Special Feature: MATYA

Special Feature: MATYA | Miners Alley Performing Arts Center | Golden, CO | Curtain Up! | Eric Fitzgerald

Miners Alley’s Schools to Stage program is quietly becoming one of Colorado’s most generous arts‑education lifelines—a chance for students, especially those in Title I schools, to experience the wonder of live theatre without a single barrier to entry. Title I schools in Colorado are public schools that receive federal funding to support students who are at risk of failing academically, with eligibility based primarily on the percentage of children from low‑income families.

In my recent conversation with longtime children’s theatre creator and Executive Director of MATYA (Miners Alley Theatre for Young Audiences) Rory Pierce, he spoke with unmistakable passion about why bringing professional theatre-makers directly to young audiences matters now more than ever. Whether students travel to the Performing Arts Center for a full production and artist talkback, or Miners Alley brings a show straight into their school gymnasium, the goal is the same: to open a door, spark curiosity, and let young people see how storytelling comes alive onstage.

From Mother Goose: Jack (Diego Estrada), Miss Muffet (Paola Miranda), Mother Goose (Amy Arpan). Children from the audience | Photography credit: Miners Alley Performing Arts Center

The impact of Schools to Stage is already unmistakable. Big stage, big impact isn’t just a slogan—it’s the lived experience of students who discover confidence, empathy, and a sense of belonging through theatre. In fact, the very first Schools to Stage performance in March 2023—a bilingual adaptation of Mother Goose set in a trailer park—sparked squeals of laughter from children and tears of gratitude from parents and teachers who saw their own stories reflected onstage. That commitment to culturally resonant storytelling continues this season with Miners Alley’s newest bilingual production, Juan Bobo’s Pig Saves the Farm—written by Paola Miranda and Kate Poling—opening Saturday, August 15, and bringing another joyful, community‑rooted tale to Colorado students.

“We’re really excited about this program,” said Pierce, his enthusiasm unmistakable as he described how Schools to Stage is reshaping the way young people encounter theatre. For him, the joy isn’t just in presenting a show—it’s in watching students light up when they realize that theatre is made by real people, in real time, right in front of them. That sense of discovery, he noted, is what keeps Miners Alley committed to expanding English and bilingual productions, deepening community partnerships, and ensuring that every child—regardless of background—has access to the transformative power of the stage.

The program itself was born from a moment of generosity. Pierce recalled a couple who had learned that many students in Title I schools were unable to go on field trips—an absence of opportunity that struck them deeply. Their response was immediate and heartfelt: “We would like to donate and start a fund,” they offered, wanting to remove the financial barriers that kept children from experiencing live theatre. That simple act of kindness became the foundation of what is now Schools to Stage, a program designed to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, can step into a world of imagination, storytelling, and community.

“For Title I schools, not a penny comes out of their budgets to come see the shows,” Pierce emphasized, underscoring one of the program’s most powerful commitments. Thanks to the dedicated fund established by that generous couple—and sustained by ongoing community support—Miners Alley Theatre for Young Audiences can remove every financial barrier for schools that need it most. Transportation, tickets, artist talkbacks, and even in‑school performances are fully covered, ensuring that access to theatre is not a privilege but a promise.

That generosity—and the vision behind it—has fueled remarkable growth. According to Pierce, in 2024, Schools to Stage welcomed 8 schools and more than 1,700 students to Miners Alley, many experiencing live theatre for the very first time. The momentum continued in 2025, when 10 schools and 1,600 students attended performances at the theatre, and an additional 14 schools and 2,200 students participated through the touring arm of the program. What began as a simple act of kindness has become a statewide arts‑education force, reaching thousands of young people each year.

From Cinderella: Ella (Mikki Murray), Sam Evins (Austin), Gisselle Gonzalez (Fenora),Minerva (Sophia Badia) | Photography credit:  Boon Eye Photos

“They are all very interactive,” Pierce said, a description that perfectly matches what I’ve witnessed in several MATYA productions over the years. In shows like Snow White and the 7 Martians and Cinderella, young audiences don’t just sit and watch—they engage fully, becoming part of the performance itself. Whether they’re helping characters solve problems, joining in movement sequences, or stepping into the story during key moments, the children are invited to participate in ways that make the theatre feel alive, immediate, and joyfully theirs.

As Schools to Stage continues to grow, its mission remains beautifully simple: to ensure that every child in Colorado has access to the kind of transformative, joy‑filled theatre that can shape a life. Pierce speaks often about the future—expanding bilingual offerings, reaching more rural districts, and deepening partnerships with educators who see firsthand how the arts ignite curiosity and confidence in their students. With each new season, Miners Alley strengthens its commitment to making theatre not just an event, but a resource, a refuge, and a spark. And if the past few years are any indication, the next chapter of Schools to Stage will bring even more young people into the magic of storytelling, one delighted audience at a time.