Disney Live Lyric Opera House Brings Magic to Oklahoma City Classrooms

The arts have long been recognized as an essential component of a well-rounded education, and now, thanks to a new partnership between Disney and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, the magic of music and theater is coming to Oklahoma City Public elementary schools. The Disney Musicals in Schools program, made possible by a $120,000 grant from Disney Theatrical Productions, will bring together professional teaching artists and participating school teachers to create sustainable theater programs in under-resourced elementary schools.

This innovative program is designed to inspire creativity and innovation in the classroom while celebrating the role of the arts in helping kids learn across all subjects. By keeping students engaged and focused, the program aims to have a profound impact on their educational experience and, ultimately, their academic success.

Michael Baron, Lyric's producing artistic director, expressed his excitement about the program, stating, 'By helping put artists into Oklahoma City Public elementary schools, Disney and Lyric are providing much needed arts programming to the children and teachers of Oklahoma City. And this new program promises to have the greatest impact on our community.'

The program features a professional development focus, where participating school teachers will partner with Lyric teaching artists to learn how to produce, direct, choreograph, and music direct. This collaborative effort will culminate in each school's first 30-minute Disney KIDS musical performance, which they will present at their own school.

Each participating school will receive performance rights, education support materials, and guidance from the teaching artists. The selected schools will also participate in a 17-week musical theater residency, led by a team of trained teaching artists from Lyric Theatre and Disney Theatrical Productions, all at no cost to the schools.

The program is designed to be sustainable, with Lyric Theatre selecting five area public elementary schools to participate in the first year (2018-19) and another five for the following year. The grant funds two years of programming, ensuring that the impact will be felt long after the initial initiative comes to a close.

This exciting new partnership between Disney and Lyric Theatre has the potential to make a lasting difference in the lives of Oklahoma City's youngest learners. With its focus on creativity, innovation, and the arts, the Disney Musicals in Schools program is sure to bring joy, inspiration, and academic success to thousands of students across the city.

Disney live lyric opera house