The Children’s Community Theatre’s performance of “Aladdin Jr.” brought some audience members to tears of joy Sept. 28.

The theater’s Penguin Project held this weekend’s performances at DeKalb High School, 501 W. Dresser Road, after five months of rehearsals. The Penguin Project gives people ages 10-22 with disabilities the chance to star in a modified version of a well-known Broadway show. The artists audition for roles in the production and are paired with a mentor who assists them through the rehearsal and performance process.

“Aladdin Jr.” director Tracey Busby said when the idea of directing a performance with young adults with disabilities was first presented to Children’s Community Theatre of DeKalb, she knew it was something she should join.

“Already having a child with a disability, the Penguin Project was a perfect fit for me,” Busby said.

Even though Busby has directed the past five Penguin Project performances in DeKalb, “Aladdin Jr.” was even more personal to her.

“‘Aladdin’ is my absolute favorite musical, so it was even more fun for me,” Busby said. “We were also able to use a lot more special effects than other shows in the past.”

Jacob Ihm, 16, Cortland, who played Aladdin, said he has been a part of Children’s Community Theatre’s Penguin Project since it began five years ago.

“All of the other shows I’ve been in at school were a lot harder to do because of my ADHD,” Ihm said. “But here, I can just be myself and do the best I can do and not get judged.”

The artists work with mentors every step of the way, said mentor Cole Cada, 12, of Sycamore. The mentors stayed on stage with the artists during the performance and assisted them as needed.

Being a mentor “makes you look at things differently than you normally would,” Cada said. “When you’re here, you learn more about different kinds of people, and I get to make someone happy every day. That’s the best part of it all.”

Some audience members enjoyed the production because of its unique and fun-loving nature.

“… I just cried,” said Marijo Schwartz, Sycamore special education teacher. “It was wonderful to see some of the kids I’ve worked with and to see their abilities.”