Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

Favorite Disney stories are coming to life on stage at two Northeast elementary schools thanks to a partnership with Starlight Theatre and the Disney Musicals in Schools program.

Following months of learning song lyrics and dance steps, Gladstone Elementary School (335 N. Elmwood Ave.) students performed as zebras, birds, lions and more during performances of Lion King Kids on Friday, May 8, and a matinee show on Saturday, May 9.

29 students sang and danced on stage as four students worked backstage, assisted with a range of teachers tasked with directing, lighting, sound, costumes and makeup during a 30 minute production that didn’t miss a beat.

Lion King Kids is a scaled down version of Disney’s Broadway musical production, The Lion King. With easier dialog and condensed story line, this production still contains the memorable characters and songs of the professional stage version.

On Wednesday, May 13, Garfield Elementary School (436 Prospect Ave.) will present Aladdin at 5 p.m. In addition to parents and other family members, the community is invited to these performances in conjunction with the tenets of the Disney Musicals in Schools program. 

Garfield Principal Lauren Amicone stated the cast for Aladdin features 25 students, assisted by four teachers. Leads for the production were chosen based on the student’s confidence and personality in a simplified audition process, a “one line” approach where all students recited the same various lines used in the show.

Five Kansas City area schools were chosen for participation in the 2025-2026 school year; four of the selected schools are in the Kansas City Public Schools District. Phyllis Wheatley Elementary is also presenting Lion King Kids while students at Carver Elementary have chosen Frozen.

Other Disney Musicals in School productions include 101 Dalmatians, The Aristocats, The Jungle Book, Finding Nemo, and Winnie the Pooh.

The Disney Musicals in Schools program follows a three-year phased approach, which gradually equips schools to lead productions independently. These participating schools receive free performance rights for 30-minute Disney KIDS musicals, ShowKit materials, including scripts and music, ongoing support from Starlight Theatre’s Teaching Artists and professional development for educators.

Beginning in January, students and teachers began rehearsals, led by a team of two Starlight Teaching artists who served as production and creative advisors during a 90-minute school visit for 17 weeks. Additionally, the school’s team is trained and empowered to run the program themselves as the three-year program concludes.

According to Starlight Theatre’s website, this partnership with Disney Musicals in Schools helps create sustainable musical theatre programs in under-resourced public elementary schools, develops a critical awareness and appreciation of the arts within the school and a strong community including students, parents, faculty, staff and neighbors. Students and school faculty are exposed to a wide range of skills including critical thinking, problem solving, communication, self-confidence and interpersonal skills in a fun format.

Gladstone Elementary Principal Ulrike Schneider shared that many of the 4th through 6th graders involved are multilingual language learners who once spoke little or no English and their involvement in the musical has sparked remarkable growth.

“Their confidence has soared,” said Principal Schneider. “Watching students find their voice—both literally and figuratively—has been incredibly powerful.” 

At Gladstone, Starlight Teaching Artists Elizabeth Phillips and Erdin Schultz-Bever collaborated closely with music teachers Isabella Currie- who directed the performance- and Daniel DeClue.

Additional partners for Gladstone’s production were Tnemec Paint, providing paint for stage props, and Kansas City Women’s Chorus helped build masks and lent additional audio and lighting equipment for the production. 

On May 20, this year’s program will culminate  in a Student Share Celebration, where all participating schools will perform a selection from their shows on Starlight Theatre’s main stage.