• The safety of our staff, patrons, and artists is incredibly important to us. We have established the following changes to our policies to ensure the well-being of everyone attending a performance.
  • Masking is optional, but, for the safety of the unmasked actors and your fellow audience members, we highly suggest wearing a mask. 
  • Student groups attending student matinee performances do not need to show proof of vaccine or negative COVID test.
  • Masks will be available to patrons upon request.
  • Staff will be masked in all public spaces.
  • There will be no food or drink permitted in the theatre during student matinees.
  • Hand sanitizer is readily available throughout the lobby. 
  • Hard copy programs will not be distributed. Please feel welcome to view our digital programs for performances which can be found on our website. 
  • Restrooms, public spaces, galleries, and high-touch surfaces are cleaned and sanitized at increased intervals.
  • Additional visit opportunities such as backstage tours and lunch space rentals will not be available this season. 
  • If you have been exposed to COVID-19 recently or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, or shortness of breath), please stay home and plan a future visit instead.
• Because we can’t know an individual’s vaccination status we are relying on our visitors to make the right decision with regards to mask-wearing. Masking is highly recommended by the CDC.  Staff (except actors) will be masked. Thank you for your cooperation while we continue to navigate this together. If you have any additional questions, please contact IRT Education at education@irtlive.com.

• If your school is canceled or delayed, please contact IRT Education as soon as possible. We will first attempt to find a future performance of the same show to move your reservation. If that is not an option for your school, we will try to move your reservation into a different production later in the season. If none of those options work, we can offer a refund of your ticket cost. Refunds are only available in instances of school or classroom emergency.

• Click here to download everything you need to know about arrival and dismissal for an IRT Student Matinee.

• IRT will make every effort to accommodate the needs of any student. If anyone in your group requires wheelchair-accessible seating, audio description, ASL or assisted listening services, sensory-friendly seating or any other accommodations, please let IRT know at least 30 days before your visit so that we can best accommodate your needs. While we will work diligently to meet the needs of every student, we cannot guarantee accommodation requests made within 30 days of the performance.

• If a student or chaperone with a paid ticket is absent on the day of your visit, we can provide a voucher allowing them to return to another performance of the same play. The voucher is good for one ticket only. No refunds will be given due to student absence.

• You will not receive paper tickets for your visit to an IRT Student Matinee. We utilize a group seating chart that is made shortly before the performance.

• No. We utilize a group seating chart that is made shortly before each performance. This allows the greatest flexibility in seating many large groups without separating schools. We attempt to prioritize schools that have booked and paid early. While you are welcome to request a particular area of our theatre, IRT student matinees regularly sell out and we can never guarantee preferred seating.

• We are unable to accommodate lunch space requests at the theatre this season. Public dining areas are located at Circle Centre Mall and the Indianapolis ArtsGarden, both less than one block from IRT.

• To ensure the safety of our staff, patrons, and artists, backstage tours will not be available this season.

• Yes! Every IRT Student Matinee is followed by a free, optional post-show discussion. This Q&A with IRT staff and performers (pending availability) will add approximately 15-20 minutes to your trip and will begin as soon as schools not staying have been dismissed. Late arrivals or delays in starting the show may necessitate the cancellation of the post-show discussion. 

• No. IRT believes that each individual should be comfortable whenever they attend a performance. If it is appropriate for your school’s dress code, it is appropriate for a visit to IRT.

• One of the most important functions that the theatre offers its community is the opportunity to create conversation. At IRT we pride ourselves on providing student audiences with the same high-quality, thought-provoking productions that we produce for the public. However, we also recognize that every school audience is different and may have concerns about the content presented on stage. To that end, we offer recommended age guidelines for every production, as well as a content spotlight addressing potentially objectionable content. Additionally, we offer preview scripts for every production, and encourage concerned teachers to explore the content of the play in advance.

• Yes! IRT is a strong supporter of those who educate our youth. As a token of our appreciation, educators receive $10 tickets to all First Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night performances and $10-off tickets to all other performances excluding A Christmas Carol.

• No. To protect the copyrights of our artists, photography or video of any kind is not permitted in the theatre before, during, or after the show. If you would like a group photo to commemorate your visit, we invite you to gather in the Grand Lobby or in front of the box office marquee.

• Students should:
  • ​Discard all gum, food, and drink before entering the theatre.
  • Turn off all technology during the show.
  • Refrain from conversations during the performance. Talking of any kind during the show disturbs the audience and performers alike.
     
• Adults should follow the same guidelines as students, as well as:
  • Distribute themselves among students in your assigned seating area.
  • Report any student who is ill or injured to an IRT staff member immediately.
  • Assist House Management and Education staff to monitor student behavior during the performance.

Click here for a downloadable guide for student and teacher expectations.

• In the unlikely event of a fire or weather emergency during the performance, an alarm will sound and the lights will come up. Remain calm, stay seated, listen for instructions, and allow IRT staff to guide you to the nearest exit or safe space. The performance will resume as quickly as is safe.