Friday night’s Hide Tide Cabaret lived up to its motto, “We’re making waves,” as family members and community members came to see a talented group of mentors and artists with The Penguin Project.
Sold-out shows over the weekend at the Memorial Opera House had an audience full of smiling faces to support the 21 artists and 25 mentors from Porter County performing songs like “Walkin’ on Sunshine,” “Kokomo” and “Surfin’ USA.”
“This year’s cabaret hoped to lift the spirits of everyone in our community with summer- and beach-themed performances,” said Alexandria Ingram, director and choreographer of the show.
Penguin Project productions are unique because all the roles are filled by young artists with developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, visual or hearing impairments, and other neurological disorders, according to the project’s website. They are joined onstage by a dedicated group of “mentors,” who work side-by-side with them for rehearsals.
Established in 2004, The Penguin Project has evolved into a national program with chapter sites throughout the United States. The program provides a supportive environment for those with disabilities to explore their creative talents.
The first Penguin show at Memorial Opera House was “Annie Jr.” in 2023, and there have been five total productions. This season’s performance of the High Tide Cabaret was for Penguins over the age of 18.
“We didn’t want to do a junior musical production since we were working with adults, and we are also one of the very first Penguin Player chapters in the country,” said Ingram. “So that’s how we decided on the cabaret style, so we could tailor the production directly to the adults in our program.”
Artists and mentors have been rehearsing once or twice a week since the end of October, getting ready for the weekend’s performances.
“Our crew consists of six artists and six mentors who designed the projections, ran the sound and light board, operated the spotlight, and coordinated everything backstage,” said Ingram.
Lillian Clark, of LaPorte, and a student at South Central Jr/Sr High School, has been a
mentor for all the productions and her experiences have helped her make a decision about her career path.
“I had thought about nursing, law, biology, even genetics,” said Clark. “That was before The Penguin Project.”
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be than teaching these kids,” said Clark, who will study special education at Ball State University. “Theater is for all, and being able to share this gift with kids who would otherwise miss out is an honor.”
Liv Hanlon, 23, of Valparaiso, was an artist in the show with her mentor, Charlee Reedy.
“My favorite thing about Charlee is that she always has my back,” said Hanlon. “She believes in me and she is a great friend.”
“I like singing my solo in ‘Copacabana’ because it tells the story of a showgirl like Taylor Swift,” said Hanlon.
Nico Shellito, a 13-year-old artist who attends Duneland Schools, was mentored by Audrey Sutherland and worked behind the scenes in tech for the show, running the lights.
“My mentors are friends,” said Shellito. “They help me and they love me.”
“I am so proud to see the growth of every artist and mentor and the support they show one another,” said Cassie Reedy, co-artist/mentor coordinator.
“I am backstage to make sure everything runs smoothly and everyone is feeling excited and ready to perform,” said Reedy.
A tradition at the end of any Penguin rehearsal production is the song “Don’t Stop Believing,” where all mentors, artists, tech and crew go on the stage and sing and dance. Friday night’s show ended with the finale song and a standing ovation.
The Penguin Project will produce “Finding Nemo Jr.” this summer. For more information on how to get involved, visit valpoparks.org.
Deena Butterfield is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
