Kravis Center Announces Four New Schools For Disney Musicals In Schools Program

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts announces the four Palm Beach County public elementary schools that have been selected to participate in its 2019-2020 Disney Musicals in Schools program. The program is an outreach initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Group to create sustainable theater programs in under-resourced elementary schools. The four schools selected are Galaxy E3 Elementary in Boynton Beach, Jupiter Elementary, South Grade Elementary in Lake Worth and Westward Elementary in West Palm Beach.

The selected schools will participate in a 17-week musical theater residency, led by a team of teaching artists trained by the Kravis Center and Disney Theatrical Group, at no cost to them. Each school will receive performance rights, education support materials and guidance from the teaching artists. The program features a professional development focus, through which participating school teachers partner with Kravis Center 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, the Kravis Center will host a Student Share Celebration on April 9, 2020, in which each school performs one number from its show on the Marden Stage in Dreyfoos Hall for an audience of students, teachers, family, and community members.

"We are so excited to see this program's growth as it enters its third year, creating sustainable theater programs in more of our local under-resourced elementary schools," said Tracy C. Butler, director of education for the Kravis Center. "Using the unique world of musical theater, Disney Musicals in Schools helps to foster positive relationships between students, faculty, staff, parents, and the community. Students and teachers work in teams, developing the wide spectrum of skills needed when producing a piece of musical theater, including: critical thinking, problem solving, ensemble building, communication, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills."

Seven other Palm Beach County schools are currently enrolled in the program and will continue producing Disney musicals at their schools this academic year: Academy for Positive Learning in Lake Worth, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary in Riviera Beach, Egret Lake Elementary in West Palm Beach, Forest Park Elementary in Boynton Beach, Glade View Elementary in Belle Glade, Lincoln Elementary in Riviera Beach, and Meadow Park Elementary in West Palm Beach.

Disney Musicals in Schools was launched in 2010 in response to Disney Theatrical Group's concern that under-resourced public elementary schools 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 across the United States.

Disney KIDS musicals, created in partnership with Music Theater International (MTI), are 30-minute musicals designed for elementary school performers and have been adapted from the classic Disney films 101 Dalmatians, Aladdin, The Aristocats, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, and Winnie the Pooh.