Disney Musical’s in Schools program celebrates 10 years of inspiring Southern California students
Disney’s stories are often inspiring for so many, and a lot of that inspiration has happened for local elementary school students in Orange County, California. Disney Theatrical Group (DTG) aka the company’s segment that puts on the staged version of their stories alongside Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA) are about to celebrate ten years of a program partnership called Disney Musical in Schools.
The program, which spans the United States, has many goals for those elementary schools and students that get invited to participate. Among them are to bring awareness of arts as meaningful part of a child’s education and show them what it takes to put on a staged musical if they desire to work in the industry one day. Over 17 weeks of education and rehearsals, a local performing arts organization will work with its neighboring elementary schools and use Disney’s staged musicals like “The Lion King” and “Frozen” as a creative curriculum.
Together with professional stage artists called “teaching artists,” the young students are given the opportunity to learn how to act, dance, and sing a Disney musical themselves. It all culminates with a Student Share Celebration performance of that Disney musical for their school and the supporting performing arts community.
SCFTA was the first performing arts organization on the West Coast of the United States asked to partner with DTG in implementing Disney Musicals in Schools back in 2014. Since then, 33 Title 1 schools and over 6,000 students in their area have benefited from the program, which is powered by grants. This year is an extra special year as it marks the 10-year anniversary of SCFTA and Disney Theatrical Group working together.
Talena Mara, SCFTA’s vice president of education, reflected on the landmark year by seeing how it has helped students in their community. “Observing and experiencing the immediate and enormous benefits each school and larger district population garnered through this 17-week residency was extraordinary, and was only surpassed by the immense evolution, engagement, focus, joy, and sense of community connection. The development and expansion opportunities through each of the participating schools and districts were an evergreen learning opportunity among students, staff and administrators,” she said.
Mara added that the goals of SCFTA and the future of the Disney Musicals in Schools program in the future will continue to be offering it to many more schools and students in their area. “To be able to service more schools throughout the Orange County area, we have heavily focused on recruiting and training as many new Teaching Artists for the program as possible.”
Part of being a sustainable program means that mentorship and support is returned by those who have benefited from the program, and Mara continued by sharing that SCFTA continues their engagement for two additional years after the first year with a full-day professional development session.
It takes a lot to put on a show, and the Disney Musicals in Schools program has not only shown that, but has led to a greater appreciation for the creative process as experienced through students and their mentors. “[The program has been a] testament to the resilience, creativity, and passion of the students, teachers, and administrators involved in the Disney Musicals in Schools program. We have witnessed incredible growth and camaraderie among the participants, and the Student Share celebration will be the perfect platform to not only showcase their achievements but display the impact of a decade of dedicated arts education,” Mara said.
Schools interested in learning more about the Disney Musicals in Schools program can learn more and inquire about it by visiting the official website.