This year, the Penguin Project took you flying through the night sky of Agrabah on a magic carpet as they put on the show called Aladdin Jr. The show contained so much magic, from seeing the Genie fly on stage in the Cave of Wonders to watching Jafar get defeated and crammed into a tiny lamp.
The Penguin Project, founded in 2004 by Dr. Andrew Morgan, a developmental pediatrician, aimed to create a place for children with special needs to participate in theater. People with disabilities such as Down syndrome, autism, neurological disorders, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, visual impairment, and other disorders fill the roles on stage, accompanied by mentors. Mentors are other children who volunteer to work side by side with the children with disabilities and help with the 4-month preparation and the production itself. The quote “Our penguins may not be able to fly, but that does not prevent their spirits from soaring” is found on the Penguin Project website. It showcases their mission to help those with disabilities continue their dreams without being held back by complications. 
The show begins with Isir, played by Olivia Johnson, welcoming the people of Agrabah as they begin singing “Arabian Nights.” During this song, the entire cast filled the stage. The cast was very diverse, including people from all kinds of backgrounds and with various disabilities. We were then introduced to Aladdin, played by Malachi Petrov, as he sings One Jump Ahead and Proud of Your Boy. Petrov was a fantastic singer and actor, embodying Aladdin and conveying his desperation to please his mom and to do good despite his difficult circumstances.
As we are moved out of the city streets of Agrabah and into the palace, we meet Jasmine, Jafar, Sultan, and Iago. Abigail Wheeler’s Iago stood out with her hilarious character choices and loud squawking, which made the audience laugh. Jafar and Iago trick Aladdin into entering the Cave of Wonders to retrieve a magical lamp, but inside, Aladdin touches a jade necklace that reminds him of the girl from the marketplace, Jasmine, which causes the “mysterious voice” played by Nicholas Garrison to trap him in the cave.
While trapped, Aladdin rubs the magic lamp and summons the Genie, played by Reagan Osborne, who brings much-needed comic relief and grants him three wishes. The Genie helps Aladdin escape and grants his first wish to become a prince, which leads to the musical number, “Prince Ali.” However, he is quickly rejected by Jasmine because she wants to marry for love, not wealth.
Later, Aladdin takes Jasmine on a magic carpet ride as they sing A Whole New World. When they return to Jasmine’s room, she reveals that she knew it was Aladdin the whole time, not Prince Ali. Just as they begin to connect, Jafar appears, arrests Prince Ali, and steals the lamp. Genie quickly frees Aladdin with his second wish. Aladdin is soon able to trick Jafar and trap him in a lamp forever. 
The show closes with Sultan letting Jasmine decide her own future and naming her the next Sultan. Overall, it was a wholesome production and highlighted the importance of being oneself and not becoming self-centered.
After the show was over, they sang the Penguin Project theme song, Don’t Stop Believing. It combined dancing, singing, and sign language, highlighting the diversity within the cast.
In all, the production was a great adaptation of the original Aladdin musical. It proved that they had so much talent to share despite the difficulties they faced. Most importantly, the ensemble was the highlight. Everyone in it brought so much light and energy, making the show come alive. I recommend seeing the following year’s Penguin Project show! Just as the theme song says, “Don’t stop believing!”
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, visit East Light Theater’s website and sign up. It is a great opportunity to help so many people.
https://penguinproject.org/our-founder/
