NEW! Penguin+ Programming
Penguin+ programming is designed to teach 10- to 21-year-old youths with disabilities the foundations of theatre, helping to prepare them for a future Penguin Project production or other theatre opportunities. Click here to learn more about The Penguin Project.
Penguin+ meets one Saturday a month for two hours beginning in January 2023 and continuing until rehearsals for The Penguin Project begin in July 2023.
Penguin+ Program Dates, Times, & Topics
Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, 1:00-3:00 PM: Theatre Etiquette
Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, 1:00-3:00 PM: Stage Direction
Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023, 1:00-3:00 PM: Voice and Diction
Saturday, Apr. 15, 2023, 1:00-3:00 PM: Characterization
Saturday, May 20, 2023, 1:00-3:00 PM: Pantomime
Saturday, June 17, 2023, 1:00-3:00 PM: Improvisation
Penguin+ Cost
$60 (includes all six sessions)
The Playhouse is seeking Volunteer Peer Mentors ages 10-21 to assist with Penguin+
Peer Mentors will lead theatre games, introduce theatre vocabulary, assist artists with activities and projects, and help create an inclusive learning environment where youths with special needs are given the opportunity and support to explore their creativity and develop communication skills, socialization, and self-confidence. This commitment requires approximately 16 hours of your time over the span of six months (two hours, one Saturday a month, January to June 2023), with the option of continuing as a mentor for The Penguin Project from July-October 2023.
As a Peer Mentor you will learn about others with differing abilities; gain skills in leadership, communication, and active listening; and facilitate problem-solving. You will be helping others and taking some responsibility, which can be a positive experience, helping your confidence as well. This is a great Silver Cord opportunity for those to whom it applies. There is no cost to be Peer Mentor.
If you are interested in becoming a Volunteer Peer Mentor for Penguin+, simply email a brief introduction of yourself including full name, age, and contact information to Nate Weber, education outreach. Include answers to the following questions:
- Why are you interested in becoming a Volunteer Peer Mentor for Penguin+?
- What skills do you possess that make you a good leader?
- What are your theatre experiences AND what are your experiences working alongside youths with disabilities? (Note: Your experiences, or lack thereof, will NOT hinder your participation in any way; it only helps us to prepare our training.)
Deadline to Express Interest: Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023
Note: Artists and mentors interested in The Penguin Project are not required to participate in Penguin+ programming to participate in The Penguin Project.
The Playhouse Penguin+ program helps to support the goals of The Penguin Project:
- To provide an opportunity for children with special needs to develop creative skills related to the theater arts
- To provide an opportunity for children with special needs to participate in a community theater experience
- To facilitate interaction between children with special needs and their age-level peers through joint participation in a community theater experience
- To facilitate an appreciation of the challenges faced by children with special needs and their families
- To identify the impact of a community theater experience on the communication skills, socialization, and self-confidence/self-esteem of children with special needs
- 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 children with special needs
For more information about Penguin+ and The Penguin Project, contact Nate Weber, 515.974.5360.