Shakespeare Education Experience Tour
Bringing professional Shakespeare performances directly to your school or community venue
The Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Shakespeare Education Experience (SEE) Tour brings a fully staged, actor-driven Shakespeare production to schools, colleges, libraries, community centers, senior centers, and public venues across the region each fall.
Created with middle and high school students in mind, the SEE Tour is also fully appropriate and engaging for adult and mixed-age audiences. Each booking includes a performance and a cast talk-back designed to deepen understanding of the play and offer behind-the-scenes insight into Shakespeare’s language, themes, and performance.
Fall Tour 2026: Romeo & Juliet
Directed by Madison Kisst
Our 2026 SEE Tour production is a fast-paced, five-actor adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, crafted specifically for student learners and fully engaging for adult audiences.
Touring Dates: School and venue bookings available October 19-November 4
Daytime Field Trip Matinees: Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6 at 10 am
Public Performances: Saturday, November 7 - Two performances at 2 pm and 5 pm
Recommended Ages: Grades 7-12 and adults
Ideal for: Middle and high schools, university classes, libraries, senior and community centers, and public venues seeking accessible arts programming
Run Time: Approximately 1 hour
Content Warning: This production includes themes of love, conflict, family tension, death, and suicide.
Three Ways to Experience Romeo & Juliet
1 - Bring the Tour to You
Host Romeo & Juliet at your school, college, library, community center, or other venue! Our professional touring ensemble brings everything needed for the production, including set pieces, costumes, and props. Each approximately one-hour performance is followed by a conversation with the actors. Tour bookings are available October 19 through November 4, 2026.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are already bringing this year's tour to nine schools with limited arts funding at a fully subsidized cost. We have now reached our capacity for subsidized tour performances this fall, and our remaining tour dates are available at our standard booking rates. More specific information on what is included, workshops, and rates can be found below.
2 - Bring Your Students to Us
Make Shakespeare your next field trip! School and homeschool groups can attend special daytime performances of Romeo & Juliet, designed to give students the experience of seeing Shakespeare live. Each performance includes an approximately one-hour production and a post-show conversation with the cast. Recommended for grades 7 through 12 due to themes of love, conflict, family tension, death, and suicide.
Daytime Field Trip Matinees will take place Thursday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m. and Friday, November 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the 4th Story Theatre at West End United Methodist Church. Free parking for cars and buses is available.
Tickets are $10 per person for both students and educators from public schools, private schools, and homeschool groups.
A limited pool of 100 free tickets is available for eligible schools through NSF’s subsidized programming. Schools qualify if 40% or more of their students are identified as economically disadvantaged on the Tennessee Department of Education State Report Card. Free tickets are available while supplies last.
3 - Come to a Public Performance
You do not have to be a student to see the SEE Tour! Join us for two public performances of Romeo & Juliet on Saturday, November 7 at 2 pm and 5 pm located at West End United Methodist Church's 4th Story Theater.
What’s Included - Tour Booking
Every SEE Tour booking includes:
An abridged (appx. 1 hour) performance by our five-actor professional touring ensemble
A post-show talkback with the cast
Support from our Tour Manager for day-of logistics guidance
A self-contained performance - we travel with all props, costumes, and set pieces
Teaching Artist Workshops
Workshops give students or community groups dedicated time with our touring actors/teaching artists in an interactive environment.
Our workshops (30–60 minutes) include:
A fast, clear overview of the plays characters, themes, and style
Movement and rhythm exercises that make Shakespeare’s language physical and approachable
Activities that help participants speak text with confidence and intention
Insight into the actor’s process - how professional artists approach Shakespeare
How to Book:
Submit a Booking Form
Complete the form with your ideal dates, venue type, and audience size. NSF is committed to accessible arts experiences, so please let us know if your venue or audience requires specific accommodations.Confirm Your Date
NSF will follow up to finalize scheduling, provide your contract, and review space needs.Prepare Your Space
Our Tour Manager will share day-of logistics and hosting guidance.Performance Day
The touring ensemble arrives 60–90 minutes before your event. Performance + talk-back follows.Optional Workshops
If you’ve added workshops, our actors/teaching artists will transition into your classroom or gathering space (can occur before or after the performance).
“...You could see lightbulbs going off in student brains as they watched and connected the performances to what they had read. The crowd work and personality of the actors shone through, giving an experience that cannot be duplicated by a performance on a screen. For most of our students, it was the first play they had ever seen live, and has sparked their interest in live performance.”
Pricing and Financial Support
The SEE Tour uses a simple fixed-fee structure based on your distance from our office in Nashville (161 Rains Avenue, 37203). Standard rates apply to community venues, homeschools, private schools, and public schools where less than 39% of students are economically disadvantaged (according to the TN Department of Education Report Card).
Public schools where 40% or more of students are economically disadvantaged may qualify for fully subsidized SEE Tour performances and workshops, based on available funding and tour capacity each season. For the 2026 tour, all of our fully subsidized school bookings have now been filled. We are grateful to be serving nine schools through this program this fall. Remaining tour dates are available at our standard booking rates.
Standard Rates
WITHIN 50 MILES OF NASHVILLE
Performance Only (includes talkback)
1 show: $950
2 shows, same day (with at least a one-hour break): $1,500
Performance + Workshop (includes up to two one-class workshops total)
1 show + workshops: $1,200
2 shows + workshops: $1,700
Additional Workshops (beyond the 2 included)
One 1-hour workshop (single class): $150
BETWEEN 50-100 MILES FROM NASHVILLE
Performance Only (includes talkback)
1 show: $1,250
2 shows, same day (with at least a one-hour break): $1,800
Performance + Workshop (includes up to two one-class workshops total)
1 show + workshops: $1,500
2 shows + workshops: $2,000
Additional Workshops (beyond the 2 included)
One 1-hour workshop (single class): $150
MORE THAN 100 MILES FROM NASHVILLE
Performance Only (includes talkback)
1 show: $1,550
2 shows, same day (with at least a one-hour break): $2,100
Performance + Workshop (includes up to one-class two workshops total)
1 show + workshops: $1,800
2 shows + workshops: $2,300
Additional Workshops (beyond the 2 included)
One 1-hour workshop (single class): $150
Schools Eligible for Subsidized Programming
(more than 40% of students are economically disadvantaged according to the TN Department of Education State Report Card)
Our fully subsidized performance capacity for the 2026 tour has been filled. Schools are still welcome to inquire about paid tour availability or future SEE Tour programming. Thank you to all for your interest in this program!
Student Ticket Subsidy (STS) from the Tennessee Arts Commission
If you are a public school where less than 39% of students are economically disadvantaged but still need financial support, the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Student Ticket Subsidy (STS) program may help cover your tour cost. Schools can apply to receive funding that offsets the cost of student attendance at arts experiences including touring performances like ours. Visit the STS program page or eligibility, deadlines, and application details.
Please contact us early to discuss your interest in applying so we can coordinate dates while you apply for subsidy funding. We encourage anyone who is interested to apply early. NSF does not have any control over who is awarded STS funds.
Shakespeare Education Experience Tour Sponsors
SEE Tour Underwriters
Season Sponsors
