Center Theatre Group Selects Elementary Schools For Disney Musicals In Schools Program

Center Theatre Group is pleased to announce the five new schools that have been selected to participate in the 2018-2019 Disney Musicals in Schools program. The program is an initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Productions to create sustainable theatre programs in under-resourced elementary schools. The five schools are a part of Los Angeles County. The five schools include: Breed Street Elementary (LAUSD), Cantara Street School (LAUSD), Saturn Street Elementary (LAUSD), Tulsa Street Elementary (LAUSD) and Wild Rose School of Creative Arts (Monrovia Unified School District).

The selected schools will begin a 17-week musical theatre residency in the winter of 2018. Each school will receive performance rights, education support materials and guidance from two teaching artists. The program features a professional development focus, through which participating school teachers partner with Center Theatre Group teaching artists to learn how to produce, direct, choreograph and music direct, culminating in their first 30-minute Disney KIDS musical at their school. As a capstone to the experience, Center Theatre Group will host a Student Share Celebration in which each school performs one number from their show on the Ahmanson Theatre stage for an audience of students, teachers, family and community members.

On being selected, the principals from each school had the following to say:

"Breed [Street Elementary] is thrilled and honored at being one of the schools selected to be part of the Disney Musicals in Schools. Our partnership allows Breed students to be actively engaged in their own learning as they experience the world of theatre, both in front and behind the curtain. Students will experience the various arts as they help develop the theater production known as 'a musical.' Our school community looks forward to learning and working with Center Theatre Group teaching artists as we participate in a positive endeavor to bring the magic of musical theatre to Breed Street Elementary School!" -Patricia Romero, Breed Street Elementary

"We are thrilled to partner with Center Theatre Group and DMIS to foster student creativity, inspire self-expression and promote self-esteem as students create an engaging performance for the benefit of the whole community." -Melanie Karabedian, Cantara Street School

"When we started our journey for building our Arts Integration program, we made the conscious decision to believe that everything we needed would come our way. Because we use a star as a symbol for positivity, we smiled and sang out, 'When you wish upon a star...' as we continued to make connections and request. So, when the Disney Musicals in Schools application was received, we knew this was for us. Then, when the notification was made that we were selected, our staff first cheered and then said, 'Okay, here we go, it's happening and it's now!'" -Tracie Bryant, Saturn Street Elementary & Arts and Media Magnet

"Tulsa School for Advanced Studies is so excited to be selected to be part of the Disney Musicals in Schools program. I know this will be the experience of a lifetime for our entire school community. With the excellence Disney is known for along with the expertise of the teaching artists from the Center Theater Group, our teachers and students will acquire so many valuable skills while creating lasting memories." -Lester Powell, Tulsa Street Elementary

"Being accepted into the DMIS Program opens so many vistas for our school. You never know who will be inspired to want to be the next Tony Award winner. This collaboration gives our teachers, parents and students the chance to experience the joy of creativity, movement, poise and being part of a collaborative process to bring together a musical performance. I am so thrilled to begin our journey with Center Theatre Group." -Leslie Miller, Ed.D., Wild Rose School of Creative Arts

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