Field Trips
Weekday Educational Matinees
Looking for an educational field trip to enrich your classroom curriculum? How about giving your students an unforgettable live-theatre experience!
Performances are at The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin, Illinois 60120, with plenty of free parking for buses and cars.
All cast members are 2nd-9th graders. Who knows: someone from your class may be in the show!
Please note that these matinees often sell out, so reserve seats early for your group.
Weekday Matinees
Your students will love our school show performances! Read below to learn more. Online reservations are NOW OPEN; you can fill out the form at the bottom of the page to reserve seats for your group.
The SpongeBob Musical
Get ready for a splash-tastic musical adventure based on the beloved Nickelodeon cartoon! SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical tells the hilarious tale of everyone’s favorite yellow sponge, SpongeBob, as he tries to save his underwater hometown of Bikini Bottom from a looming volcanic eruption.
With awesome songs written by a bunch of different talented artists and a super fun story, this musical brings all your favorite Bikini Bottom pals to the stage. From SpongeBob’s bubbly optimism to Patrick’s lovable goofiness and Sandy’s brilliant inventions, the whole gang is here!
Originally hitting the stage in Chicago before making a big splash on Broadway, this show is full of laughs, catchy tunes, and a heartwarming message about friendship and saving the day. Get ready to cheer on SpongeBob as he proves that even a simple sponge can be a hero! It’s a must-see musical for fans of all ages!
Presented through arrangement with Broadway Licensing
Rating: G
Run Time: 90 minutes
School shows: November 20-21, 2025 at 9:45am.
PLEASE NOTE: Our performance on Friday, November 21st is fully booked, but we are taking requests for that performance on a waitlist basis. We do have seats remaining for the peformance on Thursday, November 20th and can provide immediate confirmation.
Matinee Reservation Information
Read the information in the tabs below before submitting your order.
If you have questions, want to drop off a payment, or prefer to make a reservation by phone, call 224-713-5188.
Show times:
Thursday – 9:45 am
Friday – 9:45 am
Run times are 90 minutes
Tickets: $7 each with one free teacher ticket for every 10 purchased; groups of 10 or more only at this price. No paper tickets issued. Groups check in at the door and seating is determined by our ushers.
Payment: Make checks payable to “Children’s Theatre of Elgin” and send them to 1700 Spartan Drive H104, Elgin, IL 60123. DO NOT send payments to Hemmens Cultural Center. Credit card payments are accepted for the full amount only plus a 3% handling fee when submitting your order. Please call 224-713-5188 to pay by card. Payment terms: Proof of purchase or full payment is due 30 days before the performance. Ticket payments are not refundable.
Educational Overview – Check back soon!
Study Guide: An enrichment guide containing differentiated lesson plans that reach standards in the content areas of Reading, Writing, Language, SEL (Social/Emotional Learning), and Speaking and Listening, which will reach all learners of varying levels, abilities, and learning styles, will be emailed to educators a few weeks before the performance.
How are school shows different than other performances? 1) There is no intermission or concessions sales, 2) seating is determined by our ushers, 3) sometimes shows are shortened to get out on time.
Ready to set up your reservation?
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