes over. Paper Planet is child-led, deeply involving and highly sensory, and sure to delight the whole class.
Performance times:
Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 9:30 am
Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 11:30 am
Friday, March 15, 2024 at 9:30 am
Friday, March 15, 2024 at 11:30 am
Grade recommendations: Grades K - 4
Location: Samueli Theater (Maximum capacity of 120)
Ticket price: $8 per student/adult
On the web: PAPER PLANET Preview
Study guide: Coming soon
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The University of Wonder and Imagination
Created by Cahoots NI
The University of Wonder & Imagination is now enrolling students of all ages and magical abilities...and there’s a place with your name on it! Assemble with fellow students and journey to the most unusual of universities, where the mysterious Professor Bamberg will guide students through this interactive theater experience, and the choices the audience makes will shape their unique course. All students are bound to leave this hallowed center of magical learning with their minds boggled and their brains bamboozled…does your class have what it takes?
Performance times:
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 9:30 am
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 11:30 am
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 9:30 am
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 11:30 am
Friday, March 22, 2024 at 9:30 am
Friday, March 22, 2024 at 11:30 am
Grade recommendations: Grades 2 - 6
Location: Samueli Theater (300 seats)
Ticket price: $5 per student/adult
On the web: UNIVERSITY OF WONDER Preview (Please note that this preview is for the virtual version of this production. The new, live show does not yet have a video preview.)
Study guide: Coming soon
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Created by Tutti Frutti
Silas is from a family of shepherds and has to do right by his mom and granddad as he reluctantly takes on the responsibility of watching their sheep up on the mountain over the winter. But he’s bored, lonely, and missing out on the fun of the annual knitting competition in town, so he cries - “Wolf!” Written by playwright Mike Kenny and inspired by Aesop’s famous fable, this beautiful, wintery tale features a gifted ensemble of actor/musicians who play instruments and sing live as they embody all the delightful characters, including hilarious sheep and perhaps a scary wolf or two…
Performance times:
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 9:30 am
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 11:30 am
Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 9:30 am
Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 11:30 am
Friday, April 26, 2024 at 9:30 am
Friday, April 26, 2024 at 11:30 am
Grade recommendations: Grades K - 3
Location: Samueli Theater (300 seats)
Ticket price: $8 per student/adult
On the web: BOY WHO CRIED WOLF Preview
The Pa’akai We Bring
Created by Honolulu Theatre for Youth
This original production introduces students to the Native Hawaiian relationship to pa‘akai (salt). Traditionally, pa‘akai is food, medicine, a sacrament and a treasured gift. The show follows a family with multiple generations of salt farmers on Kauai, mixing in ancient stories, hula, live music, original songs and plenty of audience participation into a tasty potluck of performance, joyously served up with aloha. Created in partnership with the Bishop Museum and cultural elders and leaders, the performance inspires audience members young and old to have a restorative experience together.
Performance times:
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 9:30 am
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 11:30 am
Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 9:30 am
Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 11:30 am
Friday, May 10, 2024 at 9:30 am
Friday, May 10, 2024 at 11:30 am
Grade recommendations: Grades K - 4
Location: Samueli Theater (300 seats)
Ticket price: $6 per student/adult
On the web: PA'AKAI Preview
Study guide: Coming soon
Contact us
Do you have questions or want to be added to the On Stage email list? Fill out the form below!
Please do not use this form to request performances for your students. If you would like to request performance seats, please click here.