Hakuna Matata. Let It Go. Be Our Guest. When You Wish Upon a Star.
The songs you’ve loved all your life. Together, for the first time, on one stage.
Johannesburg, September 2026 — National Children’s Theatre (NCT) is thrilled to announce the South African premiere of Disney’s Dare to Dream JR., running from 30 September to 11 October 2026 at NCT, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg.
Directed by Ivor Jones and performed by an exceptional ensemble of teen performers aged 13 to 18, this exhilarating 60-minute musical revue brings together over 20 beloved Disney songs spanning a full century of Disney storytelling — from the golden classics of Snow White and Pinocchio to contemporary anthems from Frozen, Encanto, Moana, Coco, and The Lion King.
What is Dare to Dream JR.?
It’s a brand-new musical revue, written by Disney Theatrical Group to celebrate 100 years of Disney music. The show follows a group of young “Junior Imagineers” — trainees arriving for their first day at Walt Disney’s legendary Imagineering Studios — as they discover, together, the power of dreams to inspire, connect, and transform.
There is no single hero. No villain. No fairytale romance. Just fifteen young people learning something every audience member already knows in their bones: that the songs we grew up with carry something real. Something that lasts.
The result is pure theatrical joy — a show that feels simultaneously brand new and deeply, warmly familiar.
“Disney’s Dare to Dream JR. embodies everything we stand for. These are stories and songs that children across Gauteng already carry in their hearts, and when they hear them performed live, by young learners their own age, on a real stage, something shifts. They begin to see themselves differently and believe that the stage might be theirs too. This is why we do this work at NCT, and why this production matters.” — Belinda Germeshuizen, COO, NCT
The Songs
South African audiences may not yet know the show by name, but they will know the soundtrack by heart. Dare to Dream JR. features some of the most beloved songs in Disney’s 100-year catalogue, including When You Wish Upon a Star • Be Our Guest • A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes • Hakuna Matata • The Bare Necessities • Let It Go • You’ve Got a Friend in Me • Part of Your World • How Far I’ll Go • Friend Like Me • Surface Pressure • Try Everything • Remember Me • Go the Distance • I Just Can’t Wait to Be King—and more.
“Every song in this show is one you already know and love. Our job is simply to remind you why. Fifteen extraordinary young performers, one stage, a hundred years of Disney magic — it’s going to be a very special show.” — Ivor Jones, Director
Key Themes and Messages
Dare to Dream JR. is more than a celebration of favourite songs. It is a carefully crafted narrative about what it means to grow up — to discover who you are, what you believe in, and what you might one day become. These are the themes at its heart:
- Dreaming Big. All dreams are valid, regardless of size or shape. Drawn from a century of Disney storytelling, we remind learners that imagination is the starting point for everything.
- Believing in Yourself. At the heart of the story is a trainee who hasn’t yet found her dream. Through music and peer encouragement, she gains confidence and courage—and learns the stage belongs to anyone brave enough to step onto it.
- Collaboration and Teamwork. Just as theatre requires every performer to lift the whole, the Junior Imagineers learn that dreams are amplified when pursued together.
- Perseverance. Dreams are rarely instant. The show is honest about the effort required—and generous in its message that hard work, resilience, and a positive outlook can make even the most ambitious goal attainable.
- The Evolution of Dreams. It is acceptable and natural for dreams to shift and change over time. Learners get permission to grow into who to become, not just who they thought they’d be.
- Creativity and Imagination. As Imagineers-in-Training, performers are living proof that imagination creates possibility. The show celebrates the creative spirit in every child!
Together, these themes make Dare to Dream JR. far more than a feel-good revue. It is a mirror held up to the inner life of every learner in the audience — and a reminder that the greatest stories are always the ones still being written.
A Production Built for This Moment
NCT has long been Johannesburg’s home for world-class youth theatre and Dare to Dream JR. is a natural next step in NCT’s ongoing partnership with Disney Theatrical Group — the same partnership that brought The Lion King JR. to South African audiences in 2024–25 and will do so again in 2026.
“At NCT we’ve always believed that theatre is not a luxury—it is a learning environment, a safe space, and a life-changing experience all at once. Disney’s Dare to Dream JR. gives NCT the opportunity to bring Disney’s extraordinary legacy into the lives of thousands of Gauteng children through our public performances and our school programme outreach. When a learner hears Hakuna Matata or Let It Go sung live for the first time, something opens up in them. NCT’s job is to keep that door open.” — Andrea Katz, NCTT Trustee
Show Information
Dates: 30 September – 11 October 2026
Where: NCT, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown 2193
Run time: 60 minutes, no interval
Ages: All
Find Tickets: Coming soon
School Bookings: Call Nthabiseng Mmethi | 011 484 1584 | nthabiseng@NCTheatreSa.org
