This March, the Intergenerational School-East put on its first-ever full musical production — and took it all the way to the Playhouse Square stage.
The production of Winnie the Pooh Kids was made possible through Disney Musicals in Schools, a program hosted by Playhouse Square that brings musical theater experiences to Cleveland schools through competitive grants. Principal Aziz Ahmad, M.Ed., applied for the grant and secured TIS-East’s spot in the program. Starting in October, students and staff had 19 weeks to build a show from the ground up.
The after-school club was open to all stages. Developing Stage students (grades 3-5) took priority for lead roles per grant requirements, Primary Stage students (K-2) joined the ensemble, and Applying Stage students (grades 7-8) served as stage crew. About 30 students participated in all. Eva Mihelich directed, Patrick Hill led music, Arden Berg choreographed, and Jennifer Orbash stage managed — with each taking on additional roles from fundraising to costumes to set design and tech.
The cast performed three shows for the TIS-East school community, then performed a number from the show on the Playhouse Square stage during the program’s Student-Share celebration.
The program’s impact extended beyond opening night. TIS-East received a separate $2,500 grant from Disney to help build a foundation for its theater program, funds that have already gone toward improving the school’s sound system. The school has also been gifted free musical rights for a second year, something the program typically only offers once.
Theater is applied learning: students rehearsing Winnie the Pooh Kids were also developing public speaking skills, building confidence, taking creative risks, and collaborating across grades in ways that a traditional lesson cannot replicate. For TIS-East, it is exactly the kind of hands-on, student-centered experience the Intergenerational Schools are built to create.
The curtain has only just gone up. Mr. Ahmad said the school hopes to continue the program for as long as possible.
This article was featured in Lifelong Learning, our quarterly school newsletter. Explore the full issue here!