SUMMER 2018 | artsLife 63
Rehearsals for on-campus performances of
Disney musicals are underway at (right, top to
bottom): Kaley Lake Como Elementary in Orange
County, Wicklow Elementary in Seminole County,
the OCPS Academic Center for Excellence in
Orange County and Pleasant Hill Elementary
in Osceola County. Each school selected its
own show, and staged it with the assistance of
teaching artists supplied by the program.
Two teaching artists work with each school,
helping to facilitate the process of producing,
directing and staging a show. These ben-
of creating sustainable, ongoing theater
education programs that will continue long
into the future.
Seminole County’s Lake Orienta Elementary
was one of four schools chosen last year
to participate in the program’s local debut.
Music teacher Larissa Hardesty and art
teacher Joshua Goldstein, with the support
of school administrators, spearheaded the
application process.
-
tion, additional teachers and administrators
eagerly got involved to help mount a production
of The Jungle Book KIDS, which was
chosen following a schoolwide vote.
“This program was the best thing that
could have happened to our school,” says
Hardesty, a second-year teacher. “We now
have a culture on our campus that celebrates
the arts. It had such a positive impact
on the kids — not just the actors, but also the
kids who worked on crews and made props.”
The Jungle Book KIDS sold out three performances
in the school’s auditorium prior to
the Student Share Celebration, during which
the cast joined other participating schools
— Kissimmee Elementary (Osceola County),
Bonneville Elementary (Orange County) and
Winegard Elementary (Orange County) — to
present a production number.
“Just to be able to step into Dr. Phillips
Center, much less to perform on the stage,
was huge for our kids,” says Hardesty, who
this year is directing the school’s production
of The Lion King KIDS. “It was an experience
they’ll never forget.”
Among the schools participating this
year, the OCPS Academic Center for Excellence
chose The Aristocats KIDS, Kaley
Lake Como Elementary chose Aladdin KIDS,
Pleasant Hill Elementary chose The Lion King
KIDS and Wicklow Elementary chose The