- June 21, 2025
Alex plays Prince Abdullah in the Penguin Project's Aladdin Jr. Image courtesy of Jacquelyn Rivers, Riverlilly Photography
Trevette Perry will play Aladdin in both the Indian Trails Middle School and Penguin Project performances. Image courtesy of Jacquelyn Rivers, Riverlilly Photography
Ethan Lore plays Babkak is the Penguin Project's Aladdin Jr. Image courtesy of Jacquelyn Rivers, Riverlilly Photography
Nolan Lore plays the Genie in the Penguin Project's Aladdin Jr. Image courtesy of Jacquelyn Rivers, Riverlilly Photography
Flagler Playhouse President Jerri Berry holds up the Penguin Project's Aladdin Jr. T-shirt. Image courtesy of Jacquelyn Rivers, Riverlilly Photography
The Flagler Playhouse is back.
After a fire destroyed its theater in October, 2023, the Playhouse finished its season at Matanzas High School, and then the theater troupe went into hibernation — except for the Playhouse’s annual Penguin Project show.
Flagler’s third Penguin Project presentation — “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.” — is scheduled for June 6-8 in the Bunnell Elementary School cafeteria.
On June 12-15, the Playhouse will present “The Fantasticks” at the annex building that was next to its former theater. The side building had been used for props and storage, Flagler Playhouse President Jerri Berry said. The bottom floor has been transformed into meeting space and a 50-seat black-box theater.
The Playhouse will use the space going forward until it figures out what the next phase of its rebuild will look like, Berry said.
“That phase was the easiest to do,” Berry said. “It took a couple of years, but it was easiest. There’s good structure in that building.”
The Playhouse’s Penguin Project and Indian Trails Middle School are both presenting Aladdin Jr., and they are sharing costumes, cast members, props and a choreographer.
“It’s happenstance we were doing the same production,” Berry said.
The Indian Trails theater students will perform Aladdin Jr. at Matanzas High School’s Pirate Theater on May 22-23 at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are $10.
Trevette Perry will play Aladdin in the Indian Trails show. When the Penguin Project lost its Aladdin, Perry volunteered to take over the role in that presentation also, which means double rehearsals. But he’s excited about performing in both, ITMS Theater/Chorus Director Kassy Pierre Louis said.
“I’d say he’s more than excited,” she said. “His father loves theater, and he said he’s trying to follow in his footsteps.”
Indian Trails and the Penguin Project are sharing choreographer Valorie Betts, though the choreography is different in each show. The two presentations are using costumes provided by Matanzas theater teacher James Brendlinger, who owns a costume rental shop.
Several of the Indian Trails’ Aladdin Jr. cast members are mentors for artists in the Penguin Project show, Berry said.
“The Jafar in their show is the mentor for our little Jafar,” Berry said.
The Penguin Project provides children with developmental disabilities the opportunity to get involved in theater arts. Each artist is joined on stage by a peer mentor. The artists in the Flagler Penguin Project production range in age from 8 to 24. There are 35 cast members in the Penguin Project’s Aladdin, including artists and peer mentors.
The Penguin Project, which began in Peoria, Illinois, in 2004, got its name from a bird that can’t fly, yet its spirit soars. Berry said Flagler’s Penguin Project is her passion project.
Berry is also excited about the first show in the new theater, which is one-third the size of the former theater, a longtime Bunnell landmark that previously had been a church.
It will be the first Flagler Playhouse show since May, 2024.
“I think people are going to enjoy the new space,” she said.
The Fantasticks is the world’s longest running musical. The off-broadway production ran for 42 years from 1960 to 2002. Veteran director Les Ober will direct the Flagler Playhouse presentation.
“Les always has great vision. He’s a super director,” Berry said.
Email brent@observerlocalnews
