The Disney Musicals in Schools Program is Making Waves of Impact Across the Region

Applications for Disney Musicals in Schools are now open. A free arts education program from Disney Theatrical Group and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Apply by October 16.

Since Fall 2019, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has been a presenting partner of Disney Theatrical Group’s Disney Musicals in Schools program. The Disney Musicals in Schools program is a transformative arts education program designed to build sustainable musical theater programs in public elementary schools. This residency aimed at 3rd – 5th grade students in Title I-funded  schools and requires at least three educators to be the stewards of the program.

Beginning as program only available in Allegheny County, Disney Musicals in Schools program offers free professional resources, professional development, and scaffolded support to produce a Disney KIDS musical in selected schools. All the while engaging students in creativity, collaboration, confidence-building, and self-expression. Disney Musicals in Schools supports student growth in communication, teamwork, leadership, and social-emotional development.

Upon successful completion of their residency, schools also participate in the Student Share Celebration. For this event, schools come to the Cultural District to perform one number from their chosen musical on one of our professional stages. During this daytime experience, students in Years 1-3 of the program get a chance to celebrate their accomplishments, be in community with each other, and showcase their hard work to their family and friends. It’s also an opportunity for the educators and school staff to celebrate their own hard work.

While the focus of the program is on students, this is also a professional development opportunity for the educators who take on this program. There is no prior theater experience required for participating educators. We just ask them to commit their time and attention to providing students with meaningful arts learning opportunities by learning how to carry out some of the many roles that exist in theater. Most educators we’ve worked with start out as uncertain as their students. By the end of their first year, with the guidance of their professional Teaching Artists, they successfully call themselves directors, music directors, choreographers, and stage managers.  

Last year, the Disney Musicals in Schools program branched out to engage schools from Allegheny to Greene county with each new school presenting its own unique challenges and triumphs. In addition to expanding geographically, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust was the first presenting organization to successfully implement the Disney Musicals in Schools program at a school for the Deaf – Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf to be exact. The success of the program there helps to serve as a blueprint for any other schools for the Deaf showing that theater can be made accessible for the Deaf community at this level as well. We are very excited to continue laying that groundwork this year and delve deeper into what this program can look like.

This Disney Musicals in Schools program was born out of a love for theater and a desire to give students access to the skills and tools learned through theater-making early in life. Children often are exposed to sports as soon as they can walk. There’s access to music, dance, and even visual arts very early in life for young people. The goal of our program is to do the same for them with theater. Learn more about this impactful program.

If this sounds like a program you’d be interested in seeing in your local school community please feel free to share it with the educators you know, and let them know that applications close Friday, October 16, 2026. The earlier they apply, the better!

Please direct any questions, to the program manager, Shakirah Stephens, at stephens@trustarts.org.