Student Matinees

Student Matinees

Bring your students to see a play at Hartford Stage! Each student matinee is followed by a talkback with members of the cast and creative team.

Death of a Salesman

Offers an excellent opportunity for students to read this American classic, followed by experiencing it in performance. Can be a springboard for meaningful discussions about how we define success across generations.

By Arthur Miller
Directed by Melia Bensussen

Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Friday, March 27, 2026

A salesman has got to dream.

This Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner is one of the most profound classic dramas of the American theater and a poignant story of the perilously high cost of the American Dream. Willy Loman desperately craves success for himself and his sons, but stark reality cannot live up to his dreams. The wall of delusions he has constructed quietly crumbles around him while a devastated and demoralized man searches in vain for a hidden path to greatness. Meanwhile, his devoted wife holds out hope, and his sons wrestle with their own failings. Death of a Salesman is beautifully written and endlessly surprising, revealing new truths to every generation of audiences.

Recommended for 9th grade and up.

Contains suicide, some mature language, sexual references, including marital infidelity, and intense family dynamics. We think these plays will be best enjoyed by the age recommendations above — but you know your child/students the best! We welcome parents and teachers to make their own decision based on these content considerations.
Themes & Topics for Discussion:
Arthur Miller, the American Dream, legacy, reality vs. illusion, family dynamics, particularly father/son relationships, generational values, tragedy.

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Native Gardens

Students will enjoy the quick, witty dialogue and likeable characters. The play uses humor to challenge assumptions around race, age, gender and politics.

By Karen Zacarias
Directed by Nicole A. Watson

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Good neighbors don’t grow on trees.

What starts as a warm welcome for new neighbors quickly devolves into a flower-flinging backyard battle for the ages in this hilarious contemporary comedy. Pablo and Tania, an up-and-coming young couple, are new to the neighborhood. Virginia and Frank next door have been fixtures for decades. While the couples disagree on landscaping and decor, they agree on one thing: the ugly chain link fence separating their yards has got to go. Their plan takes an unexpected turn when the truth about that old fence is discovered, and Tania’s vision for native plants and wildflowers doesn’t align with Frank’s pesticide-dependent manicured masterpiece. Their differences extend beyond gardening with race, class, age, and gender all on the table. Despite all of this, will they be able to sow the seeds of friendship?

Recommended for 9th grade and up.

Contains mild profanity, mostly spoken in Spanish. We think these plays will be best enjoyed by the age recommendations above — but you know your child/students the best! We welcome parents and teachers to make their own decision based on these content considerations.
Themes & Topics for Discussion:
race, privilege, code-switching, civil dialogue, the American Dream, biodiversity and ecosystems, comedic structure

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Sample Study Guides