​

​

​

​

 

​
 

The Penguin Project Story

The Penguin Project®, founded by Dr. Andrew Morgan in 2003 in Peoria, Illinois, is a national non-profit organization with the vision of creating unrestricted access for children with special needs to the performing arts. This is accomplished with the assistance of multiple sites across the U.S. that produce a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical. What makes these productions unique is young artists with special needs fill the acting roles. 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 four months of rehearsals and the final production.

 

Northern Starz is proudly the first replication site in the state of Minnesota, performing our first production in 2018.

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 origin of the name “Penguin Project” comes from the unique characteristics of penguins. They are extremely playful and curious, and work well together. More importantly, they have a “disability” that distinguishes them from other birds – they can’t fly. Instead, penguins waddle and toboggan on their bellies over the snow and are excellent swimmers in the water. So, like our young artists, they have adapted to the challenges of their environment and have not allowed their unique difference to interfere with their lives.

​

Three Penguin Programs:

• Penguin Project for ages 10-23

• Penguin Players for ages 16+

• Playful Penguins for ages 5-11

• (More information below)

​

Participants:

Artists: Northern Starz Penguin Programs are open to any individual age 4 to 104 with a developmental disability. This includes individuals with cognitive, learning, motor, hearing, and visual impairments, genetic disorders, and neurological disorders.

There are no restrictions based on the level of cognitive ability, restriction of mobility, or lack of communication skills. Because of concerns for safety, however, we may be unable to accept anyone whose behavior might endanger himself/herself or others.

​

Peer Mentors: The Penguin Programs utilizes a “peer mentor” system, linking each artist with a peer who does not have a disability. Mentors must be at least 10 years old. 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 the lines, songs, and blocking of their partners. 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 partner only as needed.

​

Families and Adult Volunteers: The Penguin Parents are the “backbone” of the program. We depend on them to assist their Penguin in learning lines, songs, and dances outside of the rehearsals, since rehearsal times are limited and need to focus on interactive processes rather than memorization.
Family members and other adult volunteers also help set up ‘fun’ events (outside of rehearsal time), assist with costumes, coordinate the backstage area during the run of the show and may be called upon to assist the staff at rehearsals.

 

Join us in celebrating the magic of theater and the incredible talents of our young artists!

​​

Northern Starz is committed to furthering this mission, and is currently developing satellite programs to reach even more students across Minnesota. Reach out to us and open a Penguin Project near you!​

​​​

​

​

 

​

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

In recognition of its impact, the Penguin Project received the prestigious National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award in 2017,  underscoring its importance in promoting inclusivity in the arts.