Spring 2024

Penguin Project continued from page 26
Lincoln Community Playhouse
(left to right) Kimball McClure (mentor) and Sean Neal (artist)
in the 2015 Lincoln Community Playhouse Penguin Project
production of Disney's The Little Mermaid JR.
Rachel Bohnsack, Co-Founder and Executive Director
of the Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts in
Ramsey, Minnesota, loves being part of the Penguin Family.
She says, “From the first show we saw eight years ago, we
knew this program would fit perfectly into our community
and theatre. We have artists come to our program who have
never had a friend before, some who have even contemplated
suicide, but they leave with a sense of accomplishment
and friendships with other artists and mentors.”
This sentiment was echoed by a mother in Lawrence,
Kansas, who described her 16-year-old daughter, who after
taking part, received her first-ever telephone call and invitation
to see a movie with new friends.
Nora Paine, Producing Artistic Director of the New
Tampa Players in Tampa, Florida, says, “Everyone should
experience a standing ovation once in their life. There is
nothing that will build self-confidence quite like a crowd of
hundreds cheering you on, clapping for you, and laughing at
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