Disney Musicals in Schools Celebrates 10 Years of Transforming Arts Education in Orlando

Orlando, FL – Ten years, dozens of schools and countless first-time theatre debuts later, Disney Musicals in Schools continues to expand access to arts education in Central Florida elementary schools through a unique collaboration between Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Walt Disney World and Disney Theatrical Group. The program provides free scripts, performance materials and coaching to help launch sustainable theater programs and stage schools’ first productions. 

As Disney Musicals in Schools celebrates 10 years of theatre programming in Orlando, student participants from Orange and Osceola counties were invited to Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to make their big debut on Walt Disney Theater stage and perform numbers they’ve been working on for months as part of the program. The Student Share event gives participants the opportunity to perform on stage in a professional venue and experience the joy of bringing Disney stories to life for their friends, families and more than 200 Disney VoluntEARS who showed up to support them. 

"A decade in, we've seen firsthand what happens when students are given the space to create,” said Ryan Simpson, education director at Dr. Phillips Center. "Through our partnership with Disney, we've helped schools across Central Florida build lasting theatre programs that go beyond teaching performance – they shape how young people see themselves and the world around them.”

Access to arts education changes lives, and Disney and Dr. Phillips Center help make it possible through the Disney Musicals in Schools program. Dr. Phillips Center delivers the program to Central Florida schools, with financial support from Disney World. Both teams know that behind every performance is a student finding their voice, a teacher gaining confidence and a school discovering new possibilities, all made possible through this 10-year collaboration.

“Disney Musicals in Schools has helped students across Central Florida discover the confidence and creativity that comes from stepping onto a stage,” said Tajiana Ancora-Brown, Director of External Affairs at Walt Disney World. “We’re proud of the lasting impact the program has made on around 6,000 local students in 36 schools throughout our community.”

Disney is proud to support kids and teachers in classrooms across all 50 states as part of our commitment to inspire future generations of storytellers and innovators. Learn more about Disney’s efforts at Disney.com/FutureGenerations.

Learn more about education programs at Dr. Phillips Center at drphillipscenter.org.