Walnut Street Theatre gets $120,000 Disney grant to support theater in local schools

All Philadelphia public and charter elementary schools can apply to be one of a handful of schools selected to participate this year. The deadline is Friday, Oct. 12.

(Left to right:) Andre Brockenbrough, Jr., Domenica Passio, Melina Cruz, Immanuel Rimmer, and McKenna Ruelan in Disney's Aladdin, Jr. at the Walnut Street Theatre.Read moreCourtesy of the Walnut Street Theatre

by John Timpane

Published Sep. 26, 2018, 6:26 p.m. ET

Disney has awarded a $120,000 grant to the Walnut Street Theatre to administer the Disney Musicals in Schools program in Philadelphia. Developed by Disney Theatrical Productions, the program supports sustainable theater programs in under-resourced elementary schools.

The Walnut will select up to five local schools for the 2018-19 school year and another five for 2019-20. Selected schools will take part in a free 17-week musical theater residency, led by a team of teaching artists trained by Walnut and Disney Theatrical Productions.

The aim is to produce a 30-minute Disney KIDS musical at the various schools. All Philadelphia public and charter elementary schools can apply. Applications are now being accepted for 2018-19 school year. The deadline is Friday, Oct. 12.

Each school that's selected will receive performance rights, education support materials, and guidance from the teaching artists.

In a statement, Bernard Havard, president and producing artistic director at the Walnut, called the grant "the next step in the Walnut's continuing commitment to our community and to our mission to foster the next generation of musical theatre artists and audiences."

For more information or to apply, visit the Walnut Street Theater web site here or e-mail Tom Quinn, director of education at the Walnut, at education@walnutstreettheatre.org.