Penguin Project produces 'Music Man Jr.'

DeKALB – Children's Community Theatre's Penguin Project will Perform "Music Man Jr.," Sept. 15-18 at Sycamore High School.

Established in 2010, CCT's Penguin Project provides children and young adults with disabilities the opportunity to take center stage in full-fledged, Broadway-style musical productions. The stars, known as artists, are assisted on stage and in rehearsal by non-disabled peers, known as mentors.

The two groups have worked side-by-side since May to learn all of the songs and dances that have made Meridith Wilson's "Music Man" a favorite for generations.

The show features Adam Wirth of Waterman as Professor Harold Hill, a traveling salesman who sells small towns on the idea of a boys band, but skips town before a single note is played.

Suspicious of his ways is librarian Marian Paroo, played by Jennifer Busby of DeKalb. Marian keeps Hill on his toes – and wins his heart – with a little push from her mother, Widow Paroo, played by Haley Tyrrell of Sycamore and her brother, Winthrop, played by Andre Wade of Genoa.

Adam is mentored by Jake Busby. Jennifer is mentored by Kiah Fischer. Haley is mentored by Annie Shirley and Andre is mentored by Joseph Rynkewicz.

Hot on the heels of Hill are River City's mayor, played by Garett Schuck of Cortland, mentored by James Robinson, and anvil salesman Charlie Cowell, played by Daniel King of Sycamore, mentored by Mason Bross. However, with the assistance of his old partner in crime, Marcellus Washburn, played by Jacob Colingbourne of Genoa, mentored by Dustin King, the Music Man stays one step ahead of the game.

The rest of the cast is made up by the stubborn, and sometimes odd, residents of River City, Iowa. The mayor's wife, Eulailie Shinn, is played by Shari Schramer, mentored by Laura Lahey, and their daughters Zaneeta and Gracie, are played by Megan Cheatham, mentored by Taylor Correa, and Shaelyn West, mentored by Stefany Veldhuizen.

Other cast members include Stephannie Baccay, mentored by Merri Bork; Laura Bosshardt, mentored by Emily Scorzo; Rebecca Butler, mentored by Katelyn Helmold; Madisyn Campbell, mentored by Emma Rynkewicz; Michael Castritsis, mentored by Brianna Cada; Amanda Christensen, mentored by Rachel Butler; Lisa Finkelstein, mentored by Cossette Breidenbach; Scott Heinsohn, mentored by Kjelden Breidenbach; Jacob Ihm, mentored by Jack Marbutt; Marc Isabel, mentored by Tyler Bork; Amanda Luchsinger, mentored by Jessica Wilson; Jonah Malecki, mentored by Dylan Mondi; Cody Marbutt, mentored by Cain Hillman; Heather McCabe, mentored by Ashley Berlinski; Sydney Milner, mentored by Isabella Johnson; Trent Oltman, mentored by Keely Hoeve; Justin Parker, mentored by Alex Riley; Bobby Roller, mentored by Gabbie Melms; Erin Steele, mentored by Caitlin Cheatham; Ben Turk, mentored by Emma and Georgia Johnson; and Kaitlyn Umbach mentored by McKenzie Bohlig.

Also assisting the production as mentors are Kaitlyn King, Matt Dwyer, Alex Johnson, Mary Stang, Caleb Ihm and Raina Sands.

Penguin Project will present the show at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15, 16 and 17 and at 2 p.m. Sept. 18. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and are available online at cctonstage.com or by phone at 815-200-4747.