Penguin Goes to Flight School

Penguin Goes to Flight School

AGES
2–7

Sep 27, 2026 through Oct 25, 2026
Selected Sundays
11:00 AM
Actors Temple Theatre
339 W 47th Street
New York, NY 10036
Just West of 8th Avenue
Tickets from $29.50
Pre-Show Special — $29.50 $25.00 with code FLY25 · through Sat, Sep 26

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  • Book by Cara Lustik, Music by David Mallamud, Lyrics by Joshua H. Cohen
  • The popular children's picture book "Flight School" written and illustrated by Lita Judge.
  • Directed by Kyle Jack
  • Casting Director Jackson Cline
  • Stage Manager Rebecca Kane
  • Musical Director Miles Messier
  • Director/Choreographer Kyle Jack
  • Author Lita Judge
  • Composer David Mallamud
  • Lyrics Joshua H. Cohen
  • Book Cara Lustik

ABOUT THE SHOW

PENGUINS CAN’T FLY. THIS ONE IS GOING TO TRY. It’s the first day of Flight School, where they teach birds to fly. Penguin has the soul of an eagle and one enormous dream: to live on the wind. There’s just one problem. Penguins can’t fly. The other birds may know that. Penguin refuses to believe it. With determination, friends of a feather, and a little help with the technical parts, Penguin discovers that sometimes the biggest dreams need more than wings. PENGUIN GOES TO FLIGHT SCHOOL is a funny, uplifting live musical for ages 2–7 about believing in what you want, finding friends who believe in you, and getting your dream off the ground.

“Simple and straightforward enough to be understood by a 3-year-old, but engaging enough to amuse a parent” Laurel Graeber, The New York Times Reviewing an earlier production, then titled Flight School the Musical.
“a charming adaptation” Laurel Graeber, The New York Times Reviewing an earlier production, then titled Flight School the Musical.
“music worthy of bigger stages” Laurel Graeber, The New York Times Reviewing an earlier production, then titled Flight School the Musical. On David Mallamud's score.
Prepare for your visit
Listen to the Original Cast Album
  1. Only Me Penguin · Cara Leahy Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording 2:16
  2. Friends of a Feather Owl · Grace Kelly Kretzmer Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording 3:03
  3. Penguins Can't Fly Pelican · Max Suwarno Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording 2:53
  4. Get Up and Go Seagull · Victorious Collymore-Bey Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording 2:55
  5. Flight Lesson Teacher · Haley Franke Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording 3:03

PHOTOS

CAST

Haley Franke (Teacher) is very excited to join the cast as Teacher! With such extensive experience as a silly goose, stepping into another pair of wings feels right. Haley is a graduate of Adelphi University. If shes not singing onstage, youll likely find her twirling and curtsying as royal princesses at parties and events! You can find her on IG @haleyfranke

Grace Kelly Kretzmer (Owl) (she/her) is a Boricua musical performer & educator from the Bronx! She made her off Broadway debut at 17 in the critically-acclaimed Oceanborn musical in the ensemble, u/s Eira, Calders Friend. Other Credits: In the Heights (Nina), A Year With Frog & Toad (Lady Bird), Legally Blonde (Serena), Little Shop of Horrors (O.S. Voice/Mrs. Luce), Holiday Inn (Hadley), Brigadoon (Feat. Dancer), In Trousers (Wife), I Love You, Youre Perfect, Now Change (Woman 2), Falsettos (Dr. Charlotte). GKK holds a MA in Educational Theatre from Adelphi & a BA in Musical Theatre from SHU. Barrington Stage MTC 22. Love & gratitude to Kyle Jack & the Vital team, her students, and her incredible support system. Wepa! @gracekellykretzmer

Max Suwarno (Pelican) is an NYC-based actor originally from Bellingham, WA. He was recently seen in the world premiere rock musical ROMERO & JULIET as Cutie O and can be heard on the original cast album EP. Other favorite credits include RENT (Angel), A CHORUS LINE (Mark, Paul Cover), and PIPPIN (Leading Player). He earned his BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and is currently represented by Avalon Artists Group. In addition to performing, Max is a collaborative pianist specializing in music direction, accompaniment, transcription, and education. @maxsuwarno www.maxsuwarno.com

Cara Leahy (Penguin) is so excited to be joining the cast of Penguin Goes to Flight School! She is a recent graduate of Western Connecticut State University where she earned a BFA in musical theatre. There, she performed in Next to Normal (Natalie), Head Over Heels (Philoclea), Three Sisters (Natasha) and Allegro (Grandma). Recent outside credits include Hair (Jeanie), and Sweeney Todd (Johanna). Lets fly!!

Victorious Collymore-Bey (Seagull) is a card carrying International Thespian Society member, archivist, and certified librarian. He balances library work with performing, as well as managing a library at the LGBT center in the West Village. You can find his socials at StayVictorious.Net with his TikTok that has over 250K likes! StayVictorious.Net

CREATIVES

Jackson Cline (Casting Director) is thrilled to serve as Casting Director for Penguin Goes to Flight School the Musical and Kid Frankenstein the Musical. He has worked extensively with Vital Theatre Company since 2023, acting in four productions: Pinkalicious the Musical, Vitals The Wizard of Oz, Calling All Toys, and Fancy Nancy the Musical. www.JacksonCline.com

Rebecca Kane (Stage Manager) is a stage manager, indie theatre producer, and playwright based in Astoria, Queens. Favorite SM credits include a show about Clippy from Microsoft Word and numerous festival productions throughout NYC and beyond she particularly loves to stage manage for emerging artists and new plays. She produces a new play reading series in Astoria. Shes also had her own written work produced many times favorite credits include Rogue Theater Festival, Last Frontier Theatre Conference, and Cary Film Festival.

Miles Messier (Musical Director) is an actor, music director, and composer. Favorite performance credits include To the Fairest (New York Theatre Festival), Something Rotten! (Island ETC), Forever Plaid (North Country Center for the Arts), and High School Musical (Yorktown Stage). When not on stage, you can find Miles conducting for pit orchestras or cruising around the world with Royal Caribbean as a vocal director. BFA in Music Theatre from The Hartt School. Listen to his original one his website!

Kyle Jack (Director/Choreographer) was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated with an MBA from Grand Canyon University. Some of his favorite credits include Rubble in Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure, Hud: Hair the musical, The Cowardly Lion: The Wizard of Oz Enlightened Theatrics (Won BroadwayWorld.com award for Best Featured Actor), Owen: Owen and Mzee (Vital Theater) and Snoopy: Plaza Theatrics. He wants to thank his family and friends for their support. He is represented by Tsu Tsu Straton at Tsu Tsu Unlimited.

Lita Judge (Author) is the award-winning author and illustrator of sixteen fiction and nonfiction picture books including Good Morning to Me (Simon & Schuster, 2015), Born in the Wild (Roaring Brook, 2014), Flight School (S&S, 2014) and the beloved classic Red Sled (S&S, 2011). Her books have been included on the Kirkus Best Books of the Year List and have received numerous awards including the Sterling North Award, the Jane Addams Honor, ALA Notable, the International Literacy Association Children's Book Award and Michigan Notable Book. Birds of all kinds have long inspired her stories. As a child she spent every summer in Wisconsin with her Ornithologist grandparents, living in a house filled with Eagles, Hawks and Owls. Now she lives with her husband, two cats and a little green parrot named Beatrix Potter in Peterborough, New Hampshire. http://www.LitaJudge.net

David Mallamud (Composer) is an Emmy-nominee, a MacDowell, Dramatists Guild, and Leonard Bernstein Fellow (Tanglewood). He is currently writing What Do You See with Craig Lucas, and Spittoonia on the Erie with Nathan Christensen for Northern Sky Theater. Other projects include Dr. Seuss The Sneetches: The Musical, written with Philip Dawkins (Childrens Theatre Company, MN) an EP of songs from the musical Off on a Comet, featuring Kelli OHara, Santino Fontana, and Heidi Blickenstaff and Pandoras Jar, written with Janine Robledo. Their song Heights Unknown was named a 2026 winner of Taylor Loudermans Write Out Loud. His concert work includes orchestrations, arrangements, and additional music for R.E.M.s Mike Mills Concerto for Violin, Rock Band, and Orchestra, A Night of Georgia Music, which won a regional Emmy, and R.E.M. Explored (Atlanta Symphony, St. Louis Symphony). His album The Wild & Whimsical Worlds of David Mallamud won a BroadwayWorld Album Award. davidmallamud.com

Joshua H. Cohen (Lyrics) Joshua's honors include a Jonathan Larson Grant, the Anna Zornio Children's Theatre Playwriting Award (lyrics, Keep On Walkin'), the Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Award for musical Ordinary Island (music/lyrics), and a MAC Award nomination for his cult cabaret hit The Sacrifice of Love (a.k.a. the waxing song). New York has recently seen his play The Thirteenth Commandment (Libra Theater Company, 7 NY Innovative Theater Award nominations, 2 wins) and musical Tamar of the River (Prospect Theatre Company, 2 Drama Desk nominations, world premiere recording from Yellow Sound Label). Other work developed or produced by Emerging Artists Theater, Active Theater, Oberon Theater Ensemble, Jewish Ensemble Theater, Secret Theater, New American, many others. Member, Dramatists Guild 2008-10 Fellow, American Lyric Theatre's Composer-Librettist Development Program August 2012 CAP21 Writers Residency. BA: Amherst College, MFA: NYU-GMTWP. www.JoshuaHCohen.com http://www.JoshuaHCohen.com

Cara Lustik (Book) has written the book for Twinkle Tames a Dragon the Musical and Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas the Musical. She has over 15 years in the entertainment, branding and licensing industries. Previously, she worked with HIT Entertainment for its preschool properties including Thomas the Tank Engine. Cara has worked with Production, Home Entertainment, Creative, Live Events, Broadcast and Digital teams on live events and stage productions, new characters, and digital initiatives. http://www.lustikink.com

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