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According to physics, a real life penguin cannot. However, I am talking about the “penguins” that participate in The Penguin Project.
The Penguin Project is a theater group where children and young adults with developmental disabilities can come together, make friends, and put on a wonderful show. Each year in September all of the kids gather to begin practicing for their opening night in mid-January. They are joined by their “peer mentors”, who are volunteer children and young adults without disabilities, to help them along their way. It takes a lot of work but each and every person is determined to enjoy themselves to the fullest.
The Penguin Project was created by Dr. Andrew Morgan, a developmental pediatrician with a love for theater. The program started in Peoria, Illinois, but is now spreading throughout the state and is even starting in other states. He started the program to give these children and young adults ages 10 to 21 the chance to do something that they may not normally be able to do. The program really allows them to have a great social interaction and brings them out of their shell to perform in front of a large audience.
Some of the disabilities include Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and many other learning or developmental disabilities. Even though they have a disability, there is nothing stopping them from expressing themselves through their performances and truly shining on stage. A few of the artists that perform are even able to go without a mentor by their side. After being in the play once before they have grown and are able to “fly solo” on stage.
Each year the group performs a Junior version of a Broadway musical. Since their beginning they have performed Annie, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, High School Musical, Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical 2, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Little Mermaid, and last year’s production of Grease.
This year’s performance is Seussical, a musical consisting of stories written by Dr. Seuss including Horton Hears a Who and The Cat in the Hat. Everyone enjoys the fun songs and colorful costumes of this production. This will be their 11th show at Eastlight Theater at East Peoria Community High School.
The musical will be showing on January 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m., and January 25 at 2:00 p.m. I highly recommend going to see one of the performances. They are a lot of fun and the joy of everyone on stage really radiates throughout the theater. Just like Dr. Morgan says, “Our penguins may not be able to fly, but that does not prevent their spirits from soaring.”
The Penguin Project is a theater group where children and young adults with developmental disabilities can come together, make friends, and put on a wonderful show. Each year in September all of the kids gather to begin practicing for their opening night in mid-January. They are joined by their “peer mentors”, who are volunteer children and young adults without disabilities, to help them along their way. It takes a lot of work but each and every person is determined to enjoy themselves to the fullest.
The Penguin Project was created by Dr. Andrew Morgan, a developmental pediatrician with a love for theater. The program started in Peoria, Illinois, but is now spreading throughout the state and is even starting in other states. He started the program to give these children and young adults ages 10 to 21 the chance to do something that they may not normally be able to do. The program really allows them to have a great social interaction and brings them out of their shell to perform in front of a large audience.
Some of the disabilities include Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and many other learning or developmental disabilities. Even though they have a disability, there is nothing stopping them from expressing themselves through their performances and truly shining on stage. A few of the artists that perform are even able to go without a mentor by their side. After being in the play once before they have grown and are able to “fly solo” on stage.
Each year the group performs a Junior version of a Broadway musical. Since their beginning they have performed Annie, The Music Man, Guys and Dolls, High School Musical, Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical 2, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Little Mermaid, and last year’s production of Grease.
This year’s performance is Seussical, a musical consisting of stories written by Dr. Seuss including Horton Hears a Who and The Cat in the Hat. Everyone enjoys the fun songs and colorful costumes of this production. This will be their 11th show at Eastlight Theater at East Peoria Community High School.
The musical will be showing on January 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m., and January 25 at 2:00 p.m. I highly recommend going to see one of the performances. They are a lot of fun and the joy of everyone on stage really radiates throughout the theater. Just like Dr. Morgan says, “Our penguins may not be able to fly, but that does not prevent their spirits from soaring.”