Considering most elementary school-aged children have never even been to a Broadway show, young participants of Inside Broadway’s theater programs are fortunate to have the big stage coming to their schools.

On Friday, students of P.S. 164, a pre-K through 8th grade school of the arts in Flushing, took their classmates for a ride through the 20th century with a musical revue called “Everything Old Is New Again.”

“Theater is a collaborative art form,” said Inside Broadway Founder/Executive Director Michael Presser, “so all of the different elements of theater come together to make a show, and the arts programs give children an opportunity to work together on developing a production.”

Presser said the students were part of a program called “Build a Musical.” Over the course of nine weeks, professional teachers worked with the children to put together an original production. The program is part of the City Council’s CASA (Cultural After School Adventures) initiative.

Councilman James Gennaro, who secured the funds for bringing Inside Broadway to P.S. 164, joked that 137th Street, where the school’s main entrance is located, should be renamed Broadway. He said he felt sorry for everyone in Queens who didn’t get to see the show in person.

“We need that kind of enrichment because without arts programs like this, education is just cookie-cutter and by-the-numbers,” said Gennaro. He added that despite limited financial resources, “We have to continue arts funding, no matter what.”

Principal Anne Alfonso pointed out that the students performed wonderfully in the show, but it came as no surprise because they are exposed to the arts from kindergarten. They are actively engaged in music, dance, visual arts, and video technology programs.

“It gives students another vantage point of looking at disciplines and schools. They see their classes in a different way,” said Alfonso.

She beamed with pride when she mentioned that P.S. 164 has four semifinalists in visual arts entered in the PS Art 2010 Citywide Competition.

“The arts program is really a fabric of the school. We want to keep it going as long as possible,” said Alfonso.