Press Release · Disney Theatrical Group
DISNEY THEATRICAL GROUP ANNOUNCES 200 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SELECTED FOR 2026-27 DISNEY MUSICALS IN SCHOOLS: STAGE CONNECT PROGRAM
Distributed by Pop News Magazine · Originally issued via PR Newswire
THE FREE ONLINE TEACHER TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE PROGRAM WILL HELP SCHOOLS IN 43 STATES AND TERRITORIES PRODUCE THEIR FIRST SCHOOL MUSICAL
Applications Now Open for the 2027-28 School Year
NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2026 — Today, Disney Theatrical Group announced the 200 public elementary schools to participate in the Disney Musicals in Schools: Stage Connect program for the 2026-27 school year. Stage Connect, an expansion of Disney Musicals in Schools, is a program that delivers high-quality teacher training through online learning, bringing the magic of musical theatre to schools that do not have a Disney Musicals in Schools residency program in their area. This year's Stage Connect cohort was selected from more than 800 applications and will reach over 10,000 students, nearly three times the size of the 70-school inaugural class that launched the program in fall 2025.
The selected schools are in 43 states and U.S. territories, spanning communities from coast to coast and across the Pacific and Caribbean. 2026-27 recipients include schools in rural communities like Emerson, Arkansas, cities like Milwaukee, Wisconsin, communities in American Samoa, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, as well as a school on a U.S. military base in Sicily, Italy. Many of these communities are far from any in-person Disney Musicals in Schools program, and Stage Connect brings the opportunity directly to them.
Each selected school will receive access to the Stage Connect online teacher training platform, performance rights to a Disney KIDS show, and a ShowKit of materials, including scripts, director's guides, and rehearsal tracks, all at no cost. Schools will choose from 101 Dalmatians, Aladdin, The Aristocats, Finding Nemo, Frozen, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Winnie the Pooh. Before beginning rehearsals, educators will complete the Stage Connect courses so they can lead their school's first musical regardless of prior theatre experience. Participating schools will also be matched with a Disney Production Mentor who provides virtual coaching to teachers throughout the rehearsal and production experience.
"These 200 schools are in places as far apart as American Samoa and a military base in Sicily. That's nearly 11,000 miles," said Lisa Mitchell, Director of Education & Audience Engagement at Disney Theatrical Group. "What they have in common is a school community ready to make theatre. Stage Connect bridges that distance, so a teacher's location no longer decides whether they have the training and resources for their students to perform a musical and enjoy the many benefits of arts education."
To date, the combined impact of both delivery models of Disney Musicals in Schools has launched theatre programs in over 1,000 schools, representing over 150,000 student participants.
Applications for the 2027-28 school year are now open and are due Monday, March 1, 2027. Any public or charter elementary school in the United States and its territories is eligible to apply. For more information and to apply, visit DisneyMusicalsInSchools.com.
SOURCE Disney Theatrical Group
About Disney Musicals in Schools: Disney Musicals in Schools is a Disney Theatrical Group initiative that ignites a passion for storytelling by building sustainable theatre programs in public elementary schools. Since launching in 2009, the program has partnered with local performing arts organizations in 24 cities across the U.S. and U.K. and, through Stage Connect, now reaches schools nationwide. For more information, visit DisneyMusicalsInSchools.com.
Disney Musicals in Schools is one of Disney's signature programs supporting Future Generations to become their best selves – the world's future storytellers, dreamers, heroes and leaders. Learn more at Disney.com/FutureGenerations.