Latest news with #PenguinProject
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The show must go on, LCT brings Penguin Project to the stage
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – Started in 2004, The Penguin Project aims to bring theater experiences to youths with developmental disabilities. Each year, a production is mounted in theaters across the country with casts that consist of kids with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and other neurological disorders. They are joined on stage by a dedicated group of 'peer mentors' – children the same age without disabilities who have volunteered to work side-by-side with them through 4 months of rehearsals and on through the final performance. By providing access to community theater, The Penguin Project demonstrates that the special challenges of a disability should not handicap a child's ability to participate in life's experiences. For a few years, the La Crosse Community Theatre (LCT) has been one of the many theaters that participate in the Penguin Project. For the past three years, LCT has been trying to obtain a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help with funding of their chapter of the Penguin Project. After receiving the grant earlier in January of this year, LCT was informed in April that the grant would be rescinded because the program did not align with the new DEI guidelines put forth by the Trump administration. That was in the middle of the current LCT Penguin Project production. Let me put that more clearly. LCT repeatedly applied for a grant from the NEA to fund a program intended for youths with developmental disabilities. They received the grant in January. This year's Penguin show starts rehearsals in March. Kids have gotten their scripts and have started learning how to be in and do a community theater show. Then, because of new DEI guidelines, the NEA rescinds the grant. Then, the La Crosse communtiy did something beautiful. They responded with an outpouring of support. Not only will the show go on this year, but according to the LCT Artistic Advancement Director, Alex Attardo, 'Penguin is here to stay. It's not going anywhere.' With that said, the show must go on, and on it does! This weekend, June 13th through the 15th, you have 3 opportunities to see these talented kids in the Big Bad Musical. According to Pioneer Drama Service, the notorious Big Bad Wolf has been slapped with a class-action lawsuit by the quirky storybook characters who want to get even: Little Red Riding Hood, her Grandmother, the Three Little Pigs, and the Shepherd in charge of the Boy Who Cried Wolf. With Sydney Grimm as the commentator on live Court TV, the two greatest legal minds in the Enchanted Forest (the Evil Stepmother and the Fairy Godmother) clash in a trial that will be remembered forever after. The shows are Friday evening at 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 2 pm. You can buy tickets on the LCT website or at the door before the show. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Ride the Cyclone' musical debuts in East Peoria this weekend
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — A dark comedy about death and amusement parks is heading to East Peoria this weekend. Eastlight Theatre is performing the regional premiere of the musical 'Ride the Cyclone.' One of the show's stars, Joshua Regan, joined director Kevin Paul Wickart on WMBD This Morning. The musical focuses on a group of teens who die on a malfunctioning rollercoaster. In the afterlife, they're offered a chance at resurrection by a magical fortune teller machine. It's not just the premise that's bizarre. Regan says his character, Ricky, was rendered mute due to witnessing the death of his father and retreats into a fantasy world of cat people in outer space. Despite the strangeness, Regan says the role has a lot of heart in it and delivers an inspiring message. 'It's such a good role to explore everyone's need to be seen and everyone's need to fit in,' he says. The Penguin Project presents 'Something Rotten Jr.' With such an odd premise and characters, it should come as no surprise that the show's music is similarly eclectic. 'I have a Bon Jovi-esque, 70s or 80s rock number,' Regan explained. 'And other people have a 1930s, like, accordion, stuff like that. So I think it's a great opportunity to explore the different music and have that reflect in the characters.' Wickart says, while the subject matter isn't exactly appropriate for young children, teens and families shouldn't be discouraged from checking out the show. 'We hope that the music and the lighter bits will carry [the audience] through,' Wickart told us. 'Ride the Cyclone' runs from June 13-15 and 18-21 at the Byron Moore Auditorium at East Peoria High School. Sunday, June 15 is a matinee performance; all other shows are in the evening. For tickets, visit Love WMBD This Morning? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our Daily Newsletter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Community rallies around LCT's Penguin Project
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – When the National Endowment for the Arts unexpectedly withdrew grant funding for La Crosse Community Theatre's 2025 Penguin Project production of The Big Bad Musical, the news was a blow. The loss of this federal support, due to shifting national funding priorities, left a critical gap in resources for one of LCT's most inclusive and beloved programs. But the community didn't hesitate. In just a matter of weeks, individual donors, local businesses, and longtime supporters stepped forward with generosity and heart. Not only was the funding gap filled, but community contributions surpassed the original NEA grant amount, ensuring the Penguin Project continues to thrive this season. Erik Vose, Executive Director of La Crosse Community Theatre, said, 'The Penguin Project is more than a performance. It's a celebration of possibility. This community showed what it truly values. We may have lost a grant, but we gained a powerful reminder of how much people care. While we'll continue to welcome support, the very best way to uplift our Penguins right now is to come see the show. Buy a ticket. Be part of their audience. You won't regret it.' The Penguin Project is a nationwide program that provides theatre opportunities for young artists with developmental disabilities and special needs, pairing them with peer mentors for a fully staged musical production. The Big Bad Musical will be performed June 13th through the 15th in the Lyche Theatre at the Weber Center for the Arts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Anne Arundel County theater program gives artists with disabilities confidence, social skills
A unique program, called the Penguin Project, in Anne Arundel County, gives young artists with developmental disabilities the chance to shine on stage, while improving social skills, communication, and boosting self-esteem. Victor Parker says he's shy and gets nervous easily. But when he is on stage, his anxiety melts away. "When I'm acting, it just calms me down and it's so much fun," Parker said. Parker plays Troy, alongside Caroline Crowder as Gabriella, in the Penguin Project's High School Musical Jr. "We had a lot of fun performing last year, and I'm really proud to be the lead this year," Crowder said. What is the Penguin Project? The Penguin Project is a national program that provides a supportive and encouraging theater experience for children and young adults with disabilities. The Talent Machine Company joined forces with the Penguin Project in 2024, becoming the first chapter in Central Maryland. "It gives all these kids a chance to shine," Parker said. Each performer is paired with a peer mentor, who is a child their age who volunteered to work with them through the four months of rehearsals and on stage. "If I forget my lines, she will whisper it in my ear, and then I'll remember it," said Jonah Schulthieis. "I'll kind of pass by behind him and say it," added Chiara Monterroso. Curtain call At their final show on Saturday, parents filled the theater at the MACC church in Davidsonville, beaming with pride. It's a rewarding learning experience for everyone involved. "I've definitely learned how to work with people with disabilities a little better and I've learned how to make more friends," said Anna Wilkins. Parker learned he can reach any heights through the Penguin Project. "I personally like to stay to myself a lot but I've actually learned that i actually like hanging out with people who have shared interest," Parker said.
