The Champaign Urbana Theatre Company presents Rock of Ages, Youth Edition this weekend. Penguin Project is a national effort to empower children and youth living with developmental disabilities to explore their creative side and enjoy the performing arts. This year, these talented students and student-mentors are singing and dancing to all of your favorites from the (mostly) 80s in a beautifully staged jukebox musical.
Choreographer Courtney Davies (one of the district’s Special Education professionals) explained, “there’s such joy in each of these kids’ lives when they work hard on a show and then see it all the way to production. Of course, it’s all about inclusion, but it goes beyond that for these kids. It empowers them.”
Similarly, University of Illinois sophomore English Education major Brooke Foreman (serving as an assistant director at Central High School) added, “this just adds to my commitment to becoming a teacher. I am experiencing first-hand what these students can do. It’s inspiring to see that everyone can do this with support and love.” Central High School senior Charlotte Heads, who designed lights for the show, agreed. “I love watching this all come together. It truly takes a village to put on a show like this and to see the community come together is amazing.”
The role of rocker Stacee Jaxx is played by Penguin Project veteran Leland Schauber, whose mother, Marisa Winegar, explained how important Penguin Project has been for her son:
He’s really come into his own and finding his voice this year. He loves these songs and is having the time of his life. We’re so grateful to his mentor Sam Ryan, who supports him on stage and off. This is Leland’s fourth show. He started as Olaf in 2019’s Frozen, Jr. Leland loves cars and he’d love to work with cars. But here’s where his heart is. He wants everyone to be able to love classic cars and appreciate them. He told me, Mom, I want to help set up car shows so that if a student who is blind is there, I’ll put a description of the car in braille for them. Or if a kid with a wheelchair wants to sit in a classic car, I’ll make sure to work it so it’s a convertible and we can lift them into the car.
Don’t miss Leland and the whole cast in this year’s Penguin Project production.
Rock of Ages, Youth Edition
Champaign Central High School’s Decker Theatre
610 W University Ave
Champaign
Fri & Sa Aug 23 and 24 at 7 p.m.
Su Aug 25th at 3 p.m.
$10
