2023–24 Season Announced!
Each season, we welcome about 20,000 teachers and students in grades PK-12 to our Arts for Young America (AYA) School Series performances. Students have the opportunity to attend musicals and plays based on popular children's literature, biographical/historical plays, multicultural titles, and STEAM-related presentations.
Reserve Tickets
Coming Soon:
- 2023–24 AYA Educator Guide
- Study Guides for Performances
Important Info
- All reservations must be placed through our online reservation form (red button above).
- You will receive a confirmation email, invoice attached, within 5 days of your order.
- Teachers can apply to our 2023-24 Arts for Young America Mini Grant (click the blue banner below for more info) by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.
Teachers can apply for financial aid to help offset the costs of tickets for Viterbo Fine Arts Center's Arts for Young America School Series performances. The mini grant is only for schools who have an assigned principal or administrator and must serve at least 10 students to apply. We will consider up to one application per grade, per school. Applications will be reviewed based on financial need and testimony.
Applications due: Friday, Sept. 8 by 5 p.m.
Mini grants awarded: Week of Sept. 25
Award(s) will be applied to invoice(s).
Teachers must make ticket reservations for performance(s) PRIOR to submitting the Mini Grant application. The reservation form reserves seats and creates your invoice specific to your choices. The name of the teacher who reserves seats on the reservation form must match the contact on the Mini Grant application.
As part of the grant, you will need:
- A short narrative that demonstrates your school's financial need and why you're applying for the grant
- Information about your school’s percentage of free/reduced meals. For more information about that program, visit your state's government website:
Wis. Dept. of Public Instruction–Free and Reduced Meal Eligibility
Minn. Dept of Education–Student Meal Applications
Iowa Department of Education–School Meal Programs Eligibility
Viterbo University Fine Arts Center’s Arts for Young America (AYA) series was designed specifically for school audiences, selects its high-quality programming-based on Wisconsin State curriculum standards, and has been serving students and educators in our community since 1996. As part of our commitment to our schools, and within IRS guidelines, we gladly honor nonprofit tax-exempt status for organizations who can show documentation of their 501(c)(3) designation.
This will apply to most educational nonprofits whose mission is to inform and educate individuals or the general public, including preschools, public, and private schools. As individuals cannot be a nonprofit organization, most homeschoolers’ ticket purchases will include tax.
We appreciate your compliance and please enjoy our educational programming!
2023–24 Season
Charlie Plumb, P.O.W. Survivor
in partnership with Viterbo's D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
FREE–Sponsored by Don Weber | 60 minutes
Grades: 6–12
Curriculum Connections: Military history, world history, oral history, character development
Captain Charlie Plumb is a former U.S. Navy pilot, a Vietnam War veteran, and Prisoner of War (P.O.W.) survivor. His military honors include two Purple Hearts, the Legion of Merit, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the P.O.W. Medal.
Reservations must be booked by Wednesday, Sept. 27.
The Velveteen Rabbit
presented by Virginia Repertory Theatre
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
$8 | 60 minutes
Grades: K–5
Curriculum Connections: Literary classic, language arts, reading, music
The power of play and childhood fantasy, the pure light of unconditional love–these timeless forces illuminate this faithful rendering of Margery Williams’ tale of friendship and the passing of time.
Reservations must be booked by Wednesday, Oct 4. Full payment is due by Friday, Oct. 13.
Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical
presented by TheaterWorksUSA
Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
$8 | 60 minutes
Grades: 1–5
Curriculum Connections: Character development, literature-based storytelling, language arts, reading, music
Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started an epic club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics! Will the club survive? Will the frogs ever get along? And will creativity finally save the day? All will be answered in this madcap musical based on Dav Pilkey’s irreverently hilarious book series.
Reservations must be booked by Monday, Oct. 9. Full payment is due by Thursday, Oct. 19.
Doktor Kaboom! and The Wheel of Science
presented by Shaw Entertainment
Monday, Nov 6, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
$8 | 60 minutes
Grades: 3–8
Curriculum Connections: Science, scientific experiments and exploration, comedy
David Epley, through the character of Doktor Kaboom!, performs an original interactive science comedy show. Creatively blending theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration for a sidesplitting journey of increasingly spectacular science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate, and entertain.
Reservations must be booked by Monday, Oct. 23. Full payment is due by Thursday, Nov. 2.
She Kills Monster
presented by Viterbo's Conservatory for the Performing Arts
Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.
Weber Center for the Performing Arts–Lyche Theatre
$8 | 90–120 minutes (full–length production)
Grades: 9–12; Theatre Rated PG-13. Mature content and language.
Curriculum Connections: Adventure, fantasy, storytelling, comedy
A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games! In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and ‘90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.
Reservations must be booked by Friday, Nov. 3. Full payment is due by Wednesday, Nov. 15.
Nutcracker Ballet
presented by La Crosse Dance Centre
Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 at 10 a.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
$8 | 90 minutes
Grades: K–12
Curriculum Connections: Dance, multicultural, music, art, classical music
This timeless tale tells the adventure of self-discovery for Maria, who receives a Nutcracker doll from her Godfather Drosselmeyer on Christmas Eve. Join Maria on her journey as she defeats the evil Rat Queen, travels through a beautiful snow-covered land, and revels in the colorful Land of Sweets. Come celebrate the joy of the season with La Crosse’s original Nutcracker Ballet.
Reservations must be booked by Monday, Nov. 20. Full payment is due by Wednesday, Dec. 6.
MLK Day Presentation
in partnership with Viterbo’s D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
FREE | 60 minutes
Grades: 6–12
Curriculum Connections: Multicultural, character development, history, oral history
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a guest speaker who will share cultural and historical moments of the American Civil Rights Movement and explore contemporary context.
Reservations must be booked by Tuesday, Jan. 2.
Florence Nightingale: The Reluctant Celebrity
presented by Performance Management International, LLC and in partnership Viterbo’s Student Engagement and Military Student Success
Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
$8 | 60 minutes
Grades: 6–12
Curriculum Connections: Multicultural, history, biography, oral tradition
A voice from the past with a contemporary message. Actor Candy Campbell’s characterization of an eponymous polymath, iconic founder of the nursing profession, champion for women’s rights, and general positive deviant, is based on Florence Nightingale’s own writings.
Reservations must be booked by Friday, Feb. 2. Full payment is due by Wednesday, Feb. 14.
Bat Boy: The Musical
presented by Viterbo’s Conservatory for the Performing Arts
Friday, March 1, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center LaCroix Black Box Theatre
$8 | 90–120 minutes (full-length production)
Grades: 9–12; Theatre Rated PG-13. Mature content and language.
Curriculum Connections: Comedy, family relationships, character development, music
A musical comedy/horror show about a half boy/half bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. Story and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming. Music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe.
Reservations must be booked by Friday, Feb. 16. Full payment is due by Wednesday, Feb. 28.
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The Ugly Duckling presented by Lightwire
On Friday, April 28, 2023, we received the unfortunate news that this tour is no longer available. The replacement performance, POLI POP, is listed below.
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All reservations must be booked by Tuesday, March 12. Full payment is due by Friday, March 22.
Unbought
presented by Core Ensemble in partnership with Viterbo’s D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership and Viterbo’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
$8 | 60 minutes
Grades: Pre K-3
Curriculum Connections: multicultural, history, biography, oral tradition
A music theatre piece presenting the dramatic stories of three African American women: journalist and women’s suffrage activist Ida B. Wells; Shirley Chisholm, the first African American in the U.S. Congress and first African American woman to run for President; and Sally Hemings, the slave with whom Thomas Jefferson fathered six children. The music is drawn from classical, jazz, and popular works by African American composers.
All reservations must be booked by Tuesday, March 12. Full payment is due by Friday, March 22.
Samuel R. Harris, Holocaust Survivor
in partnership with Viterbo's D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership
Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 10 a.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
FREE presentation | 60 minutes
Grades: 6–12
Curriculum Connections: Multicultural, character development, history, biography, oral tradition
Samuel R. Harris is one of the youngest Holocaust survivors. He was four-years-old when WWII broke out and Nazi soldiers invaded his village in Poland, killing his parents and most of his family. He played an instrumental role in the opening of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, of which he is president emeritus. Harris is a proud recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Priority seating for this presentation will be given to educators who sign up for Viterbo’s D.B. Reinhart Institute’s annual Teaching the Holocaust Workshop (April 3 and 4, 2024; www.viterbo.edu/holocaust-workshop) by Wednesday, Jan. 31. The workshop registrant must then organize their group and register for the school show.
For those not attending the Workshop, reservations for this presentation must be booked by Wednesday, March 20.
Poli Pop
presented by BRUSH Theatre, LLC.
Monday, April 8, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Viterbo Fine Arts Center Main Theatre
$8 | 60 minutes
Grades: Pre K-3
Curriculum Connections: role playing, imagination, creativity, storytelling, comedy, perspective, science
Poli and Pola are siblings who do not want to go to sleep, so their imagination takes them on a dreamlike journey full of surprises. Using incredible technology and special effects, the set transforms from an empty room to far away islands, roaring seas, the Egyptian desert, busy cities, dance parties, and more! But the duo don’t know there’s something else lurking in the shadows…a ferocious alien monster! What will they do? This new theater production is painted with colorful light and projection mapping and full of live music, foley sounds, and playful imagination. Premiered in South Korea in September 2022.
All reservations must be booked by Monday, March 25. Full payment is due by Thursday, April 4.
If you would like to be added to our mailing list, call 608-796-3735 or email aya@viterbo.edu.
To Reserve Tickets
Tickets are $8 for students and chaperones unless otherwise noted. Click the Reserve Tickets button at the top of this page. You must fill out a separate order form for each performance you wish to attend.
Seating Assignments
Seating location is determined by three criteria: 1) a group’s accessibility requests, 2) the date the initial reservation is made, and 3) if payment is received by the due date stated on the invoice. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate every seating request but will do our best to honor requests in the order in which they are received.
Payment Information
Each performance has its own reservation and payment deadlines to observe. You will receive a confirmation email with an invoice within five business days of your order. Cash, credit cards, and checks accepted. Checks should be made out to: Viterbo University Fine Arts Center. Any payment mailed to us must arrive on or before the payment deadline.
For questions about payment information, contact Caitilin McCoy, patron services manager, at boxoffice@viterbo.edu or 608-796-3738.
Refund Policy
All sales are final. If you experience a significant reduction in the number of seats needed and notify us of the change two weeks prior to the performance, we will review requests for refunds on a case-by-case basis. You may revise your numbers up to one week prior to the performance. Programs, artists, and dates are subject to change.
Inclement Weather
If a performance is cancelled by Viterbo University due to inclement weather, we will do our best to reschedule it. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled date, a refund will be given. If you need to reduce the number of seats for the new date, we will refund the difference. If you are unable to attend a performance due to your school’s delay or cancellation, we will make every attempt to exchange your order for another age-appropriate performance. If your group is unable to attend another performance, we will review requests for refunds on a case-by-case basis.
Accessibility Requests
Upon your order, communicate any accessibility requests your students have (wheelchairs, walkers, no stairs, visual or hearing impairments, etc.) so we can seat your group appropriately. Because of limited ability to accommodate these needs, we must have this information upon order, or at least two weeks prior to the performance.
Questions? Contact:
Rachel Frisby, programming coordinator
608-796-3735
aya@viterbo.edu