Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — July 24, 2025 — The Jonesboro High School theatre program is gearing up for a landmark season after being awarded a highly competitive national grant.

Jonesboro Public Schools announced July 22 in a Facebook post that the program had been selected as a national recipient of the Disney on Broadway “School of Excellence” grant. The post said Jonesboro High School is only one of 21 schools across the country to receive the honor.

The grant is the product of a partnership between Disney Theatrical Group, Musical Theatre International, and Educational Theatre, who award complimentary licenses to winners of the grant.

Mallery Mitchell, director of the JHS Theatre program, said that once the students got word that they got the grant, they were very excited to be recognized on a national level.

“What a great way to start the school year, to have this announcement and then be able to jump in on it,” Mitchell said. “It lends a feeling of excitement to the whole year and our season.”

Among the students who initially heard of the news was Elin McDaniel, who, as part of the grant process, had to write an essay explaining why JHS deserved the opportunity. She described the achievement as “humbling” and “a little bit funny,” saying all they’ve done is be themselves.

“We value each other, so being rewarded for that makes me feel that what we’re doing matters,” McDaniel said.

As part of the grant, students will be producing the Disney play “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a prequel to the Peter Pan story that follows an orphan boy, who with the help of a girl, protects a trunk of magical starstuff from pirates and discovers his destiny as the boy who would never grow up.

Mitchell said the play is a heartwarming and hopeful tale while being silly and fun. She added that the make-believe nature of the story makes it easier to create the set.

“It doesn’t have to be grand. It is in its truest element. It’s theatre at its best because it is definitely focused around just the imagination and the creativity of playing on stage. But it gives you sort of the origin story of some of those famous characters that we know and love,” Mitchell said.

With the grant, the theatre will get several resources to make its vision come true, including three royalty-free performances and complimentary usage rights to official logos and video licenses. Mitchell feels these resources will give a boost to their program to help with future productions, even making it easier to get other people to help out.

According to a press release, the production will also emphasize student collaboration and leadership in several aspects including performance, lighting, sound, and stage management.

“Having the opportunity to allow our thespians to be creative and involved really means the world. No matter what role a kid has in our troupes, they deserve to feel proud of it,” McDaniel said.

A goal of the JHS Theatre program is to ensure that students are able to participate in all elements of a production. Mitchell emphasized it’s not all about the performance, adding that most of what makes a production happens behind the scenes.

“You have this opportunity for all students, no matter what their gift is, to participate, and when they do that, it comes together like a family. You just all of a sudden can look around and realize it doesn’t take just one type of person. It takes all of these people,” Mitchell said.

By participating in the School of Excellence program, McDaniel hopes it will supply her with the collaboration and communication skills she needs to help her throughout life.

“People always say, ‘If you need a job done, call a theatre kid,’ and I think this is a really good opportunity for that,” McDaniel said.

“These are such important life skills,” Mitchell said. “They learn to respect the skill of others, so they understand and appreciate each element in theatre.”

“Peter and the Starcatcher” will run from Oct. 23 to Oct. 26. Information about tickets will be given around the end of September.

To learn more about the School of Excellence program, click here.