Penguin Project At Gettysburg Community Theatre to Present PETER PAN, 5/9

The Gettysburg Community Theatre will present Disney's Peter Pan as their 2014 Penguin Project production, a cast of youth with disabilities and their peer mentors without disabilities paired together from day one of rehearsal all the way to the final performance. The Gettysburg Area School District is partnering with GCT on The Penguin Project this year and Founding Executive/Artistic Director of GCT, Chad-Alan Carr, says "These children inspire each of us to be better people. Parents, staff and I are in tears at every rehearsal at the incredible progress that these students show each week. We can not wait to premiere this project to the community."

Carr first discovered The Penguin Project while attending a national conference of the American Association of Community Theatres last summer. GCT is now the first theatre to get the contract to replicate the project outside the state of Illinois where it was founded and has been running successfully for the last ten years.

"This project already has been fun, challenging, exhausting and one of those rare experiences that can be life fulfilling and life changing for all involved", says Carr. "For us, unquestionably this project will be one of the most rewarding programs that we have ever produced."

The founder of The Penguin Project, Dr. Andrew Morgan, is a pediatrician with a theatre arts background and explains during his training to GCT faculty/staff that the Penguin Project is about a "Process" (general atmosphere, cast and family interactions, rehearsals, etc.) and a "Product" (the on-stage performances). The Process is the creation of a special environment, a "comfort zone", where children with disabilities are given opportunity and support to explore their creativity and develop communication skills, socialization, and self-confidence; where children without disabilities have an opportunity to help others by being a peer mentor and a friend; and where families have the opportunity to watch their children succeed in ways they never thought possible. It's all about developing relationships and creating a very special "family' that extends well beyond the stage.

The cast has been rehearsing about twice a week since late January and will present their production of the newly created stage musical Disney's Peter Pan on May 9th at 7pm and May 10th at 2pm at the Gettysburg Area High School Auditorium. Tickets are only $11 general admission and can be purchased in advance online at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org or by calling the box office with credit card 717-334-2692 or visiting the GCT box office during box office hours Tuesdays through Thursdays 4-8pm at 49 York Street in Gettysburg or on the day of the show the box office at the GAHS Auditorium will open up two hours before show time. As this is a popular show and very unique program, GCT highly recommends getting tickets in advance to be sure patrons get a seat.