The Carolina Theatre Celebrates 25 Years of its Educational Program

The theater’s Arts Discovery Educational Series marks milestone of serving K-12 students

Durham, NC September 21, 2021—The Carolina Theatre of Durham is celebrating 25 years of presenting its Arts Discovery Educational Series. The series has introduced more than 100,000 young audiences to hundreds of live arts performances from the Triangle and beyond.

The Arts Discovery Educational Series provides affordable virtual and in-person field trips for K-12 students. The Carolina Theatre also partners with Durham Public Schools (DPS) to offer limited complimentary tickets to its students. The tickets come as a donation from the theater’s generous sponsors.

The 2021-2022 Arts Discovery Educational Series will be offering a new virtual field trip component. This option allows for schools that are unable to attend in-person performances to still access high quality live arts performances and film screenings.

“This new option of virtual field trips will provide unlimited access to our program,” says Noel James, Senior Director of Education & Community Engagement at the Carolina Theatre.  “We won’t have to turn anyone away because of in-person restrictions or sold-out performances.”

The Arts Discovery Educational Series features the illuminating Lightwire Theatre’s interpretation of The Ugly Duckling, Exigence, A Sphinx Vocal Ensemble highlighting the choral artistry within Black and Latinx communities, Storyteller Donna Washington with her elastic face and voice characterizations that bring folklore to life, renowned Paperhand Puppet Intervention and their whimsical creations, The Movement: An Acapella Musical about the children in Alabama who stood against racial injustice in 1963, the annual screening of the film FEBRUARY ONE, and the magical Sonia De Los Santos who shares her story through song of migrating from Mexico to NYC.

The 2021-2022 performances and film programs have been selected 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.

“The arts have the power to increase understanding and compassion about the world in which we live and the people we share it with,” says James. “This series provides an opportunity for all students to see a variety of high-quality performances.”

The Arts Discovery Educational Series is supported by the Fox Family Foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Duke Health, Fifth Third Bank, the Truist Foundation, 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 young audiences.

The full schedule of the Arts Discovery Educational Series is available at carolinatheatre.org.

Masks are required to be worn in the theater at all times unless actively eating or drinking. Additionally, the Carolina Theatre has upgraded its air filtration systems to purify indoor air quality in all public spaces. The theater is also practicing enhanced cleaning methods, added touchless payment options, and has increased the number of hand sanitizer stations.

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About The Carolina Theatre of Durham:

Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which manages the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region. More information at carolinatheatre.org.

Contact: Jordan Hewitt Beard
Senior Director of Marketing, Carolina Theatre of Durham
(919) 560-3040 | jordan@carolinatheatre.org