For so many kids, the name Disney means magic

The Disney Musicals in Schools program is designed to build sustainable theater programs in public elementary and middle schools. Schools receive free performance rights, scripts, and music for a KIDS or Junior version of a Disney musical, written for elementary and middle school performers.

Wharton Center is proud to be the only Disney Musicals in Schools partner in the state of Michigan. Since our participation in 2015, we have partnered with 29 schools throughout the state, allowing over 1000 students to participate in their very first school musical.

Disney Musicals in Schools was launched in response to Disney Theatrical Group’s concern that many students were not afforded equitable access to the arts. After successfully offering the program in New York City schools, Disney Theatrical Group began partnering with organizations in other communities around the United States.

Benefits of Disney Musicals in Schools 

Students and their teachers work in teams to develop a production throughout a 17-week residency, with Wharton Center’s trained teaching artists at the helm. Musical theater combines all the art forms and provides an engaging opportunity for young people to work onstage or behind the scenes. Beyond the joys of storytelling onstage, musical theatre fosters creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, self-confidence, and discipline in these students. 

Each year, the program culminates with a revue featuring each school performing one number from its production on the Wharton Center Cobb Great Hall stage. Family and friends are invited to watch their new stars step into the spotlight. 

Wharton Center selects up to six schools to participate in our Disney Musicals in Schools program. To be eligible, schools must be Title I and have at least 50% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and/or show lack of arts opportunities due to geographic location and be roughly 90 minutes away—or less—from East Lansing. Partner schools should serve any combination of grades 3-5 or 6-8. We are looking for schools that are interested in building a sustainable musical theatre program, that understand the importance of arts education, and plan to make it a part of their building culture for years to come.  

Requirements

Selected schools will be expected to:

• Host a site visit for the selection team during the interview process.
• Identify a School Team comprising at least 3-5 teachers or staff members, who will oversee and manage the program from beginning to end.
• Commit to 17 weeks of rehearsal /production in an after-school setting (see timeline), rehearsing 90 minutes, a minimum of 2 times a week for 17 weeks.
• Produce a 30-minute Disney KIDS musical involving 3rd-5th graders both on and off stage.
• Provide space, time, materials, and resources for students and the School Team to rehearse and prepare for the musical production. The space must be open with room for participating students to move, dance, and sing loudly.
• Provide opportunities for the whole school to be connected to the production.
• Involve parents and the larger community in the mounting of the production.
• Hold a minimum of one public performance of the musical.
• Participate in the culminating Student Share Celebration event at Wharton Center at the end of the program.

Wharton Center selects up to six schools to participate in our Disney Musicals in Schools program. To be eligible, schools must be Title I and have at least 50% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and/or show lack of arts opportunities due to geographic location, and be roughly 90 minutes away or less from Lansing. Schools should include some combination of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. We are looking for schools that are interested in building a sustainable musical theatre program, that understand the importance of arts education and plan to make it a part of their building culture for years to come.