Carolina Theatre Arts Discovery Program Offers Virtual Field Trips For School Students

DURHAM, NC (September 21, 2020) — After decades of welcoming children into its historic showplace, the Carolina Theatre of Durham will now stream virtual field trips to school-aged students via its highly regarded Arts Discovery Educational Series (ADES). Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc., the nonprofit that manages the city-owned venue, announced the nine programs that will comprise its ADES season through its website, carolinatheatre.org, today.

With no clear timetable on when public health safety measures might allow in-person attendance of live arts performances and film screenings, Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is re-imagining its arts education program and streaming its season to its YouTube channel, youtube.com/user/CarolinaTheatre, at no additional cost to children, parents and educators across the Triangle and beyond.

“This new option of virtual field trips will provide greater and unlimited access to our program,” Carolina Theatre Director of Education & Community Engagement Noel James said. “We won’t have to turn anyone away because of sold-out performances!”

From a stirring performance of The Movement, an a capella musical about the 1963 civil rights march in Selma, Alabama (January 26) to puppeteer and ambassador of joy The Joshua Show (March 22) to Music Tells A Story with Kamara Thomas (April 6) and more, artists will perform on the Fletcher Hall stage and have those performances recorded for digital transmission to the ADES audience.

Two documentary films — “Hoops Africa: Ubuntu Matters” (November 10) and “February One: The Story of the Greensboro Four” (February 1) — will be streamed directly to the registrants with special ADES bonus content made available to registrants after the films.

Registration will begin on Monday, October 5 at 10 a.m. through carolinatheatre.org. Tickets cost $4 and $2 (Title I). All programs will be available for viewing for 48 hours starting at 10 a.m. on the streaming date. See full schedule.

James selected live arts and film programs designed to engage students and spark their curiosity to learn more about the arts. The series has been curated to complement curriculum goals and meet the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Comprehensive Arts Education Essential Standards to enhance students’ exposure to the arts.

Through the ongoing fruitful partnership between Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. and Durham Public Schools (DPS), the organizations re-imagined what the series could be with effective school-designated Arts Liaison network. All DPS registrations will be made by the school-designated Arts Liaison.

Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc.’s continuing partnership with the Durham Arts Council will provide additional post-performance engagement through the ArtsConnect artist residencies on select programs. Educators should register for ArtsConnect through Durham Arts Council. Contact Shana Adams, Director, Creative Arts in Public & Private Schools (CAPPS).

The entire Arts Discovery Educational Series (ADES) is grateful for the support of the Fox Family Foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Duke Health, Fifth Third Bank, Rob GoFourth and the G.A. LaPlaca Family Fund. Their support enables the nonprofit to bring high quality touring performing artists from around the world to our young audiences.

Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. remains committed to arts education and to the safety of our audiences during this unprecedented time. As educators, students and artists have weathered adverse conditions and adapted, so will our nonprofit, just like it has done since 1926. We pledge to continue delivering whimsy and wonder to our future arts fans now and in the future.

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About Carolina Theatre:
Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization managing the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc.’s mission is to drive the cultural, educational and economic vitality of the region.

About Arts Discovery Educational Series:
Each year, the Carolina Theatre programs the Arts Discovery Educational Series with enriching, educational and entertaining performances designed to complement classroom curriculum, bring lesson plans to life and engage the diverse communities of the Triangle Region with powerful arts experiences.