THE PENGUIN PROJECT

Second star to the right and straight on til morning! 

 

Come join MLT in our flagship year of participating in The Penguin Project by performing, "Peter Pan Jr." based on the book by Sir J.M. Barrie, with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Music by Morris "Moose" Charlap with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and additional music by Jule Styne. Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget. In the adventure of a lifetime, the travelers come face to face with a ticking crocodile, the fierce Brave Girls, a band of bungling pirates and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook. 

 

More About The Penguin Project: 

Once a year, a magical and touching celebration of the human spirit unfolds at numerous theaters across the country. A group of children in a program called The Penguin Project take to the stage to perform a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical.  These productions are unique, however, because all the roles are filled by young artists with developmental disabilities including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and other neurological disorders.  They are joined on stage by a dedicated group of “peer mentors” – children the same age without disabilities who have volunteered to work side-by-side with them through 4 months of rehearsals and through the final performance.  By providing access to community theater, The Penguin Project demonstrates that the special challenges of a disability should not handicap a child’s ability to participate in life’s experiences. Established in 2004, The Penguin Project has evolved into a National program, with Chapter sites throughout the United States. The program provides a supportive environment for children with disabilities to explore their creative talents.  It has also demonstrated that participation in the performing arts has therapeutic value by enhancing social interaction, communication skills, self-confidence and self-esteem. The impact of the program has reached beyond the stage to create a social network for children who previously had very few friends and limited social opportunities.

 

The Penguin Project is open to any individual age 10 to 21. The program includes children with cognitive, learning, motor, hearing and visual impairments; genetic disorders; and neurological conditions. There are no restrictions based on the level of cognitive ability, restriction of mobility, or lack of communication skills. Because of concerns for safety, we are unable to accept anyone with a severe behavioral disorder that might endanger the child or others. The Penguin Project utilizes a “peer mentor” system, linking each young artist with an age-level peer who does not have a disability. Again, our program’s age range is 10 to 21, the peer mentors work side-by-side with their partners, assisting them throughout the entire rehearsal process and on stage. The mentors are responsible for knowing their partner’s lines, songs and blocking. They are on stage during the production, costumed to match or compliment their partners. They participate in the group production numbers but are trained to remain “in the background” and provide direct assistance to their partners only as needed.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the production team at penguinproject@mltarts.com.