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Draft:The Penguin Project

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  • Comment: I mainly added citations on the list of chapters to show coverage from different news media, some new citations so I dont keep using old ones, those citations are still related to paragraph BankSforLifez (talk) 10:10, 6 October 2026 (UTC)
  • Comment: There is a wall of references, but most of them seem to be from affiliated parties. If you believe that there is in-depth independent coverage of this, you need to clearly identify it, because it's not obvious to me. Stuartyeates (talk) 20:54, 6 October 2026 (UTC)
  • Comment: In preparing this draft, I disclose that AI assistance was used as follows: Now only kept a.i to show active chapters as their is too many to research alone, did references myself, which is main reason I kept it BankSforLifez (talk) 23:00, 5 October 2026 (UTC)
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  • Comment: specify what was believed as “A.I.” BankSforLifez (talk) 02:00, 5 October 2026 (UTC)



The Penguin Project
Formation2004; 22 years ago (2004)
FounderDr. Andrew Morgan
TypeNonprofit / Community Theatre Program
Legal statusRegistered charity / Non-profit program
HeadquartersPeoria, Illinois, U.S.
Region served
United States
ServicesInclusive theater arts for youth with disabilities
Websitepenguinproject.org

The Penguin Project is a nationwide non-profit program that provides children and young adults with special needs opportunities to participate in the performing arts. 

The program enables young artists with disabilities to perform in staged musical theater productions. Participants are typically paired with peer mentors who assist them throughout the rehearsal and performance process. [1]

Rehearsals often begin with group vocal warm-ups, such as singing The Proclaimers “500 Miles."[2] Across many chapters nationwide, rehearsals and productions traditionally conclude with the group singing Journey’s "Don't Stop Believin'" followed by a team cheer. [3] [4]

Name

[edit]

The organization's name and branding are derived from the physical traits and behavior of penguins. Dr. Morgan chose the name because penguins are social birds that "cannot fly," using it as a parallel for participating youth who face physical or developmental challenges.[5] The name reflects the concept that despite limitations, similar to penguins adapting by moving fluidly underwater, artists may develop skills, collaborate through peer partnerships, and perform on stage. [6]

The official logo features two penguins side-by-side, representing the pairing of young artists with special needs and their peer mentors.[5]

History

[edit]

The Penguin Project was established in 2004 [7] in Peoria, Illinois, by Dr. Andrew "Andy" Morgan, a developmental pediatrician, [8] Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pediatrics, and the former Head of the Division of Child Development at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. [9] [10]

Dr. Morgan combined his professional background in diagnosing and treating children with disabilities with his personal passion for theater—having participated in theater since his teens and later involving his own children—recognizing that the arts helped develop social and communication skills.[11] He initially found a home for the program at the Eastlight Theatre in East Peoria. [12]

Following the advice of Penguin parents in Peoria, Dr. Morgan created a foundation three years into the program, developed a formal replication process, and took the model on the road to allow other communities to establish their own chapters.[12] [13]

Marking its 20th anniversary in 2024,[14] the program expanded from its central Illinois roots into a national network growing to 57 locations across 25 states. [12]

In November 2017, the organization received the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award [15] after being considered a finalist. [16]

Participants & Mentorship

[edit]

The Penguin Project utilizes a dual-participant model that pairs young actors with disabilities with neurotypical peer mentors.[17] [18]

Artists

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Participating children and young adults, referred to as "artists," feature a wide spectrum of developmental, physical, or cognitive conditions—including but not limited to Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, ADHD, and visual or hearing impairments. [19] [20] [21] The program provides these individuals with an opportunity to perform in modified, full-scale community theater and Broadway musical productions. [22]

Peer Mentors

[edit]

Typically developing peers of a similar age (such as youth ages 10 to 21) are matched one-on-one with the artists to assist them throughout the rehearsal process and during performances. [17] [23] Mentors learn the script, music, and choreography alongside their partners, standing a few steps behind them on stage to offer physical or prompting support while ensuring the artists remain the central focus of the performance. [21][24]

Impact

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Local evaluations and reports associate Penguin Project with improvements in communication, social skills, and self-esteem.[25] [26] Individual chapters operate under open-casting policies without tryouts, [27] providing theatrical experiences designed to support participants.[28]

Artists: Performers can develop confidence, performance skills, and social connections within a structured rehearsal environment. [29] [30]Program accounts note instances where involvement helps participants build social engagement and overcome challenges. [31] [32]

Peer Mentors: As mentors tend to work alongside participating artists throughout rehearsals, the process may foster peer relationships, empathy, and shared engagement. [33] [34]

Community and Funding: Local chapters establish support networks for families and audience members. Operations are supported in part by community foundation grants and local contributions, which assist with organizational expenses such as production equipment. [28] [30]

List of chapters

[edit]

While the program has expanded into a national network encompassing dozens of locations across the United States, the following table highlights several of its most prominent and active regional chapters:

Participating Penguin Project Chapters
StateCityTheater / OrganizationNotesReferences
IllinoisPeoriaEastlight TheatreNational Headquarters (Original founding site)[12]
IllinoisDixonPenguin Project of the Sauk Valley[13]
IllinoisChampaign-UrbanaChampaign Urbana Theatre Company[29]
IllinoisRock IslandPenguin Project of the Quad Cities[30]
PennsylvaniaElizabethMon River Arts[27]
KentuckyLouisvilleStage Louisville / Sacred Heart School for the Arts[25]
KentuckyMurrayPlayhouse in the Park[35]
North CarolinaCharlotteTheatre Charlotte[36]
WisconsinSun PrairieSun Prairie Civic Theatre[37]
WisconsinWausauPenguin Project of Central Wisconsin[38]
WisconsinLa CrosseLa Crosse Community Theatre[39]
MinnesotaPrior LakePrior Lake Players[40]
MinnesotaWhite Bear LakeNorthern Starz Performing Arts[41]
OklahomaTulsaClark Youth Theatre[42]
TexasCorsicanaCorsicana ISD Theater[43]
IowaDes MoinesDes Moines Playhouse[44]
KansasLawrenceTheatre Lawrence[31]
South DakotaSioux FallsThe Premiere Playhouse[45]
MichiganMuskegonMuskegon Civic Theatrefounded 2016[32]
South CarolinaGreenwoodGreenwood Community Theatre[16]
FloridaTampaNew Tampa Performing Arts Center[23]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "About The Penguin Project". Penguin Project Organization. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  2. ↑ Penguin Program I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) Tutorial with Music Tutorial. YouTube. February 14, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  3. ↑ Angie S (January 27, 2024). "Don't Stop Believin" Penguin Project Rehearsal 2024. YouTube. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  4. ↑ McMillian, Brian (June 10, 2026). "Backstage pass: The multi-layered drama and joy of Penguin Project's The Lion King Jr". Observer Local News. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  5. 1 2 The Penguin Project. PBS. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  6. ↑ Why The Name The Penguin Project. YouTube. November 9, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  7. ↑ Costlow, Colette (September 2, 2025). "Altoona ACT Penguin Project Lion King Jr". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  8. ↑ Napoli, Gina (July 30, 2024). "Hatching wins: The Penguin Project puts special needs kids into the spotlight". The Burg. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Our Founder". Penguin Project Organization. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  10. ↑ "WaterTower Theatre Academy". WaterTower Theatre. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  11. ↑ Hults, Jody (January 13, 2022). "Penguin Project Peoria returns to the stage with Disney's Newsies Jr". WCBU. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Schopp, Collin (January 12, 2024). "Penguin Project provides 20 years of performances featuring children with disabilities". WCBU. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Clark, Brandon (October 3, 2024). "The Penguin Project helps Sauk Valley youths soar on stage". Shaw Local. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  14. ↑ Penguin Project. 25 News Now. January 9, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  15. ↑ Clement, Olivia (November 10, 2017). "The Penguin Project Is Recipient of National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award". Playbill. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Donaghy, St. Clare (September 10, 2017). "GCT readying for curtain to go up on SC's first Penguin Project production, 'Annie Jr.'". Index-Journal. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  17. 1 2 Lee, Kaoyeng (2026-06-25). "Penguin Project gives young artists with disabilities a chance to shine on stage". WAOW. Retrieved 2026-10-03.
  18. ↑ Foreback, Caroline (April 21, 2026). "Anne Arundel County theater program uses the arts to empower individuals with disabilities". CBS News. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  19. ↑ Handelman, Jay (January 4, 2023). "Manatee Players' Penguin Project stages shows for special needs artists". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  20. ↑ Leshock, Marcus (December 1, 2010). The Penguin Project: Children and young adults with special needs perform Broadway productions. WGN-TV. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  21. 1 2 Rachel Danay (November 13, 2017). Mentors In The Penguin Project. TEDx. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  22. ↑ Conroy, Courtney (July 29, 2026). "McLean County Penguin Project launches theater program for adult performers with disabilities". WGLT. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  23. 1 2 Wilson, Mark (January 17, 2024). "Theater program in Tampa specially designed for children and young adults with special needs". FOX 13 News. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  24. ↑ Campbell, Kayla; Morgan, Nicole; Graves, Elli (August 27, 2026). The Penguin Project performs 'Mary Poppins Jr.' this weekend. YouTube. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  25. 1 2 Gregg, Jonathan (March 10, 2026). "The Penguin Project empowers young Kentucky performers". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  26. ↑ Bourne, Freddie (December 9, 2024). "'A role for everyone': TWP presents '101 Dalmatians KIDS' with the Penguin Project". Messenger-Inquirer. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  27. 1 2 Funk, Harry (February 24, 2025). "Event benefits Mon River Arts' inclusive Penguin Project". TribLIVE. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  28. 1 2 Gleason, Michelle (December 11, 2025). Impact Grant Stories: Penguin Project. Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
  29. 1 2 McClure, Julie (September 21, 2018). "The Penguin Project puts the spotlight on independence and empathy". Smile Politely. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  30. 1 2 3 The Penguin Project of the Quad Cities empowers young artists with special needs. KWQC. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
  31. 1 2 May, Sylas (July 8, 2026). "'Pure joy': Youth with disabilities shine in theatre — Lawrence's Penguin Project production of 'Alice in Wonderland Jr.'". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  32. 1 2 Cindy Blair, Kylie Goats, and Kylie Vanto (August 26, 2024). The Penguin Project gives students with special needs a chance to perform on stage. WXMI. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  33. ↑ Taylor, Luke (August 29, 2026). "Penguin Project's 'Mary Poppins Jr.' to feature more actors, bigger stage than ever". The News-Gazette. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  34. ↑ Hanks, Kathy (June 26, 2019). "'Something really special': After 4 months of bonding, cast members of 'Aladdin Jr.' are ready for showtime". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  35. ↑ Teague, Hawkins (November 6, 2025). "Penguin Project presents Spongebob Musical". Murray Ledger & Times. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  36. ↑ Erbach, Alexa (September 17, 2024). Upstate theatre's Penguin Project helping kids. Fox Carolina. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  37. ↑ Larson, Kathryn (June 26, 2026). "Sun Prairie Civic Theatre's Penguin Project brings 'Mary Poppins Jr.' to the stage". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  38. ↑ Bylak, Bree (June 12, 2025). "Penguin Project Central Wisconsin gives people chance to 'shine their light'". WSAW-TV. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  39. ↑ Staffaroni, Roger (June 13, 2026). "LCT's Penguin Project presents 'The Big Bad Musical'". WXOW. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  40. ↑ Hartmann, Laurie (December 10, 2025). "Prior Lake Players' Penguin Project production of 'Annie Jr.' promotes inclusion, opportunity for all to shine on stage". Prior Lake News-Compass. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  41. ↑ Gion, Logan (June 3, 2026). "Penguin Players put on summer celebration". Press Publications. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  42. ↑ Chin, Julie (January 14, 2022). "Broken Arrow special needs students star in 'Seussical Kids' performance". KJRH-TV. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  43. ↑ Wallin, Jacob (February 20, 2023). "Belton ISD's 'Annie Jr.' starring students with special needs". KCEN-TV. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  44. ↑ Ruether, Megan; Mielke, Annie. "The Penguin Project brings special experience to stage". WHO-TV. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Excitement in store for third production of Penguin Project with Premiere Playhouse". KPTV. January 23, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
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