NEW YORK CITY

The applications for the 2026-2027 school year are now open!

Applications due Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Continue reading below for program info and dates.

Disney Musicals in Schools Overview

Add a little magic to your school with Disney Musicals in Schools- a Disney Theatrical Group initiative that ignites a passion for storytelling by building sustainable theater programs in under-resourced public elementary and middle schools.

By providing free performance materials and free professional development to participating schools, Disney Musicals in Schools has helped schools across the US and UK launch new theater programs, inspiring the next generation of diverse storytellers, artists, and audiences.

Each year, up to 5 schools will be selected to participate in the Disney Musicals in Schools: Residency program and up to 5 schools will be selected to participate in the Disney Musicals in Schools: Mini-Residency program free of charge. Any New York City public elementary or middle school is eligible to apply. Schools at which at least 70% of students receive free and reduced lunch are particularly encouraged to apply.

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Goals

The goals of Disney Musicals in Schools are to:

Create sustainable musical theatre programs in public elementary and middle schools.
Provide school faculty with the training and tools necessary to support student performance and production, and to empower them to do so.
Develop a critical awareness and appreciation of the arts within the school.
Develop a strong community, including students, parents, faculty, staff, and neighbors.
Expose students and school faculty to the wide spectrum of skills that are developed when producing a piece of musical theatre, including critical thinking, problem solving, ensemble building, communication, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills.

Available Programs

The Residency program is perfect for schools without prior musical theatre experience that require more support.

The Mini-Residency program is ideal for schools with minimal theatre experience that require less support.

The primary difference between the two programs is the way in which the professional development is delivered. Details can be found in the section below.

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Selected schools will receive:

	Mini- Residency Elementary School	Residency Elementary School	Residency Middle School
Free performance license to a 30-minute Disney KIDS musical (see available shows here)	✓	✓
Free performance license to a 60-minute Disney JR. musical (see available shows here) *Excluding Dare to Dream & My Son Pinocchio			✓
Free ShowKit materials, including a director’s guide, student scripts, cross-curricular activities, accompaniment and rehearsal tracks, and choreography videos	✓	✓	✓
Free in-school support from Disney Teaching Artists	Three 90-minute visits from one teaching artist, customized to support your school	Weekly 90-minute visits from a pair of teaching artists for 17 weeks to train and guide your team throughout the process	Weekly 2 hr- visits from a pair of teaching artists for 22 weeks to train and guide your team throughout the process
A free professional development/orientation in midtown before program kick-off.	A day-long workshop that explores the rehearsal process and the foundational roles of director, music director, choreographer, stage manager, and producer.	A 3-hour orientation workshop to introduce school teams to the program pedagogy and assigned teaching artists.	A 3-hour orientation workshop to introduce school teams to the program pedagogy and assigned teaching artists.
Participation in a culminating Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share Celebration where, each school will share a selection from its production at a Broadway theatre	✓	✓	✓

Requirements

Elementary Schools will be expected to produce a 30-minute Disney KIDS musical involving 3rd-5th graders both on and off stage.
Middle Schools will be expected to produce a 60-minute Disney JR. musical involving 6th-8th graders on and off stage
All school are expected to identify a School Team comprising at least three teachers and staff members, including one arts specialist (any discipline) who will partner with the Disney Teaching Artists and oversee and manage the program from beginning to end. Though 3 is the requirement, the program is most successful when 4-6 teachers and staff members are involved.
- Residency Applicants: The School Team will receive on-site support from a team of 2 Disney Teaching Artists who will visit the school each week, for 17 weeks. The School Team will also run a 90-minute rehearsal on their own once each week.
- Mini-Residency Applicants: The School Team will rehearse for 90 minutes, twice a week, for 17 weeks. A Disney Teaching Artist will provide on-site support over three visits. Participating Mini-Residency School Team members must attend the required professional development workshop.
- Middle School Applicants: The School Team will rehearse for 2 hours twice a week for 22 weeks with additional rehearsals added at week 18.

Commit to a full semester of rehearsal /production in either a classroom or an after-school setting, but not both (see timeline).
Host a site visit for the selection team during the application process.
Provide space, time, materials, and resources for students and the School Team to rehearse and prepare for the musical production.
Provide opportunities for the whole school, parents, and larger community to be connected to the production.
Hold a minimum of one public performance of the musical.
Participate in the culminating Student Share event on Broadway, and provide transportation for participating students.

Assembling Your Team

As you prepare your application, remember that assembling the right team is integral to the success of the program. Your minimum of 3 team members will need to be identified prior to the application and interview process.

School Team members will cover the following roles: Director, Music Director, Stage Manager, and Choreographer. Each Disney Musical in Schools team requires a minimum of 3 school faculty or staff members to attend each rehearsal. Finalist School Teams will participate in an interview in which School Team Members will need to be present and ready to discuss their potential role(s) in the Production. Click here for descriptions of each of those roles that you’re welcome to share with your administration and prospective team members.

Note: while 3 team members are required, we’ve found that schools are most successful when there are 4. With 3 team members, one person will need to take on 2 of the described roles.

2026-2027 Key Dates:

SEPT 30	Applications Due
OCT 26 – NOV 13	Finalist School Interviews
NOV 25	All Applicants Notified of Status
NOV 30	Selected Residency School Orientation
DEC 7	Selected Mini-Residency School Orientation
DEC – MAY	Rehearsals and Onsite Support from Teaching Artists
MAY – JUNE	School Performances
JUNE	Disney Musicals in Schools Student Share Celebration

Financial Commitment

Disney will provide performance rights, ShowKit materials, Professional Development, and onsite Teaching Artist support at no charge to selected schools. Selected schools will be responsible for a production budget. Disney KIDS and JR. Musicals are designed to be produced inexpensively and have been successfully mounted within a budget of $300-$1500.

Disney Teaching Artists will work to maximize the school’s production budget by advising on the use of reclaimed and existing materials, such as cardboard boxes and t-shirts brought from home. Any additional costs, such as after-school payments for school staff, will be the school’s responsibility.

Mimosa Arts

NEW YORK CITY