Student Matinee Series

Writers Theatre Education welcomes students to attend award-winning theatre!  

• Seeing a live performance activates students’ imagination, increases critical thinking and emotional literacy skills and creates personal connections to classic and new works of art. 
• Each Student Matinee is followed by a facilitated talkback with the performers. 
• All school partners receive a comprehensive study guide developed by our Arts Engagement and Education team. Study guides are IL Standards-aligned and feature dramaturgical context, classroom activities, discussion questions and more.  

Fill out our interest form linked below with the season to begin the booking process. The interest form also includes more information about production content, field trip timing and the subsidized cost for school partners.

Reach out to education@writerstheatre.org with any additional questions. 

Table of Contents:

• Know Before You Go ....................................................................................04 
• Play Synopsis................................................................................................05 
• Meet the Players ...........................................................................................08 
• Meet the Playwright ......................................................................................09 
• World of the Play: Art and AI Across Time ....................................................12 
• Design Spotlight: Sisters Scenic Design Interview ......................................15 
• Classroom Activities: Teacher Introduction..................................................17 
• Preshow Classroom Activity: Design Challenge ...........................................20 
• Wraparound Classroom Activity: Create a Sibling .......................................23 
• Post-Show Classroom Activity: Vote with Your Feet…..................................27 
• Dramaturgical Research: What is AI? ...........................................................29 
• Discussion Questions .....................................................................................34

Some ways you might use the study guide based on how much time you have include…

BUS RIDE

• We know you’re crunched for time at school, so the bus rides are great opportunities to prepare students for the show and reflect on what they’ve seen! Use the ideas below to facilitate conversation pre-show and keep the Discussion Questions handy post show.

PRE-SHOW

• 15 min: Highlight main points from the “Know Before You Go,” “Meet the Playwright,” “Design Spotlight” and “Art and AI Across Time” articles.
• 15+ min: Wraparound Classroom Activity, “Create a Sibling,” the preshow portion of this activity invites students to create their ideal sibling, beginning with their personality traits. 
• 20+ min: assign sections of the study guide to small groups and have them present their main takeaways to the class
• 45+ min: Pre-Show Classroom Activity, “Designing the World of Sisters,” where students read stage directions and create sound or projection designs. 
• Post the guide on your Google Classroom page.

POST SHOW

• 10-20 min: Facilitate a conversation using the Discussion Questions
• 20+ min: Post Show Teacher Facilitation Guide, “Vote with Your Feet,” is an on-your-feet activity prompting students to express their opinions about key themes and actions in Sisters.
• 45+ min: Wraparound Classroom Activity, “Create a Sibling,” in the post show portion of this activity students return to the companion they began to create and design a body for them.