Creating Access to Community Theatre for Young Artists with Special Needs

This production is unique because all of the featured roles are filled by young people (ages 11-24) with developmental disabilities including down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, ADD/ADHD, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and other neurological disorders. For the Penguin Project, these young people are called "artists."

The artists are joined on stage by their peer mentors, a group of students (ages 12-24) without disabilities, who have volunteered to work with them side-by-side and guide them through 14 weeks of rehearsals and the final production. By creating unrestricted access to the performing arts, The Penguin Project® demonstrates that the special challenges of a disability need not handicap a child’s ability to participate in life’s experiences.

Our penguins may not be able to fly, but that does not prevent their spirits from soaring.

To learn more about the Penguin Project, visit their site here.

Please join our Facebook Group: CUTC's Penguin Project

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2025
News, Announcements & Updates:

Champaign Urbana Theater Company is excited to announce the 2025 Penguin Project Production:

Shrek the Musical Jr!

We are excited to bring this show to life with our Penguin Project Crew!

We are now accepting applications for new and returning artists & mentors! Please fill out this form no later than May 16th to give the staff plenty of time to go through the applications!

*If you are under 18 years old, please have a parent or guardian assist you in completing this application*

Interested Applicants must be within the following age ranges as of May 18, 2025:

Artists: Ages 11-23 as of May 18, 2025

Mentors: Ages 12-23 as of May 18, 2025

The penguin project schedule will run from May 18th, 2025 to August 31st, 2025. Rehearsals until tech week will run every Sunday and Tuesday from 6-7:30pm (this is a change from previous years). We will ask that Mentors arrive no later than 5:45pm. Most rehearsals will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana (602 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801).

*Some special events, important meetings, and extra time may be added to the schedule as needed, so please keep an eye out for communication about those.*

Also, please note the following important dates and times:

May 17th 6-7:30pm Mentor Bootcamp (LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED! - Information will be sent out soon!)
Sunday May 18: ALL Artists & Mentors First Rehearsal!

Tech Week & Performance Schedule (mandatory attendance for all)

Location to be determined - Information will be sent out later.

Tech Week/Dress Rehearsal:

Sunday, August 24th: 6-7:30
Monday, August 25th: 5-8
Tuesday, August 26th: 5-8
Wednesday, August 27th: 5-8
Thursday, August 28th 5-8 (Dress Rehearsal)

Performance Schedule:

Friday, August 29th at 7pm (5:30pm call time for Artists, 5:15pm call time for Mentors)
Saturday, August 30th at 3pm (1:30pm call time for Artists, 1:15pm call time for Mentors)
Sunday, August 31st at 3pm (1:30pm call time for Artists, 1:15pm call time for Mentors)

STRIKE will take place after the Sunday show, please plan to stay for additional time after this performance to ensure we can clean up the space and get everything moved out!

Thank you,

The Penguin Project Staff!

Melia Watson (director), Courtney Davies (choreographer), Jennifer Immke (Music Director), Nicole Morgan (producer), and John Stuff (CUTC Managing Director)

If you have any questions or would like to get in contact with a member of the penguin project staff, feel free to send an email to penguin2025project@gmail.com

APPLY HERE BY MAY 16