May 21, 2026

Salina Central and 19 other schools in the U.S. recognized by nationally renowned theatre program

Posted May 21, 2026 2:43 PM
Salina Central High School Theatre students rehearse the musical "Newsies!" while preparing for opening night on Jan. 25. Photo courtesy Salina Central High School.
Salina Central High School Theatre students rehearse the musical "Newsies!" while preparing for opening night on Jan. 25. Photo courtesy Salina Central High School.

Salina Post

Salina Central High School was recognized by a nationally renowned program, that celebrates middle and high schools across the country for exceptional student-led theatre productions.

In collaboration with the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF), Disney Theatrical Group (DTG), and Music Theatre International (MTI), granted Central and 19 other schools to be recipients of the Disney on Broadway School of Excellence program.

This program in particular rewards and empowers middle and high school theatre programs that demonstrate outstanding student leadership, creativity, and engagement across all theatrical disciplines.

Central and the other schools will receive complimentary production licenses for Disney musicals, access to exclusive industry webinars, and the chance to showcase their talent on major stages like the International Thespian Festival.

They will produce performances of iconic Disney musicals such as Newsies, High School Musical, and Alice in Wonderland, JR. in the 2026-27 school year.

This initiative underscores the ongoing commitment of ETF, DTG, and MTI to inspire the next generation of storytellers while providing schools with the resources to produce high-quality theatrical productions.

“We are just so proud to celebrate these schools," said Janie Slavens, Interim Executive Vice President of the Educational Theatre Foundation. "Theatre doesn't just teach kids to perform — it teaches them to listen, to collaborate, to take up space in the world. The schools we're recognizing today are giving students experiences that will genuinely shape who they become, and that matters deeply."

The selected schools along with Central include:

  1. Advanced Learning Academy at Fox Tech High School – San Antonio, Texas
  2. Cairo High School – Cairo, Ga.
  3. Calvary Christian School – Columbus, Ga.
  4. Desert Edge High School – Goodyear, Ariz.
  5. Edward H. White High School – Jacksonville, Fla.
  6. Falls Lake Academy – Creedmoor, N.C.
  7. Hedgesville High School – Hedgesville, W.Va.
  8. Hickory High School – Chesapeake, Va.
  9. Horizon West Middle School – Windermere, Fla.
  10. Howell Middle School South – Howell, N.J.
  11. I.S. 78 Roy H. Mann – Brooklyn, N.Y.
  12. Jesús Moroles Expressive Arts Vanguard – Dallas, Texas
  13. Jule F. Sumner High School – Riverview, Fla.
  14. Lincoln High School – Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
  15. Mandeville High School – Mandeville, La.
  16. Munster High School – Munster, Ind.
  17. Oscar Smith High School – Chesapeake, Va.
  18. Salina Central High School – Salina, Kan.
  19. Silver Creek High School – Longmont, Colo.
  20. Southside Christian School – Simpsonville, S.C.

Students from School of Excellence alumni schools will kick off the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Indiana with a thrilling tribute to Disney’s High School Musical, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the original Disney Channel film and the ongoing impact of school theatre on students worldwide.

More information about the Disney on Broadway School of Excellence program can be found here foundation.schooltheatre.org.

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