Education Programs

During the school year, Alberta Bair Theater presents specially designed matinees for students at discounted prices. Performances are one-hour or less and each show is recommended for certain grade levels from pre-kindergarten to grade 12+. ABT welcomes all public, private, and home schools – as well as the general public. Seating is determined by ABT so classes can sit together and walk up sales, based on availability, are seated after bused students. Questions? Please refer to FAQ here.

Each performance has a study guide, with specific program information, discussion questions, and activities to enhance everyone’s experience at the theater. We encourage students and teachers to share their experiences with us and provide valuable feedback for improving our arts education programs.

• ABT Education Brochure
• ABT Student Matinee Order Form
• Call of the Wild Education Guide
• Alcoléa & cie: Right in the Eye Education Guide
• Paddington Gets in a Jam Education Guide
• A Christmas Carol Education Guide
• Soul Street Dance Education Guide
• In the Year of the Boar & Jackie Robinson Education Guide
• Parsons Dance Education Guide
• The Three Musketeers Education Guide
• The Boy Who Grew Flowers Education Guide
• Billings Symphony 5th Gr Student Concert
• Dan + Claudia Zanes Education Guide
• Matinee Performance Etiquette Guide
• Instructions for bus drivers
• After Performance Survey is sent to all who attend.

The ABT is committed to providing engaging, exciting and practical learning opportunities that encourage teachers to incorporate Performing Arts in their classrooms. Please contact ABT Education Manager Julie Blakeslee at 406-294-5204 about upcoming workshops.

Billings Public Schools educators, please register with ABT using the registration form below, and also register for BPS step-up or PIR-Trade credit in Midas.

• Educator Workshop Registration Form
• Clinician Bios 2022-2023

Alberta Bair Theater offers school residencies, master classes, student workshops, lecture demonstrations, panel discussions and informal performances featuring touring artists and their companies who are performing at the ABT. This season’s outreach includes:

• Alcoléa: Right in the Eye Senior High French Students & McKinley 4-5
• Jarabe Mexicano “Day of the Dead” Senior High Spanish & Music Classes
• Brooklyn Rider Area String Students
• Project Hip Hop with Soul Street Dance Workshops with BPS Title I Elementary Students
• David Parsons Dance Workshop with area advanced modern dance classes
• Ahn Trio & James Sewell Ballet Area String Students & SCB
• The Three Musketeers Theater Workshop with area Drama Students
• Harlem Quartet Master Classes with Area String Ensembles
• Joshua Redman 3×3 MSUB Jazz Students
• Ngaiire (Nye-ree) Northern Cheyenne Nation

Free tours of the theater are available for students age 7 and older. The average tour is 30 minutes in length and includes the history of the theater and a view of back stage. Tours must be requested 30 days in advance and are not available the day of performances.

This program offers vouchers to be redeemed for tickets to evening and student matinee performances at Alberta Bair Theater and has served hundreds of youth and adults in the community. Non-profit organizations whose mission involves serving people with social, physical or economic disadvantages may apply for acceptance into the program.

Educators, bring a group of ten or more students (and their families and friends) to specified ABT evening performances for a discount ticket of $10 per person when tickets are purchased in one transaction. A list of performances and the time period during which to buy tickets in included in the Education Brochure, which can be downloaded at the top of this page.