The Penguin Project

MTC’s PENGUIN PROJECT ® (www.penguinproject.org):
Empowering Children with Special Needs Through Theater

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The saying goes....”If it plays in Peoria, it will play anywhere!”
Well, it has played in Peoria and it’s entering its 18th year.
But this is not your typical theater production...

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After an initial production of The Penguin Project was held in Peoria, Illinois in 2004, The Penguin Project Foundation was created in 2007 to assist other communities in developing their own Penguin Projects.  There is a comprehensive special needs.  There are currently 53 replication sites or “chapters” in these 22 states around the country:  Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and now, for the first time this year, New Jersey.  MTC’s Chapter is the first one in our Garden State!  Here are the specifics:

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Bios - submit your bio here for the Program Book

Ads - Purchase an Ad for the Program Book

Production Partner - Become a Production Partner for this Show

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No charge to participate in 2026

Who:  Cast (‘Artists’):  Neurodiverse Children between the Ages of 10 and 21

           Cast (‘Mentors’):  Neurotypical Children between 7th and 12th Grades

           Creative Team: Dir. Sue Maurer* (Mtown HS), Vocal Dir. Jaclyn Valenziano*, & Choreographer Stacy Brophy

           (*Special Ed. Professionals; Creative Team, all with Musical Theater experience, will be assisted by MTC Staff)

 

What:  Disney's High School Musical JR.

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When:   Rehearsals:  Tue. & Thu., 5 to 7 PM (starting Jan. 20 & Jan. 22) & Sun., 12 to 2 PM (starting Jan. 25)

• Tuesdays (12):   Jan. 20 & 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, & 24, Mar. 3, 10, 17, & 24, 31, & Apr. 14

• Thursdays (12):  Jan. 22 & 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19, & 26, Mar. 5, 12, 19, & 26, Apr. 2 & 16

• Sundays (11):     Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 8, 15, & 22, Mar. 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29, Apr. 12

• Tech Week (3):  Sun., Apr. 19 (12 to 4 PM), Mon., Apr. 20 (4 to 8 PM), Tue., & Apr. 21 (4 to 8 PM)

• Shows (4):  Wed., Apr. 22 @ 6 PM, Thu., Apr. 23 @ 6 PM, Sat., Apr. 25 @ 7 PM, & Sun., April 26 @ 2 PM

 

Where:  All Meetings, Rehearsals, & Shows are at First Methodist Church, 446 E. Camden Avenue, Moorestown, 08057

 

Why (The Goals Of The Penguin Project):

    To provide an opportunity for neurodiverse children to develop creative skills related to the theater arts

    To show the impact of a community theater show on the communication skills, socialization, self-confidence, & self-esteem of 

          neurodiverse children

    To provide an opportunity for neurodiverse children to participate in a community theater experience

    To facilitate interaction between neurodiverse children and their neurotypical, age-level peers through joint participation in a

          community theater show

    To facilitate an appreciation of the challenges faced by neurodiverse children and their families 

    To facilitate interaction among medical, developmental, educational, and theater professionals through participation in a

          common community project

    To provide a forum for support and interaction for families of neurodiverse children

 

For more information, please call MTC at 856 / 778-8357 and speak to Producing Artistic Director Mark Morgan.

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