Empowering children with specific needs and disabilities through theatre.
What is The Penguin Project?
The Penguin Project was created by Dr. Andrew Morgan and provides children with special needs an opportunity to develop creative skills, build relationships, and star in a fully realized junior Broadway musical production with support from peer mentors.
The Penguins will take the stage to perform a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical.
Where do I start?
If you are new to LCT's Penguin Project productions, please attend our hybrid Informational Meeting on February 12 or February 21, 2024 from 5:00-6:00 pm at the Weber Center for the Performing Arts. If you missed our informational meeting- check out this recording of our 2/21 using this link here!
Have a parent fill out our Cinderella: Youth Edition Informational Form by clicking here!
Our first rehearsal will be from 5:00-6:15 pm on March 4th at The Weber Center for the Performing Arts.
How do I audition?
Auditions for the Penguin Project are unlike any audition process in at LCT.
Over the first two weeks of rehearsal, we will be assessing all of our artists and their abilities. After two weeks of rehearsal, we will have artists and mentors audition for roles through a variety of acting and vocal exercises.
A casting breakdown for Cinderella: Youth Edition can be found here:
Who can participate?
ARTISTS: Including but not limited to, children and young adults ages 8 to 18 with specific needs and disabilities who are blind, visually impaired, speech impaired, deaf, hard-of-hearing, and use wheelchairs. Also included are children and young adults with mental, learning, congenital, and psychiatric disabilities. Additionally, participants who have Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome.
MENTORS: Children and young adults ages 8 to 18 who are neurotypical and non-disabled. They will be matched with an Artist of similar age and interests, and the two will work side-by-side through the entire rehearsal and performance process. Mentors are responsible for knowing their partner’s lines, songs, and blocking. Mentors are onstage during the production, and they are costumed to match or complement their partner.
What is the cost?
The program is made possible through the support of our community partners and is free for all participants.
What is the rehearsal schedule?
Rehearsals will vary for each Artist and Mentor based on conflicts and casting. Rehearsals will start out two days a week for 75 minutes and gradually increase to five days a week for three hours in late May.
Participation is not contingent upon conflicts during the rehearsal process. Availability will be considered when creating the full, detailed rehearsal schedule.
A tentative rehearsal schedule can be found here:
2024 Important Dates
- Informational Meetings: February 12 and February 21 from 5:00-6:00 pm
- Zoom link Here!
- First Rehearsal: March 4 from 5:00-6:15 pm
- Mentor Boot Camp: March 6 and April 11 from 5:00-6:15 pm
- Performances: June 14 at 7:00 pm and June 15 and 16 at 2:00 pm
Questions?
Please contact:
Katelyn Klieve | Director of Education | [email protected]
Alex Attardo | Artistic Advancement Director | [email protected]
The Penguin Project Foundation
888-543-8002
[email protected]
www.penguinproject.org
