Sing a Rainbow

For the past 10 years, Philadelphia middle-schoolers have gotten the chance to work with a professional theater company to write and produce original musicals. The Prince Music Theater’s Rainbow Performing Arts Program celebrates its 10th season this weekend with performances of three new works by local teens. Each year the Prince sends a composer and director into different schools (this year includes Wagner Middle School in Germantown, Overbrook Educational Center and Houston Middle School in West Mount Airy) to collaborate with the students, who then write a musical to be performed by the Prince’s Rainbow Co., made up of actors between the ages of 12 and 25. This week the students have the opportunity to see their work on stage. The shows deal with issues ranging from the death of a grandparent to learning to live with a disability to coming out at school. This year’s program carries an extra significance aside from the anniversary because the program’s founder, Ricardo Martin, passed away about a month ago from lung cancer. Martin was well known for his ability to inspire students and produce great results; this year’s performance pays homage to his vision.

—Debra Auspitz

Rainbow Connection Festival, Sat., March 23, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sun., March 24, 3 p.m., $5, Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St., 215-569-9700, www.princemusictheater.org.