Volume 27 Issue 7
Inside:
Check Out Your 2019 Taste Preview Guide!
March 22, 2019
See Neighborhood Magazine!
Now Celebrating 25 Years As New Tampa & Wesley Chapel’s Primary News Source! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of the neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in New Tampa (zip code 33647), see page 50!
NTP Ready To Deliver A Special Performance Of ‘Aladdin’ First Look Inside:
By LIBBY BALDWIN
The cavernous main hall at the University Area Community Center swelled with a chorus of voices. The booming energy of the song “Prince Ali,” from the classic Disney film “Aladdin” sounded like a seasoned community theater production. In fact, however, it was just a regular rehearsal for a very special group of New Tampa Players (NTP). The local community theater troupe’s president, Nora Paine, was attending a theater conference in summer 2018 when she learned about the Penguin Project, an initiative that gives children with special needs the chance to perform onstage. Established in 2004 by Dr. Andrew Morgan, who spent more than 35 years as central Illinois’ primary medical specialist for children with disabilities, the Penguin Project matches each “young artist” with a peer mentor. These mentors, who are mostly children the same age as the performers who don’t have disabilities, volunteer their time to work side-by-side through four months of rehearsals and during the final performance. “The New Tampa Players had been looking for something like this, but didn’t want to re-invent the wheel,” said Paine, herself a mother to three special needs children. “This program is unique because it gives these kids a chance for social networking outside of the special needs community.” “Aladdin Junior,” which wasn’t modified from the original script, will be the first Penguin Project production not just
Get Out Your Shovels...
The New Tampa Recreation Center expansion project cleared one final hurdle and will break ground next month. Page 6 The joy in the room is palpable as the New Tampa Players' Penguin Project group practices dance steps for “Prince Ali.” Peer mentor Olivia Carr dances with her Genie, Connor Olsen. (Photos: Libby Baldwin)
for NTP, but in all of Florida. The performing artists and their mentors attend 3-4 rehearsals per week that run for no longer than 90 minutes, to ensure attention spans don’t run out. Each peer mentor learns every line, every dance move and every blocking move, along with his or her artist. Rehearsals are no slower-paced than regular children’s theater; peer mentors are expected to keep their artists on task. If a special needs child becomes upset, the show still must go on. “The young artist and their mentor go off to the side until they are able to calm down,” Paine said. “Then, they come back and join us. No big deal.” Paine has years of stage managing
experience, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Montessori Education, but she and her staff of choreographers, costume designers and musicians are all volunteers. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the happiness that it brings these kids,” said Brad Roberts, the music director for NTP's “Alladin Junior,” who says he previously has worked with special needs children. “A lot of these kids, despite working at a different speed than I’m used to, have really impressed me with their raw talent and ability to learn and retain.” While some of the artist-and-mentor pairs rehearsed, others sat patiently off to the side, using the time to run lines or go See “Aladdin” on page 8.
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Pages 24-25
Psst, Parents: Are You Looking For A Summer Camp For The Kids?
Finding something to keep your kids busy during the summer may be one of parenting’s most difficult challenges, and finding a camp before they fill up can be a grind. Miriam Cook, the founder of Family-Friendly Tampa Bay, is trying to make those tasks a little simpler. For the third straight year, FamilyFriendly Tampa Bay will hold a big Summer Camp Expo for parents in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas. Scheduled for Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Plantation Palms Golf Club (23253 Plantation Palms Blvd.) in Land O’Lakes, the expo is free for anyone to attend.
“This is our third year connecting summer camp experts with campers in Tampa Bay,” says Cook. “With over 3,500 event participants over the past two years, they have told us that our expos help create stress-free summers for parents, provide a variety of affordable summer program options and a fun and interactive experience for their children.” Providers from more than 40 camp and programs — ranging from sports and adventure camps to tech and coding camps — are expected to be on hand to demonstrate camp activities and offer exclusive discounts to attendees. The Summer Camp Expo also will be something of a camp itself — there
will be bounce houses, an all-ages dodgeball area, free crafts and a petting zoo. Expo-goers also can take advantage of a BOGO round of mini-golf on the Plantation Palms mini-golf course. Although the Expo is free to attend, those who plan to take part in the festivities are asked to go to Eventbrite.com and search for “Family-friendly”to register. General admission is free, and VIP tickets are available for $20, which include a large beach bag, $75 in coupons for local attractions and other goodies. For additional information, visit FamilyFriendlyTampaBay.com/tampasummer-camp-expo/. — JCC
Taste-y Treats
The Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel returns to AdventHealth Center Ice with another great lineup of popular eateries for area foodies to sample.
Pages 36-41