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The 2008-09 Penguin Project’s “Get Acquainted” meeting for this year’s production of “Beauty and the Beast, Jr.” will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Fon du Lac Park District Building in East Peoria.
The program is open to children with disabilities, age 8 to 21, and to children without disabilities, age 10 to 18, who want to assist as mentors. Anyone interested in participating in the production should attend. Information about The Penguin Project and a tentative rehearsal schedule will be provided. This meeting is for potential artists with disabilities and mentors, their families, and anyone else interested in being involved in the program.
This season’s production of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” will be performed Jan. 8-11. Because of the short time between the return to school and the production, there will be rehearsal during most of the winter break. Unfortunately, anyone gone for the entire holiday break will not be able to participate in the show. Dates for non-rehearsal times are Dec. 24 though Dec. 28 and New Year’s Day.
For additional information, visit the Penguin Project web site at www.penguinproject.org.
About the Penguin Project
Once a year a group of children in a program called The Penguin Project take to the stage at Eastlight Theatre to perform a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical. This production is unique, however, because all of the roles are filled by children with developmental disabilities including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, learning disabilities visual impairment, hearing impairment, and other neurological disorders.
They are joined on stage by their “peer mentors” — a group of children the same age without disabilities who have volunteered to work with them side-by-side and guide them through three months of rehearsals and the final production.
By creating unrestricted access to the performing arts, The Penguin Project demonstrates that the special challenges of a disability need not handicap a child’s ability to participate in life’s experiences.
The 2008-09 Penguin Project’s “Get Acquainted” meeting for this year’s production of “Beauty and the Beast, Jr.” will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Fon du Lac Park District Building in East Peoria.
The program is open to children with disabilities, age 8 to 21, and to children without disabilities, age 10 to 18, who want to assist as mentors. Anyone interested in participating in the production should attend. Information about The Penguin Project and a tentative rehearsal schedule will be provided. This meeting is for potential artists with disabilities and mentors, their families, and anyone else interested in being involved in the program.
This season’s production of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” will be performed Jan. 8-11. Because of the short time between the return to school and the production, there will be rehearsal during most of the winter break. Unfortunately, anyone gone for the entire holiday break will not be able to participate in the show. Dates for non-rehearsal times are Dec. 24 though Dec. 28 and New Year’s Day.
For additional information, visit the Penguin Project web site at www.penguinproject.org.
About the Penguin Project
Once a year a group of children in a program called The Penguin Project take to the stage at Eastlight Theatre to perform a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical. This production is unique, however, because all of the roles are filled by children with developmental disabilities including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, learning disabilities visual impairment, hearing impairment, and other neurological disorders.
They are joined on stage by their “peer mentors” — a group of children the same age without disabilities who have volunteered to work with them side-by-side and guide them through three months of rehearsals and the final production.
By creating unrestricted access to the performing arts, The Penguin Project demonstrates that the special challenges of a disability need not handicap a child’s ability to participate in life’s experiences.
