Our History
In 2015 Santiago Elementary School received the Disney Musical Grant to provide Students with Opportunities to perform in Disney Musicals. The news release noted that “Disney Musicals in Schools is designed to create sustainable musical theater programs in public elementary schools” and while the program continues today providing access to Disney Musical materials, the grant support is no longer available.
At Santiago Elementary K-8 School, one of only four schools in Orange County to receive the Disney Musical and Segerstrom Center for the Arts grant for the 2016-17 season, the grant provided the school with free access to Disney musical materials and professional teaching artists to guide their teachers in preparing for the performances. Santiago students from 3rd-5th grades were involved in the production of Disney's The Lion King as the first show.
Santiago Drama Department's 1st public performance was Saturday October 1st from 6:00-6:30 at the Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk.
To build on the mission of the original grant programming, the Santiago Drama Boosters, Inc. were formed to develop a sustainable pathway to supporting Drama education as Santiago K-8 School. In 2017, drama programming was able to be provided to all 2nd through 5th graders as well as continued Disney Musicals in Schools programs. In 2018, Santiago K-8 and Santiago Drama won a ScholarShare529 $25,000 grant to refurbish the theater space.
Upon completion of the initial grant funding in 2019 - Santiago Drama had produced xxx shows, served over xxx student artists and crew with technical experiences, and showcased the arts to more than 2,000 family and friends of Santiago Drama students. Following a virtual 2020 season, Santiago Drama relaunched with a philanthropic support based program in 2021, continuing with the Disney Musicals in Schools program and maintaining hands-on drama programming for all elementary school students with the support of school administration.
Santiago Drama is the only remaining initially funded program to continue sustainably providing drama education in an elementary/middle school in Santa Ana, and we are proud to say the program is embraced across the whole school and in the community we serve.
With the ending of the funding availability from the initial grant program, the Santiago Drama Boosters have taken on developing a roadmap to supporting a sustainable production schedule by securing additional funding through donations and sponsorships.
Our Past Shows & Cast Alumni
2023 - 24 Season
Mean Girls, Jr.
Aladdin, Jr.
Elf, Jr.
2022 - 23 Season
The Environmental Show (May 2023)
Biomes (May 2023)
2023 Drammys (May 2023)
Descendents (Apr 2023)
The Lion King Kids (Jan 2023)
Puffs (Dec 2022)
Matter and Its Properties (Dec 2022)
Its Electrifying (Dec 2022)
2021 - 22 Season
Annie, Jr (Districtwide, Jun 2022)
High School Musical, Jr (Apr 2022)
Frozen Kids (Mar 2022)
2020 - 21 Season
The Brothers Grimm Spectacular (Dec 2021)
Moana, Jr (Districtwide, Jul 2021)
101 Dalmations Kids (Feb 2021)
A Virtual Christmas Carol (Dec 2020)
Oh Look A Kitten (Oct 2020)
2019 - 20 Season
Character Matters Too (Jun 2020)
The Little Mermaid, Jr (Apr/May 2020)
Cinderella Kids (Jan 2020)
2018-19 Season
Aladdin, Jr (Districtwide, Jun 2019)
Peter Pan, Jr (Apr 2019)
The Jungle Book Kids (Jan-Feb 2019)
Character Matters (Jul 2018)
2017-18 Season
Annie, Jr (May 2018)
Matter & Its Properties (April 2018)
It’s Elecrifying (Mar 2018)
Aladdin Kids (Mar 2018)
European Explorers: A Musical (Dec 2018)
Know Your Role (Nov 2018)
An Evening with Charlie Chaplin (Oct 2018)
Bullies Anonymous (July 2017)
2016-17 Season
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Dec 2017)
The Lion King