Todd Hubler
Mickey Mouse is investing in arts education.
Overture Center for the Arts has been awarded a $100,000 grant to help area schools produce student versions of Disney musicals.
“It is a big deal,” says Ray Gargano, Overture’s director of programming and community engagement. “There are only about 12 cities in the country that Disney partners with.”
The program was developed by the New York-based Disney Theatrical Group to create sustainable theater programs in elementary schools that otherwise wouldn’t have the resources. The grant funds two years of programming for schools to produce 30-minute musicals designed for elementary school performers. The shows are adapted from the classic Disney films 101 Dalmatians, Aladdin, The Aristocats, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Sleeping Beauty and Winnie the Pooh.
Overture will select up to five area public elementary schools to participate. There is no cost to the schools, but they need to demonstrate that more than 50% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch.
The schools will participate in a 17-week musical theater residency led by artistic personnel trained by Overture and Disney. In addition to providing materials and guidance, the program offers professional development for teachers, who learn how to produce, direct and choreograph shows. The program will culminate in a public performance at the Overture’s Capitol Theater.
Scoring a partnership with Disney wasn’t easy. “We’ve come a long way,” says Gargano. “The preparedness that we have accrued over the last few years to be eligible for a program like this is pretty amazing.”
Overture had to demonstrate that it had the capacity to maintain the elaborate program. Gargano says Overture has been training about 55 teaching artists who will partner with educators in the schools to produce the shows.
Lisa Mitchell, senior manager for education and outreach at the Disney Theatrical Group, says the program has repercussions beyond creating entertainment. “Musical theater fosters deep learning and important life skills — from collaboration and creativity to empathy and confidence,” says Mitchell.
Disney Musicals in Schools was launched in 2010 in response to 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 began partnering with organizations across the country.
The Madison-area program will begin in January 2017. Applications for schools will be available this fall. For more information, visit overturecenter.org/dmis.
