Students Shine in First Lower School CCS Theatre Production

Chattanooga Christian School students took center stage last weekend in the Lower School’s first-ever theater production, Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS.

Performed on May 15–16, 2026, the production welcomed audiences into the Hundred Acre Wood for a heartwarming story filled with friendship, teamwork, adventure, and plenty of honey.

The musical followed Winnie the Pooh and his friends, including Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, and Owl, as they worked together to rescue Christopher Robin from the mysterious Backson. Along the way, students brought beloved characters to life while sharing timeless lessons about collaboration, kindness, and community.

For CCS Theater Director Mary Catherine Schimpf, Winnie the Pooh KIDS was the perfect choice for the Lower School’s inaugural production.

“This story is about the fleeting nature of childhood,” Schimpf said. “Every parent will say the same thing: childhood flies by! So it was a particular delight to slow down and bask in the sweet joy of summer, friendship, picnics and playtime with these students.”

CCS Musical Theatre and Dance Teacher Gabriella Smith said Winnie the Pooh KIDS was especially meaningful because of how naturally students connected to the beloved story and characters.

“Winnie The Pooh is a beloved tale that so many students fall in love with at a young age,” Smith said. “It’s familiar and almost homelike to these kids. There is a wide variety of personality found within these characters that each kid can uniquely relate to when they perform this story.”

The production also provided students with an opportunity to grow both on and off the stage through teamwork and shared responsibility. Throughout the rehearsal process, students developed confidence, learned to collaborate, and experienced the joy of creating something together.

Smith said watching students gain confidence throughout rehearsals was one of the most rewarding parts of the process.

“The rehearsal process has always been my favorite part of putting a show together,” Smith said. “You get a group of kids who look at you and say ‘I can’t do that!’. However, by the end of the process you have a group of students who aren’t only performing all of the material you’ve taught them, but are excelling in it.”

Schimpf said the growth students experienced throughout the rehearsal process extended beyond learning lines and choreography.

“It’s a challenge to find ways to foster collaboration and community, and musical theatre is one of the most natural places for this learning and growth to occur,” Schimpf said. “It’s a joy to see children so young already figuring this out. Their confidence is boosted by their camaraderie, and they are able to create something truly wonderful when they work together.”

Known for its award-winning productions, CCS Theatre has long been a vibrant part of the school community. Expanding theater opportunities to younger students marks an exciting new chapter for the program and creates opportunities for students to discover and develop their gifts at an earlier age.

“The joy of doing educational theatre is the privilege of discovering the gifts and passions God has placed in these students,” Schimpf said. “Instead of waiting until they’re older, we now have the opportunity to foster their love for theatre and train them from a younger age, so they are even stronger performers when they are older.”

Smith reflected on the lasting impact theatre can have on students both artistically and spiritually.

“I was very young when I first began my journey in the arts and I believe it was a pivotal part of my growing up,” Smith said. “The Lord, through theatre, was teaching me more about who He was and the beauty of community. We weren’t meant to walk this life alone.”

Smith added that theatre provides students with an opportunity to use their unique gifts while learning the importance of working together in community.

“The Lord has created the body of Christ to work together uniquely to glorify the greatest story of all time,” Smith said. “The prayer is that introducing this truth at a young age allows them to develop into who the Lord has created them to be and use their gifting to tell a grander and more profound message, the Gospel of Christ.”

From playful performances to joyful musical numbers, Winnie the Pooh KIDS created memorable moments for students, families, and audiences alike while laying the foundation for the future of elementary theater at CCS.