Free access to Grammy-nominated artists, interactive science shows and world-class performing arts for thousands of local students
The Vilar Performing Arts Center has announced the 2025-26 lineup for its Support the Arts Reaching Students (STARS) program, bringing Grammy-nominated musicians, interactive science demonstrations, beloved children’s theater productions, contemporary dance companies, and more to Eagle County students, all for free.
This year’s STARS series starts in September and features 25 performances designed to inspire, educate and entertain students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Highlights include the Latin GRAMMY-nominated Mariachi Herencia de México, a musical adaptation of The Magic School Bus, the award-winning Story Pirates comedy troupe, an inspiring anti-bullying storytelling performance, and the renowned dance company Ailey II.
Launched in 1998, the Vilar’s STARS program has provided tens of thousands of students from Eagle County and beyond with access to live performances. Today, the program serves over 8,000 students each year through age-appropriate shows at the Vilar that are often integrated into teachers’ lesson plans and school field trips.
All STARS performances are free for PreK-12th grade students in Eagle County and surrounding areas, with tickets distributed through a lottery system. Programming spans dance, theater, world music, STEAM education, and cultural experiences, offering students artistic opportunities that strengthen critical thinking, enhance cultural literacy and develop creative problem-solving skills.
“The performing arts allow us to examine our existence through the lens of someone else’s. They reveal perspectives we may never have considered, illuminating new ways of understanding and seeing the world,” said Cameron Morgan, Executive Director of the Vilar Performing Arts Center. “For students, these moments of reflection and inspiration can shape how they see themselves, their futures and the world around them. Through STARS, we ensure these transformative experiences are accessible to every student in our community.”
“STARS is special because we handpick performances that deepen classroom learning and introduce students to art forms they might not otherwise encounter,” added Kit Twichell, Arts Education & Community Engagement Manager for the Vilar. “This year, we’ve expanded programming for older grades and placed a strong emphasis on productions that promote social-emotional growth and STEAM learning.”
The Vilar’s STARS program is funded by individual contributors and a generous endowment from the Frechette Family Foundation.
2025-26 STARS lineup
MADDOG AND ME: BULLYING AND THE POWER OF KINDNESS | Tuesday, September 16 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
This inspiring mix of world tales/fables and personal stories addresses the culture of cruelty in our society. Through fables, myths, and stories from his own life growing up in a rough neighborhood, David Gonzalez looks at the roles of bully, victim, and bystander and offers insights for cultivating compassionate relationships and communities. Perfect for 3rd-6th graders.
MARIACHI HERENCIA DE MÉXICO | Monday, October 6 | 12:30 PM
The Latin GRAMMY-nominated group brings the historic tradition of mariachi music to life with energetic, virtuosic performances. Perfect for 6th-12th grade students to experience authentic Mexican cultural heritage.
STORY PIRATES | Friday, October 24 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
Get ready for improvised sketch comedy based on ideas from kids in the audience. The multi-award-winning creators of The Story Pirates Podcast prove that all kids are creative geniuses in this hilarious and inspiring show for 3rd-5th graders.
THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS | Monday, October 27 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space! This new musical adaptation based on the beloved Scholastic book series takes K-5th graders on an epic interplanetary field trip.
DOKTOR KABOOM: UNDER PRESSURE | Friday, November 14 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
Equal parts interactive science, comedy, and personal empowerment, this show illustrates physical science concepts while addressing real-life mental and emotional pressures that students may face. Perfect for 3rd-7th graders.
MISTER G | Tuesday, November 18 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
The Latin Grammy award-winning duo presents “Señorita Mariposa,” a bilingual eco-adventure following the monarch butterfly migration from Canada to Mexico. This interactive show uses music and movement to teach lessons in language, science and geography for PreK-5th grade.
THE NUTCRACKER | Friday, December 12 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
Vail Friends of Dance presents dancers from the Vail Youth Ballet Company and Vail Valley Academy of Dance in this classic holiday production for K-5th graders, featuring spectacular costumes and mesmerizing backdrops.
AILEY II | Thursday, January 15 | 12:30 PM
The renowned company merges the spirit and energy of the country’s best early-career dance talent with outstanding choreography. Dance Magazine calls Ailey II “second to none” in this performance designed for 6th-12th graders.
JUNGLE BOOK | Monday, January 26 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
The classic Mowgli stories burst to life using spectacular video, shadowplay, and original music, transporting 1st-3rd graders from Mowgli’s childhood with the wolves to our urban jungle today.
CIRQUE MECHANICS TILT! | Tuesday, March 3 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
Journey to the backlot of an inventive theme park where circus acrobatics meet mechanical wonders. This show displays the raw quality and American ingenuity that makes Cirque Mechanics’ message timeless and relevant for 3rd-8th graders.
BUGS BY KAKI KING | Tuesday, March 10 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
One of today’s most acclaimed guitarists blends music and technology with the wild and wonderful world of bugs! This interactive performance for PreK-3rd graders features signature guitar projection mapping and encourages audiences to participate.
DOODLE POP | Tuesday, April 7 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
A mischievous duo starts to doodle and creates a whole imaginative world! This touching and playful non-verbal show for PreK-2nd graders uses live musicians, stunning interactive animation projections, and theatrical imagination.
DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE! | Thursday, April 9 | 12:30 PM
Discover a pre-historic world of astonishing, life-like dinosaurs in this roarsome interactive show for 1st-5th graders, featuring everyone’s favorite T-Rex, Triceratops, and more impressive creatures.
ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST & FRIENDS | Thursday, May 7 | 10 AM & 12:30 PM
This fun musical based on the beloved books by Andrea Beaty spotlights STEM curriculum, following three inquisitive out-of-the-box thinkers: Rosie Revere, Iggy Peck, and Ada Twist in their adventures for K-4th graders.
STARS is part of the Vilar’s broader efforts to increase access to the performing arts for the community. Each year, the Vilar also distributes thousands of free tickets through its Community Arts Access program and delivers arts education initiatives that inspire audiences of all ages.
For more information about the STARS series, complete show descriptions, and to access school group request forms, visit vilarpac.org/stars.