School Time Performances

School Buses in front of the Tobin Center

Bring your students to The Tobin Center for an enriching live performance and make your curriculum come alive! Our field trips offer a robust, standards-aligned educational experience for students, whether they are learning in the classroom or from home.

Some performances may include opportunities for students to engage with artists after the performance has concluded. These are offered first-come, first served. Each event that may have this connection available will indicate the opportunity on it’s web page. If you are interested requesting the opportunity to participate in one of these events, you may indicate this during your ticket reservation process.

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🥕 My Trip to The Tobin Center Powerpoint

School Time Performance Fees

All School Time Performances at The Tobin Center are provided at no cost to students, teachers, caregivers, and families thanks to generous contributions from our donors.

Transportation Grant

McCombs Arts Education Fund

The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts is proud to offer transportation grants to schools and non-profit organizations attending the Tobin’s School Time and Sensory Friendly Performances. Prioritization will be given to Title I schools and first-time recipients; however, any school is eligible to apply. This will be a first-come, first-served selection process. Campus grade levels or departments that have already been allocated a reimbursement and reapply will be subject to fund availability following the first-time applicant awards. Once awarded, the funds are required to be used for the performance for which they were requested. If the school does not attend (barring an act of God or a documentable failure by the transportation depot), the campus will be ineligible for reimbursement in the following semester. An invoice for bus transportation by district or non-profit must be received within 30 days of performance in order to provide reimbursement. Thank you for your interest in The Tobin Center Transportation Grant. We look forward to reviewing your application. Only bus and driver fees are eligible for reimbursement. Completion of this form does not reserve tickets for the selected performance. Performance reservations must be made separately. Thank you for your interest in The Tobin Center Transportation Grant. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Apply Here

Additional Information

Why do pre-reservations close two weeks before the performance?
- Generation NEXT creates a seating chart for each performance, blocking school seats together as a group and matching ADA needs with the best possible seats. We also use this time to contact patrons with any questions we have on how to make this performance the best experience possible for them.
Pre-reservations are closed! Can I still see the show?
- If we still have tickets available, yes! The Box Office will be open the day of the performance and you can get tickets then. The ushers will know where the any free seats are and will work with you to put you in the best possible seat. You will know tickets are available because the web page will direct patrons to visit the Box Office the day of the event. If the performance is sold out, the web page will say so.
Can I choose my seat?
- For student safety and to follow school district security policies, we create the seating chart based on confirmed group size and any ADA accommodation requests submitted during the ticket reservation process. Only reservations made at the same time can be placed together, which helps ensure all chaperones are cleared through campus field trip procedures.
- If a reservation is made separately and a patron would like to sit with a specific group, coordination with the campus or group is required. Day of show seating changes are subject to space availability.
I have a reservation. Where are my tickets?
- All tickets for Sensory Friendly and School Time Performances are "GA," General Admission. No one has specific seats assigned to them until we generate our seating chart for the event. Tickets will be given to you in person on the day of the performance. (See the "Day of Show" email, which is sent to patrons two weeks before the show, for more information.)
Who can attend the show?
- While these performances are intended for school groups and non-profits, everyone is welcome to attend any School Time performance. There are no guest limits or requirements to participate.
I need more than 40 tickets. What do I do?
- You have a choice in how to proceed:
  • Make more than one reservation in the online system, totaling the tickets needed. We will combine your orders on our end for ONE reservation.
  • Call the Box Office 210-223-8624 and make ONE reservation over the phone. (The Box Office opens at 10 am.)
Are there limits to the numbers of chaperone tickets that may be requested by schools?
- No, though The Tobin Center does define “chaperone” as an adult who is actively monitoring students.
If parents want to see the show, can they get tickets?
- Yes! Please note that campuses should arrange for all tickets they wish to have seated with their school group. Any adult tickets arranged in a separate order will not be seated with the campus, even if listing the campus as their “school.” This allows the school to process visitor passes and identify the adults allowed to be with the children. Patrons arranging for tickets the day of the event will be given the best seats available by Tobin Center Ushers.
I’m a parent / chaperone. How do I sit with my child?
- For student safety and school district security procedures, only reservations made at the same time as the campus or group will be included in the group’s seating chart area. School districts require chaperones to be cleared through campus field trip protocols and The Tobin Center is dedicated to protecting the safety of our audiences.
- If a patron makes a separate reservation and wants to sit with the school group, they must either coordinate with the campus to be included with the group or a teacher must escort them to the seating area. Day of show seating with the group is based on space available nearby.
I'm bringing a bus. What do I need to know?
- Two weeks before the show, you will be emailed a bus map with directions, arrival procedures, and other helpful information. Watch for an email subject line “Day of Show."
I’m arriving by car. What do I need to know?
- Two weeks before the show, you will be emailed with directions, arrival procedures, and other helpful information. Watch for an email subject line “Day of Show." We suggest parking in the Tobin Center parking garage on 4th street, which is a short (less than two blocks) walk from the front steps of the theatre. We do not validate parking for School Time Performance events.
What time should we arrive to the show?
- It is recommended to arrive to the Tobin Center approximately 30 minutes early to ensure ample time to find a parking space and locate your seat. The Tobin Center has a parking garage located off of Fourth Street for extra parking as needed. If you need more time, the house doors will be open one hour before the performance. Bussing directions will be provided in the "Day of Show" email, which is sent to patrons two weeks before the show.
How long does the show last?
- School Time Performances run approximately one hour.

Amenities

School buses are able to park and stay on-site if space is available on performance day. For information on buses, please contact The Tobin Center Box Office.
Students and teachers may enjoy their school-provided lunches after a performance at The Tobin Center with prior approval. Space is limited! For information on picnic areas, contact Cecily Kadilis at [email protected].
Due to food allergies and liability for our onsite catering department, outside food and drink may not be consumed within The Tobin Center.
Lunching may only take place with a reservation and a minimum of 2 weeks' notice before the show date. Lunches must be contained in large group boxes or coolers. These may be stored inside the McCombs lobby during the performance.
If weather conditions make it difficult to hold lunch outdoors, we may be able to move groups with lunch reservations inside The Tobin Center. Indoor space availability depends on the building’s schedule that day and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If a change is needed, we’ll reach out directly to the name and contact information listed on your reservation with updated details.

Sensory-Friendly Performances

Sensory Friendly Performances are inclusive matinees that address the needs of all individuals in a welcoming environment. While the integrity and authenticity of the performance remains the same, certain production elements will be modified to create an accommodating experience. This provides an accessible opportunity for everyone to enjoy the arts.

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