The Penguin Project is a musical theatre production that casts youth aged 10-21 with disabilities in all roles. Each Youth Artist will be partnered with on-stage Peer Mentors of a similar age and interests.
BSCT is one of over 50 nationwide chapters engaging in this project, created by Dr. Andrew Morgan, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pediatrics and the former Head of the Division of Child Development at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. The Penguin Project with BSCT is run with the expertise of local artists, special education professionals, and support from the Penguin Project Foundation.
Artists: The Penguin Project is open to any individual age 10-21 with a disability. This includes kids with cognitive, learning, motor, hearing, and visual impairments, genetic disorders, and neurological disorders.
Mentors: 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 throughout the entire rehearsal process and on stage.
Rehearsals will begin in November and range from 2 to 4 rehearsals per week. A complete rehearsal schedule will be available at the informational meetings, which will be scheduled in early November. Details are coming soon!
Performances will take place at Blue Springs South High School Barbara Landes Performing Arts Center from March 21 to 25, 2025.
The Penguin Project is a NO-COST opportunity for families to experience the joy of theatre!
For more information, please contact bsctwebmaster@gmail.com
We are seeking a compassionate and highly organized Production Coordinator to join our non-profit community theater organization. This role focuses on our special program for children with disabilities, ensuring an inclusive, safe, and supportive environment, and positive experience for all participants. Responsibilities include managing schedules and budgets, ensuring all necessary resources are available to support the children’s needs, acting as a central point of contact for the production team, volunteers, and parents; maintaining accurate program records and providing regular updates and reports to the Penguin Project Committee chair; promoting a safe and inclusive environment for all team members and participants.
We are looking for a dedicated and empathetic Mentor Coordinator to join our non-profit theatre program for special needs children. The Mentor Coordinator should possess leadership skills to guide and support mentors and mentees throughout the program, communicate effectively and with empathy to facilitate understanding and connect with participants, and understand and relate to the unique needs and challenges of mentors, mentees, and their families. Create a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters positive experiences and growth for all participants; organize and implement the Mentor Boot Camp to train and prepare mentors effectively; provide ongoing leadership and support to ensure successful mentor-mentee relationships; and build and maintain relationships with community partners for program recruiting and promotion.
We are seeking a talented and compassionate choreographer to join our non-profit theatre program for special needs children. Collaborate with the production team to develop inclusive and accessible choreography, adapting dance sequences to suit the mobility, coordination, and comfort levels of each performer; incorporate the use of assistive devices into the choreography to ensure safe movements for those who use them; communicate movement instructions in a supportive and clear manner to help performers feel comfortable with the choreography and build confidence in their dancing skills; collaborate with the artistic team to enhance the overall vision of the production, while uplifting the talents of all involved.