The Penguin Project: A Night You Will Never Forget
By Cassie Wooley
Every September, there are two weekends where a play is put on at Playhouse in the Park in Central Park. But, this isn’t a normal community play being performed; this play is special. These plays are a part of the Penguin Project which consists of children and young adults who have physical or cognitive disabilities who are known as the artists, and they are paired with a mentor. They come together to perform a modified and shortened version of a well-known Broadway musical.
This year’s play was Grease. Every show was sold out, as it is every year. With such a classic and nostalgic show such as this, of course it was one that intrigued Lisa Cope to bring to Murray. But, it was a little more difficult than normal because it was more dialogue than music, which is the opposite of what they generally do.
“It was a big big show… but of course we set the bar high, and [all the actors] meet it every time,” Cope said. “It was a stretch for [the artists] and we thought that was important.”
The Penguin Project has unsurprisingly changed artists’ lives. Many will begin the process barely holding their head up, but end the experience four months later singing and dancing their hearts out.
“Life changing is a word we throw around, but Penguin Project truly is,” Cope said. “For anybody who is involved in any way. Artist, mentors, family, people who work on the team, everybody is changed for the better through this project.”
According to Cope, a mother of an artist, who spoke specifically about the mentors one night before the show to the audience. The mother said that she feels as though the mentors are the people who are going to change the world.
They are going to be the leaders, they will be the people who will lead companies or the country. They’re learning to be compassionate, inclusive, and other life skills that will benefit them,” Cope said.
Previous shows consist of Annie Jr., Seussical Jr., Peter Pan Jr., and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Jr.. Every year new faces are added to the Penguin family, but there are still some of the original faces from the first production of Annie Jr. who continue to come back.
This show has impacted the community in such a way that was unexpected. It has opened others’ eyes to what people with special needs are capable of doing. The show exhibits how even if someone has a disability, they can do anything anyone else can do it just may take a little bit longer.
With tears in her eyes, Cope tells me what her favorite part of the show is.
“Don’t Stop Believin’,” Cope said.
For those who have not been to see the show, at the end of every performance the cast performs the classic Journey anthem. But, when you mix the song and the title with what you just witnessed, it sinks in how special the show is.
If you want to be changed for the better and experience true joy, do yourself a favor and come visit Murray during September to witness this for yourself. There is no doubt you will be entertained and changed.
For more information, visit playhousemurray.org or penguinproject.org.
