Skip to main content

Gogue Center 2026–27 K–12 School Performance Series

Page 1


k–12 school performance series

Gravity & Other Myths: Ten Thousand Hours

What Do You Do With a Problem?

Curious George: The Golden Meatball

Cirque Mechanics: Tilt!

Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar Ocean Blue featuring

Dear Educator,

We’re delighted to introduce you and your students to the Gogue Center’s 2026–27 K–12 School Performance Series. Our new season features an inspiring lineup of acclaimed artists and imaginative productions from across the country and around the world. From breathtaking contemporary circus and inventive literary adaptations to live music, cultural storytelling and captivating puppetry, there’s something for students of all ages and grade levels.

At the Gogue Center, we’re committed to serving schools with intentionality and helping educators share meaningful arts experiences with their students. Our K–12 School Performance Series is designed to connect classroom instruction with the energy, creativity and wonder of live performance.

Through this series, students will encounter stories and art forms that stir conversation, spark curiosity and encourage exploration. Each performance offers an engaging and memorable way to consider important ideas, including perseverance, problem-solving, innovation, collaboration and our relationship with the world around us.

Prior to each performance, registered educators will receive a study guide featuring information about the performing artist or company and the art form, along with relevant, grade-appropriate lessons and activities designed to support arts and academic standards-based learning in the classroom.

Within this brochure, you’ll find a complete guide to our 2026–27 K–12 School Performance Series, along with everything you need to register your students for upcoming performances.

We look forward to seeing you and your students at the Gogue Center soon!

2026–27 k–12 school performance series

SUGGESTED GRADES

PERFORMANCES

Gravity & Other Myths: Ten Thousand Hours

Wednesday, October 7 10 a.m.

What Do You Do With a Problem?

Friday, October 30

9:30 a.m. • Noon

Curious George: The Golden Meatball

Friday, February 12

9:30 a.m. • Noon

Cirque Mechanics: Tilt!

Tuesday, March 2 10 a.m.

Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar

Thursday, April 29

9:30 a.m. • Noon

Ocean Blue

Monday, May 3

9:30 a.m. • Noon

Gravity & Other Myths: Ten Thousand Hours

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

10 a.m. (Central)

Eight acrobats and one musician take audiences inside the demanding, often unseen process of mastering a skill in Gravity & Other Myths’ Ten Thousand Hours. Through breathtaking balances, daring lifts and finely tuned ensemble work, the artists reveal not only what extraordinary physical ability looks like, but also the practice, patience and trust required to achieve it. For students, the performance offers a vivid lesson in perseverance, collaboration and growth. Ten Thousand Hours also encourages students to appreciate the discipline behind achievement, whether in athletics, academics or the arts. Its thrilling blend of contemporary circus and live music makes big ideas about practice and mastery feel immediate and memorable.

suggested grades 6–12

curricular connections

Character Development

English Language Arts

Math

Science

STEAM

The level of thought, skill, and emotional courage on display is breathtaking.”
— The Scotsman

What Do You Do With a Problem?

Friday, October 30, 2026

9:30 a.m. • Noon (Central)

Based on the acclaimed children’s book by Kobi Yamada, What Do You Do With a Problem? follows a child confronted by a challenge that seems to grow larger the more it is avoided. Through dance, narration and an original score, the production transforms an internal struggle into a vivid theatrical journey. As the child finally faces the problem, fear gives way to discovery and possibility. Students will gain an accessible framework for thinking about resilience, emotional awareness and constructive problem-solving while seeing how movement can communicate ideas and feelings. The performance encourages young audiences to manage uncertainty, ask for help when needed and recognize that even the most difficult challenges can lead to unexpected growth opportunities.

suggested grades K–3

curricular connections

Art

Character Development

Dance & Movement

English Language Arts

Science

Storytelling

Theatre

Curious George: The Golden Meatball

Friday, February 12, 2027

9:30 a.m. • Noon (Central)

Curious George’s boundless curiosity leads to a lively new adventure in Curious George: The Golden Meatball. During All-You-Can-Eat Meatball Day, George sets out to help his friend Chef Pisghetti by entering the chef’s recipe in the world-famous Golden Meatball Contest in Rome. Along the way, George encounters new places, new people and plenty of unexpected complications as he searches for the secret ingredient to success. Featuring music, humor and the familiar spirit of the beloved books, the production introduces young students to live musical theatre while celebrating friendship and creative thinking.

suggested grades K–3

curricular connections

Art

Character Development

English Language Arts

Math

Science

Social Studies

Storytelling

Theatre

A delightful and engaging production centered around everybody’s favorite monkey!” — BroadwayWorld

Cirque Mechanics: Tilt!

Tuesday, March 2, 2027

10 a.m. (Central)

Cirque Mechanics invites students into the sights and sounds of a 1980s amusement park in Tilt! Packed with acrobatics, aerial feats, juggling and clowning, the production transforms familiar carnival scenes into displays of artistry, engineering and physical skill. Beneath the spectacle is a playful story about connection, curiosity and shared experience. For students, Tilt! offers engaging entry points into physics, design, teamwork and creative problem-solving while demonstrating how performers, builders and technicians collaborate to bring complex ideas to life onstage. Tilt! is a high-energy celebration of invention, movement and the remarkable possibilities of human ingenuity.

curricular connections

Dance & Movement

History

Science

Social Studies

STEAM

Storytelling Theatre

Intelligently conceived and expertly executed.” — The New York Times

Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar

Thursday, April 29, 2027

9:30 a.m. • Noon (Central)

Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar tells the true story of the young Hawaiian inventor whose experimentation changed the sound of music. In the late 1800s, Kekuku discovered a new way to play the guitar by sliding metal across its strings, creating the distinctive Hawaiian sound that later influenced blues, country and rock and roll. Combining live music, dramatic storytelling and projected imagery, the production explores his life, creativity and lasting legacy. The performance offers meaningful connections to music, history, engineering and cultural exchange while encouraging students to see innovation and imagination as forces for change.

suggested grades

4–8

curricular connections

English Language Arts

History

Music

Social Studies

STEAM

Storytelling

Theatre

The Gogue Center is proud to support Joseph Kekuku and the Voice of the Steel Guitar through its participation in the Theater for Young Audiences Tour Development Collective.

Ocean Blue

Monday, May 3, 2027

9:30 a.m. • Noon (Central)

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia returns to the Gogue Center with a brand-new puppetry masterpiece— Ocean Blue. The story follows Charlie, a young crab swept into the mysterious depths of the Gully, a deep-sea trench in the Atlantic Ocean. His journey carries him through vast marine environments alongside whales, sea turtles and other ocean life. As Charlie learns to adapt, face danger and rely on others, he discovers the value of courage, kindness, resilience and friendship. Blending science with imaginative storytelling, digital projects and original music, Ocean Blue introduces students to ocean habitats, animal migration and marine biodiversity while inspiring curiosity about the natural world.

suggested grades K–2

curricular connections

Art

Math Science

Social Studies

STEAM

Storytelling

Theatre

registration

Online registration for all 2026–27

K–12 School Performance Series shows opens Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 8 a.m. (Central).

Registration forms are reviewed in the order they are received. Seat reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis.

K–12 School Performance Series shows are priced at $10 per ticket.

Educators and/or school administrators must complete an online registration form for their school group.

Registration forms must include the total number of classes, students and adults (educators and chaperones) attending each performance. When registering, please also provide the names and email addresses of all educators attending each performance. As a reminder, a ratio of at least one educator or chaperone to every 10–15 students is required.

Schools should request all necessary accommodations when registering. Space in our sensory rooms is limited and is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. If sensory room accommodations are not available, teachers and chaperones will be directed to accompany their students to available seating in the lobby, where they can view the performance from our monitors. Educators and/or school administrators with questions or concerns should contact Heather Watson, patron services manager, by telephone at 334.844.8499.

Registrants will receive an invoice from the Gogue Center education coordinator six weeks prior to the

performance date. Payment is due no later than four weeks prior to the performance date and may be remitted via credit card or check. Failure to pay in a timely manner will result in forfeiture of tickets. All sales are final.

For more information about the Gogue Center’s K–12 School Performance Series, individual performances, or to learn more about registration, visit goguecenter.auburn.edu/k-12 or contact Andrea Jarmon, education coordinator, by telephone at 334.844.7371 or via email at gpac.education@auburn.edu.

c hanging your registration

Educators must contact the Gogue Center Department of Education and Engagement at least six weeks prior to the performance regarding registration changes, including any adjustments to the number of registered attendees. Registration of additional students, teachers and chaperones will be accommodated as space allows. Schools will be held responsible for paying the original or adjusted invoice total, whichever amount is greater.

Registrants may cancel their orders up to four weeks prior to the performance date without penalty of fee. Registrants who cancel their orders two to four weeks prior to the performance date will be charged 50 percent of the invoice total.

Registrants who cancel their orders less than two weeks prior to the performance date will be charged 100 percent of the invoice total. (Please note that schools with multiple order cancellations this season may lose registration priority next season.)

To make changes to a submitted registration form, please contact Andrea Jarmon, education coordinator, by telephone at 334.844.7371 or via email at gpac.education@auburn.edu

performance details

Unless otherwise noted, all K–12 School Performance Series shows are approximately one hour in length. Schools are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the scheduled performance. Start times for all performances are listed in Central time. Dismissal will begin at the conclusion of the performance; teachers and chaperones should expect the dismissal process to take approximately 30 minutes.

All performances are subject to change and/or cancellation. The Gogue Center will notify all educators of any performance changes as soon as they can be made available.

performance venue

All K–12 School Performance Series shows will be presented at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University. The Gogue Center is located at 910 South College Street in Auburn, Alabama. All performances will be held indoors at the Woltosz Theatre.

seating

All ticket purchases are general admission, and seat reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats are assigned by the Gogue Center based on group size, grade level and accommodation needs.

The Gogue Center can accommodate both passenger cars and buses (school, coach, shuttle and transit) during performances.

Educators will receive detailed parking instructions and transportation-related updates prior to each performance. Bus drivers will be asked to provide a contact number where they can be reached and should remain on-site for the duration of the performance.

bus reimbursement program

All schools attending a K–12 School Performance Series show are eligible to participate in the Gogue Center’s bus reimbursement program. Educators may request information on the bus reimbursement program when submitting their registration form or by contacting Andrea Jarmon, education coordinator, via email at gpac.education@auburn.edu.

lunch

Schools wishing to stay in the area for lunch are encouraged to consider visiting one of the many nearby City of Auburn parks. A list of parks can be found online at auburnalabama. org/parks/facilities. Schools may also explore other opportunities available on or around the Auburn University campus.

For additional information and details on parks and venues located near the Gogue Center, educators may contact Andrea Jarmon, education coordinator, via email at gpac.education@auburn.edu.

The Gogue Center is committed to making all facets of our organization accessible to all audiences. The following accommodations are available:

Accessible locations for wheelchairs and for patrons who wish to transfer from mobility devices into seats are available. All public restrooms are also wheelchair-accessible.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available. Requests for ASL interpretation services are requested no later than two weeks prior to a performance

Assistive listening devices are available on a first-come, firstserved basis.

Audio descriptions, captioning and reserved seating are available. Requests for visual accommodations are requested no later than four weeks prior to a performance.

Sensory-friendly viewing areas are available to patrons who have need.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Gogue Center 2026–27 K–12 School Performance Series by Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University - Issuu