“Our Penguins may not be able to fly, but that does not prevent their spirits from soaring!”
Clark’s 4th Annual Penguin Project Production
Clark is seeking Artist and Mentor participants ages 8-22 for Seussical KIDS. Artists are partnered with a Mentor and together they learn the blocking, music, and choreography for the Artist’s role. Rehearsals are held once a week at Clark Youth Theatre beginning Monday, October 22 from 7:00 – 8:15 p.m. and then will increase to twice a week in December, three times a week in January of 2019, and 4-5 days in February 2019. Each rehearsal period ends with a sing-a-long of the Penguin Project theme song “Don’t Stop Believing” and a snack.
All interested families, including returning Penguins, are encouraged to attend an Informational Meeting to meet the Production Team, fellow Penguins, and to ask questions.
Informational Meetings are help on August 5 & 19 at 2:00 p.m., September 9 & 16 at 2:00 p.m. and on October 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Seussical KIDS is written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and based on the works of Dr. Seuss.
Performances are February 15 & 16, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. and on February 17, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
All performances will be held at Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is there a fee to participate in the Penguin Project?
- No. Participation is free for both Artists and Mentors.
Who is eligible to be an Artist?
- Artists are those ages 8-22 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.
Who is eligible to be a Mentor?
- Mentors are volunteers, ages 8-22, who do not have a disability. The Penguin Project utilizes a “peer mentor” system, linking each young artist with an age-level peer who does not have a disability. The peer mentors work side-by-side with their partners, assisting them through the entire rehearsal process and onstage. They are onstage during the production, costumed to match or compliment their partners.
When do rehearsals start?
- Peer Mentors have a training session on Monday, October 15th at 6:00 p.m. to learn how to best work with their Artist.
- Rehearsals for everyone begin on Monday, October 22nd at Clark Youth Theatre.
For more information about The Penguin Project at Clark Youth Theatre, download the information flyer.
About the Penguin Project® Foundation
The Penguin Project provides an opportunity for children with disabilities to develop creative skills related to the theatre arts.
Clark Youth Theatre is proud to be the first theatre in Oklahoma to produce The Penguin Project, conceived by Dr. Andrew Morgan, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Since 2004, The Penguin Project has produced one musical theatre production each year at Eastlight Theatre in East Peoria, IL.
Goals of The Penguin Project:
- To provide an opportunity for children with special needs to develop creative skills related to the theatre arts.
- To provide an opportunity for children with special needs to participate in a community theatre experience.
- To facilitate interaction between children with special needs and their age-level peers through joint participation in a community theatre experience.
- To facilitate an appreciation of the challenges faced by children with special needs and their families.
- To identify the impact of a community theatre experience on the communication skills, socialization, and self-confidence/self-esteem of children with special needs.
- To facilitate interaction among medical, developmental, educational, and theatre professionals through participation in a common community project.
- To provide a forum for support and interaction for families of children with special needs
You can find more information about The Penguin Project® Foundation here.
