A familiar guest joined students from four local elementary schools who had just
performed at last year’s first Student Share Celebration at the Walt Disney Theater.
ou can certainly see world-class professional musical theater at Dr. Phillips
Center for the Performing Arts. But you won’t see any shows that are more
heartfelt — and more heartening — than those staged through Disney Musicals
Y
“Some of these schools had never staged
a performance,” says Dana Brazil, the arts
center’s senior director of education. “Some
of these teachers had no background in the
arts. But I’ll tell you this: They’re rock stars.”
By now, each school has already presented
a 30-minute version of a major Disney musical
on its campus. And now, it’s time for the
grand — and we mean very
On May 21, Dr. Phillips Center will host a
Student Share Celebration at the Walt Disney
Theater, where youngsters will present
a production number on the big stage.
That, of course, is where the Broadway
pros usually strut their stuff. It’s a heady experience,
particularly for kids who may never
62 artsLife | SUMMER 2018
have even seen a musical theater performance
live and in person.
So, it’s no exaggeration to say that lives
are likely changed as a result of this 17-
week program, which is facilitated by highly
credentialed teaching artists trained by
the arts center and the New York-based
Disney Theatrical Group.
Participating schools receive, at no cost,
the performance rights to one of seven Dis-
-
sters: Aladdin KIDS, The Aristocats KIDS, Cinderella
KIDS, The Jungle Book KIDS, The Lion
King KIDS,101 Dalmations KIDS and Winnie
the Pooh KIDS. Educational and support materials
are included.
in Schools.
This extraordinary program, now in its second year locally, is offered by the
resourced elementary schools in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
Four schools are selected per academic year. This year’s participants include Kaley
Lake Como Elementary and the OCPS Academic Center for Excellence, both in Orange
County, as well as Pleasant Hill Elementary in Osceola County and Wicklow Elementary in
Seminole County.