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Folly Kids Series

2025 - 2026 Season

The Folly Kids’ Series is a collection of national and international traveling presenters who produce quality, curriculum-based performances. Age-appropriate performances engage students in topics including children’s literacy, STEM, and social-emotional wellness. Students, parents, and school groups alike will enjoy programs which inspire and entertain, all from the stage of Kansas City’s most historic arts venue!

With themes such as language arts, social sciences, music, and science we’re certain you should be able to find a show or two to fit a variety of curriculum standards. As with previous seasons, our series capacity is on a first-come-first-serve basis!

Tickets are only $6!
One free adult with 10 paid student tickets
To order tickets or book a field trip, please call the box office at 816-474-4444 or complete THIS ORDER FORM.
Title I schools have an opportunity to have ticket and bus transportation costs covered by supporters of the Folly Theater (subject to fund availability).

 

Show Duration: Approximately 60 minutes, no intermission

Thursday November 6, 2025 | 9:45 am & 11:30 am
Recommended ages: PreK – 2nd
Show Duration: Approximately 60 minutes, no intermission

Whatever you do, don’t let the Pigeon star in his own musical production! With a script written by Mo Willems, the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling, Caldecott Honor award-winning “Pigeon” picture books, and featuring music by Deborah Wicks La Puma (Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!), TheaterWorksUSA‘s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party! It’s not easy being the Pigeon-you never get to do ANYTHING! But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird CAN do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping

Need to book a school group? Fill out this order form
Ticket Purchase – Click Here

Wednesday February 18 2026  | 9:45 am & 11:30 am
Recommended ages: K – 2nd
Show Duration: Approximately 60 minutes, no intermission

Meet Dr. King is a wonderful introduction to the life and work of one of America’s most influential men. This show is perfect for younger audiences, serving to introduce students to major concepts of Black History like freedom, integration and equality. Meet Dr. King helps young people begin to understand the importance of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement. Follow along as the play takes us from
Dr. King’s life as just a young boy experiencing racism for the first time, to meeting his wife, Coretta, to becoming a pastor and finally a national inspiration.

Need to book a school group? Fill out this order form
Ticket Purchase – Click Here

Thursday March 5 2026  | 9:45 am & 11:30 am
Recommended ages: PreK – 2nd
Show Duration: Approximately 60 minutes, no intermission

Turn the poutiest of frowns upside down in this musical featuring whimsical puppets and live performers in a sweeping oceanic adventure. When Mr. Fish sets out on a quest to find Miss Clam’s missing pearl, he discovers there is more to him than his permanently plastered pout. This colorful adaptation of The New York Times bestseller is co-conceived, directed, and designed by the acclaimed puppeteers of
AchesonWalsh Studios.

Need to book a school group? Fill out this order form
Ticket Purchase – Click Here

Wednesday April 8 2026 | 9:45 am & 11:30 am
Recommended ages: K – 5th
Show Duration: Approximately 60 minutes, no intermission

When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! But when rivalries both old and new threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk getting forever lost in the solar system. Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the original book series published by Scholastic.

Need to book a school group? Fill out this order form
Ticket Purchase – Click Here

Thursday May 7 2026  | 9:45 am & 11:30 am
Recommended ages: K – 7th
Show Duration: Approximately 60 minutes, no intermission

Brains On, the wildly popular podcast for kids, is hitting the road with a hilarious science themed show that takes the audience on an
adventure through our brains. Hosts Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez and Sanden Totten will be there with magic tricks, dance moves, out-of-body experiences, mystery sounds, and even a game show! All the while, kids (and their grown-ups) learn how our brains take a handful of signals from the eyes and ears and turn them into a vibrant picture of the world.

Need to book a school group? Fill out this order form
Ticket Purchase – Click Here

General Information

Tickets
– Tickets are $6 each for students & chaperones. One (1) complimentary adult reservation may be issued per every 10 student ticket purchased.
– Credit/Debit card processing fee $2.50/order
– As many performances sell out months in advance we encourage school groups to book as early as possible.
– Funding may be available by Folly grant to Title 1 schools (subject to funding availability) – we suggest filling out the online order form and a representative will be in contact after receiving. If you have any issues or questions, please call our box office at (816) 474-4444
– For schools: If you have parent/chaperones/etc that will need to acquire their own ticket separate from your order, they can do so by individual purchase on the ticket purchase page. If this is of interest, we can add the name of the school in the checkout path for these individuals to select to assist with seating efforts – please arrange with us.
–  As are a small non-profit arts theater and due the nature of these events we are unable to offer refunds or exchanges.

Payment options include: Card (Visa/Discover/Master Card/American Express) can be taken over the phone by calling 816-474-4444 during normal business hours
or check may be mailed in or dropped off in-person at:
Folly Business Office
1020 Central St
Suite 200
Kansas City MO 64105

Performance Location
All performances take place at:
Folly Theater
300 W 12th St
Kansas City, MO 64105

How to Reserve Tickets & Payment Information
To purchase tickets visit https://orders.follytheater.org/Events
For schools and large homeschool groups, please fill out our ONLINE FORM. If you need assistance, call our box office at (816) 474-4444 or e-mail our team at contact@follytheater.org.

Payment is due no later than 30 days prior to the performance and may be required sooner to lock in reservation for popular performances.  When a group books a performance online or over the phone, the box office will email an invoice with reservation details. All sales are final with no refunds, cancellations, or exchanges. If a performance is canceled due to inclement weather, the Folly will reschedule your group for a different production appropriate for your grade (whenever possible)

 

FAQ

When do I receive my tickets for a Folly Kids’ Series performance?
Tickets are not issued for Folly Kids’ Series performances.  Seating is determined by Folly Staff and ushers based on an established seating map.
For homeschool/parent group not attending with a school, check-in at the Box Office when entering the building for your selected performance, and seating location will be arranged based off open locations on the map. If you have any special accommodation needs for accessibility, these must be provided in advance. 

Can my school eat lunch on-site before or after a performance?
Unfortunately, the Folly does not have facilities available for school groups to each lunch on site.  We can provide restroom facilities and provide suggestions for outdoor locations for lunch. 

How do we obtain a refund if our school date is canceled?
Due to the varying weather policies of area schools and districts planning to attend a matinee, the Folly will attempt to reschedule a performance or gladly transfer a reservation to an alternate performance within the school year to the best of our availability.  However, Refunds will only be issued in the case of a performance cancellation arranged by the Folly Theater. 

Receive up to date information about the Folly Kids Series by  following us on Facebook  or  signing up for Folly Kids’ Series email notifications. 

The Folly Kids Series is generously brought to you by the Missouri Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Theater League, R.A. Long Foundation, Ronald D. Deffenbaugh Foundation, DST/SS&C, PNC Bank, and UMB Bank. 

What accommodations are available?

  • Lobby-entry, orchestra-level seating, first floor restrooms, and box office areas are all ADA-accessible and barrier free
  • Assistive listening devises are available for check out at the Box Office counter
  • Variety KC sensory kits are available at all Folly Theater performances.  Sensory kits include noise-reducing headphones, dark glasses, weighted pads, and handheld sensory items Variety KC Sensory Kits are available for check out at the Box Office
  • For additional accommodations, email us at contact@follytheater.org