Greenwood Theater Showcases Inclusivity with Unique Production of “Winnie the Pooh”
In the heart of Greenwood, South Carolina, a local theater is making significant strides towards inclusivity by giving young artists with different abilities the opportunity to shine on stage. This season, the Greenwood Community Theatre is taking audiences on a delightful journey to a nearby forest, home to some very special characters.
Ryan Hewitt, artistic director of Greenwood Community Theatre, shared his enthusiasm for the project: “This is really a great opportunity for our children to really intertwine with each other, and get to know each other, when maybe they wouldn’t get that opportunity.”
Greenwood Community Theatre is the first in South Carolina to participate in the Penguin Project, a program that gives children with different abilities the chance to perform on stage. This season’s production of “Winnie the Pooh” promises to be a heartwarming and entertaining experience, featuring a crew as sweet as Pooh’s favorite treat, honey.
Among the performers is Tim, who plays Christopher Robin. Tim has been a part of the Penguin Project for several years and clearly enjoys his time on stage. When asked if he has a favorite line in the show, he said, “Yes, I do. I like ‘once upon a time.’”
“Winnie the Pooh is really funny. He also does adventures,” Tim added, offering a glimpse into the whimsical world of the Hundred Acre Wood.
The Penguin Project pairs young artists with mentors who help them with lines and stage directions. These mentors, often middle school and high school students, usually come to the theater with dreams of being front and center in the spotlight. However, as Hewitt puts it, “This isn’t about you.”
Joseph, one of the mentors, explained, “You realize sometimes you have to let other people shine. You have to let them have the spotlight.”
Jude, another mentor who happens to be Joseph’s brother, chimed in, “I just love helping special needs kids, that’s my favorite part about this. I just love helping people who have disabilities.”
Interestingly, their younger brother, Joah, plays a unique character—Winnie the Pooh’s tummy. Joah joyfully demonstrated his role by letting out a loud, guttural noise, saying, “It’s the sound Winnie the Pooh’s tummy makes when he’s hungry.”
Joseph praised his younger brother, saying, “He has really spread his wings and come into his own as Pooh’s tummy, and he’s really good at what he does.”
The inspiration behind the Penguin Project is as touching as the performances themselves. Hewitt explained, “Penguins are birds that don’t fly, but they soar in their own way. And that is how our artists are. They may not shine in the same way that other kids do, but they shine in their own unique special way.”
As the curtains prepare to open, Joseph expressed his hopes for the audience: “I hope that [the audience] feels inspired to go out and make the world a better place.”
“Winnie the Pooh” runs Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Greenwood Community Theatre.
