The Goodman is among the most prestigious theatres in Chicago, something that’s considered an incredible achievement. The theatre has garnered 185 awards including 22 Tony Awards and the Regional Theatre Tony Award, along with having international recognition when it comes to their artists, productions, and educational programs.
If there’s one thing that sets them apart, it’s the emphasis on their educational programs. They offer three specific programs ranging from STEM workshops focusing on technical theater, free Disney musical theatre programs for elementary schools, and the “flagship” of their educational programs: the School Matinee Series.
The School Matinee Series gives high school teachers an opportunity to work the Goodman’s shows into their curriculums regardless of the subject. In turn, the 21 partner schools across Chicago receive free tickets for students to attend up to three Goodman productions. The schools are also reimbursed for transportation and all who attend are given two free tickets to go back.
The teachers involved in the Matinee Series at Taft include Language and Literature teachers Darren Tuggle, Barbara Newton, and Stephanie Mazon along with Science teacher Isaac Sporrong. Tuggle was the one who brought the opportunity to Taft, stating in an interview, “I’ve actually been involved with the Goodman Theatre for the last 10 years now. I brought it here; it’s a wonderful program.”
Teachers have the privilege of attending workshops and applying the Goodman’s shows to their curriculums. Both Tuggle and Newton recalled when past units tied into the Series, such as Margaret Atwood’s “The Penelopiad,” and Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye.”
“It’s a great way to compliment what we’re already teaching. Of course, we can’t always pair them up, but when we can, it’s a pretty magical experience,” Tuggle continued.
The workshops themselves differ on the concepts and themes present in the show. Both Newton and Tuggle mentioned dinners thematically connecting to the show along with activities made to make those involved think deeply about relevant concepts. Often times, those activities can be brought back to classrooms and students.
Each workshop officially ends with the teacher’s first viewing of the show. They see it for free and the goal is for them to see it in order to generate potential class discussions and give content warnings.
Anna Rogelio Joaquin, the Goodman’s school program manager, spoke on the Matinee Series a few days after Taft’s attendance to their current production “Bust.” She mentioned the 2025-2026 season and the Goodman’s decision process when it comes to choosing the shows.
“The season as a whole is selected through our artistic department, and we actually just selected our 25-26 season. We looked at the shows for the season and we asked ourselves what shows would students respond to. Some teachers, once we tell them what the shows are, they’ll read the plays in class.”
A very notable aspect of the Matinee Series is its immense student engagement. Even students who don’t enjoy theatre or have English as their strong subjects have been able to connect to the shows presented and, most importantly, have fun. Tuggle, Newton, and Joaquin recalled “Fat Ham”, a modern adaptation of Shakesphere’s “Hamlet”, during this past season.
“I think of one my favorite moments is the karaoke scene is Fat Ham and everyone started singing along to “Creep.” Everyone was waving their hands back and forth. It’s so moving to see everyone so engrossed with the show,” said Joaquin, who was present at the matinee.
Especially when considering Gen-Z’s low attention span and a lot of people’s inability to put their phones away, the high student engagement is something unusual, but sincerely amazing to witness.
The series as a whole has proved itself to earn the title of the Goodman’s “flagship program.” It’s capable of giving students opportunities some would dream of, and it gives teachers the chance to become students once again, all for free. Chicago is beyond lucky to have the privilege of the School Matinee Series.
