Special needs students shine in Theatre Charlotte’s collaborative ‘Annie, Jr.’

Kate Jewett has never performed in a theater, but this weekend she will step into the spotlight as the leading lady on one of Charlotte’s most storied stages.

Partnering with mentor Lainey Hembree, the 13-year-old will star in “Annie, Jr.,” in Theatre Charlotte’s inaugural partnership with The Penguin Project, a national effort to empower students with special needs to explore their creativity through theater.

“It has been a good opportunity for me to sing and find out what it is like to be in a play,” said Kate, who has autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. “I like meeting the other kids, and I’ve already made some new friends.”

The show about everyone’s favorite little orphan runs this weekend.

Lisa Blanton, Theatre Charlotte’s managing director, has been working with the students since early March. “We started rehearsing once a week, just learning music,” she said. “We never auditioned for roles.”

Gradually, certain students stood out for particular parts.

“It’s a gentler way than the more traditional show-up audition,” Blanton said. “We have to get to know the kids a little bit better and take time to figure out how to make each student successful.”

They chose “Annie, Jr.” because the show offers roles in a range of ages. “The youngest artists play the orphans,” said Blanton, along with major roles like Annie and Molly. Daddy Warbucks, Grace and the Warbucks mansion employees are played by the older students.

“But you still have all of the iconic songs, and you still meet the orphans in Hannigan’s orphanage and they sing ‘Hard Knock Life,’ ” said Blanton.

Student participants range in age from 8 to 23, and come from Olde Providence and Selwyn elementary schools, Carmel and Crestdale middle schools, and South Mecklenburg, Charlotte Catholic and Ballantyne Ridge high schools, among others.

Finding empathy, making friends

Each of the 16 students with special needs is paired as closely in age as possible with a peer mentor, who stays with them on stage throughout the show.

“Some cast members need a little bit more help, maybe a line whisper or help getting in the right position,” said Blanton. “But also, the mentors need to know everything the artist is supposed to do in case of an emergency, if somebody needs to run off the stage, then the mentor steps into the role and the show keeps going.”

These types of performances give students who would not otherwise be able to perform with their schools’ theater productions a chance to experience the thrill of participating in live theater, and the confidence and joy that can bring.

“Most of these kids could never just walk in cold to an audition and have the opportunity,” Blanton said. “I have to catch myself and not get emotional in front of everyone. They’re all so very excited and so proud of themselves. You often look back (from stage), and there’s a parent with a little tear. It’s pretty cool.”

The relationships that have formed have been one of the most remarkable parts of the project, she said. One she has noticed is that of Logan Campbell, 13, and Asher Heikes, 8. Asher plays an orphan named Duffy.

“Asher is hearing impaired and has a device that whoever is leading rehearsal has to wear around their neck,” Blanton said. “I have been super impressed with Logan’s ability to multitask, and do all the things he’s supposed to, and be so aware of making sure Asher’s got the help that he needs.”

The theater also partnered with Invisible Paw Prints, a local, volunteer-led nonprofit that provides support dogs throughout the community, to find Timber. The certified therapy dog will play the role of Annie’s furry friend, Sandy.

“It warms your heart to watch the mentors learn how to be more empathetic and more supportive,” Blanton said. “One of the goals is for them to be adults in the world someday who are more empathetic and supportive of folks who need a little extra help.”

A long time in the making

The Penguin Project was founded by Dr. Andy Morgan in Peoria, Illinois. A pediatrician and arts lover, Morgan had worked with children with special needs for years and searched for a way to blend his passions. He created the project in 2004.

When Theatre Charlotte joined, the organization became the 50th chapter of The Penguin Project Foundation, and the first in North Carolina.

For Theatre Charlotte Artistic Director Chris Timmons, this partnership has long been in the works.

“(We have) this responsibility, as a theater that’s built by and for this community, to try to be as supportive and to offer opportunities for as many people as possible,” Timmons said. “So this was clearly a void in our community.”

Timmons first heard of the project over a virtual theater conference in 2021, during the COVID pandemic. “One of the chapter presidents said that this program, The Penguin Project, changed our lives and it changed our theater,” he said. “We were sold.”

But because of the theater’s devastating December 2020 electrical fire, it lacked a facility. “It felt like, when we get back up and running, this (Penguin Project) is something that we should really look into,” Timmons said.

In 2022, the paperwork was finalized and plans began.

Since the theater was formally accepted into the program, Morgan has visited Charlotte several times to advise and help get the project off the ground. “He’s always willing to have a conversation about something that’s happening, or what to expect,” Timmons said.

For example, Timmons and his team have had to learn about the delicate dance of maintaining the integrity of the original production, while making sure each participant is comfortable. For “Annie, Jr.”, the theater will likely alter sound and lighting effects, and brighten lights for scene transitions, among other tweaks.

“I also learned… that some people have sensitivities to certain kinds of fabric,” Timmons said. “Those are things that we’ll learn that are probably beneficial to our mainstage season and everything else that we do.”

The project also hits close to home. Timmons’ daughter, Ally, 12, is one of the production’s mentors, and is teamed up with 8-year-old Aryanna Singh. Aryanna plays Molly, one of the orphans.

“It’s been interesting, because we weren’t sure if it was something that Ally would want to do,” Timmons said. “But as we talked about the project, she was really interested in doing it.”

Not only is she meeting people who are different than her, she’s being pushed in other ways, he added.

“She tends to be reserved… and she is not going to take charge. But this is putting her in a position where she has to be that person,” Timmons said. “She has to take charge and lead Aryanna around in the space and throughout the show, so I’m excited to see her build on that skill set.”

Want to go?

“Annie, Jr.” runs from June 20-22 at Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Road.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit theatrecharlotte.org/annie.

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This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 5:20 AM.