Paper Mill Playhouse gets $150K Disney grant for musical theater program in NJ schools
Up to four public elementary schools will receive free musical theater residencies during the 2026-27 school year.
More Stories
Paper Mill Playhouse has received a $150,000 grant from Disney to bring a musical theater program to New Jersey public elementary schools.
The grant will fund two years of Disney Musicals in Schools, a program developed by Disney Theatrical Group to help establish theater programs in public elementary schools.
Paper Mill Playhouse will select up to four schools to participate during the 2026-27 school year and another five schools the following year.
Selected schools will receive a free 17-week musical theater residency led by teaching artists trained by Paper Mill Playhouse and Disney Theatrical Group. Schools will also receive performance rights, educational support materials and guidance from the teaching artists.
At the end of the program, students from each participating school will perform a selection from their production on the Paper Mill Playhouse stage in Millburn.
Public elementary schools in the Newark, Irvington, East Orange and Orange school districts are eligible to apply for the upcoming school year, according to Paper Mill Playhouse. Title I schools with demonstrated economic need will receive priority.
Applications are due Oct. 2.
(Image Credit: Paper Mill Playhouse)
