Rea Elementary students take to the big stage

Dozens of Rea Elementary School students took to the stage Tuesday at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in a performance that capped off their participation in Disney Musicals in Schools.

The 17-week program was free to the Costa Mesa school and three other participating Orange County campuses, with Disney providing scripts and musical scores.

The entertainment giant awarded the Segerstrom Center a two-year, $100,000 grant last year to help produce the musicals. The Segerstrom Center selected the four schools in a competitive process with the ultimate goal of encouraging sustainable arts education in schools.

Last week, Rea students in grades 3 through 6 staged their first Disney production — “The Aristocats” — at the school.

Rea teachers trained by Segerstrom Center “teaching artists” are expected to continue musical productions at the school in the coming years.

It “closes the opportunity gap,” explained Principal Kalim Rayburn.

Arts enrichment outside of school is generally beyond the reach of most Rea families. All students at Rea qualify for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program, considered an indicator of poverty.

— Nicole Knight Shine