The Backstage Pass student matinee program at UNK is designed to offer students and instructors from across Nebraska an opportunity to combine the experience of live theatre with the benefits of theatre education. This program typically targets high school students, but we are happy to include elementary and middle school students whenever our productions are appropriate for younger audiences. Through this experience, we hope to inspire a greater appreciation for the Theatre Arts in students of all ages.
Every Backstage Pass matinee event consists of a performance of the current UNK Theatre & Dance production, immediately followed by a brief Q&A session with the production's cast, crew, director, and designers. The Q&A session is an informal opportunity for students (and instructors) to ask any questions that come to mind regarding the production, the UNK Theatre & Dance program, or Theatre in general.
With admission to each Backstage Pass matinee event set at only $1 per person (students and chaperones), we hope to make live Theatre more accessible to students in schools across the state.
While detailed information about each individual Backstage Pass event is e-mailed to our Nebraska High School contacts (drama instructors) prior to each event, we welcome instructors to review the information here, and submit reservations at any time - no need to wait. To be sure we know who to expect, we do require advance reservations for all school groups and/or any individual students attending on their own.
To make a reservation for a Backstage Pass event at any time, feel free to contact Susan Deiger, or click below.
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Performance Title |
Show times and information |
|---|---|
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A Look Behind the Masks 4 One-Acts |
NO STUDENT PERFORMANCES. |
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An Old-Fashioned Family Murder by Joe DiPietro |
Student Matinee (high school): April 23, 2026 A murder. A mystery. A mother. It’s a dark and stormy night at the mansion of elderly Colonel Claythorne, and the pompous murder-mystery author Arthur Whittington is holding court with the Colonel’s family. When Whittington shares the news that the Colonel has modified his will to cut out one of his daughters – though which daughter won’t be revealed until the Colonel’s death – tempers flare. By the time Mrs. Peck’s son, (junior) Detective Paul Peck arrives at the house, there’s been a murder, and everyone is a suspect. With backstabbing, love, and Mrs. Peck’s mother-knows-best advice complicating the investigation, it soon becomes clear that nothing – and no one – is what it seems. |
For further information about the Backstage Pass matinee program, please contact Susan Deiger.
