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  "path": "/arts-culture/2026/02/19/awesome-life-academy-bit-theater-improv",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-19T11:35:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.wbez.org",
  "textContent": "<p>From the outside, on a cold January morning, the Bit Theatre in Aurora looks sterile. But inside, it’s warm, buzzing and full of families awaiting the start of an exclusive improv performance.</p><p>This show, a partnership between The Bit Theatre and Awesome Life Academy, is being staged for an audience of young adults with special needs.</p><div class=\"Enhancement FormEnhancement\" data-align-center> <div id=\"Form-newsletter-wrapper\" class=\"Form-newsletter-wrapper\" data-module data-has-background ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"custom-form-c10000\" name=\"custom-form-c10000\"></a><bsp-form class=\"Form-newsletter\" data-form-container data-has-background style=\"--color-form-background: #e8dbed;; --color-form-link: var(--link-color); --color-form-link-hover: var(--color-link-text-hover); \" data-ajax-submit=\"true\"> <div class=\"Form-newsletter-logo\"> <picture data-crop=\"\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"840\" height=\"555\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d5b965/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a4ff6fd/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/1680x1110!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 2x\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <source width=\"840\" height=\"555\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d21ec76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"GR-wordmark-RGB-DKgreen-Newsletter.png\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d21ec76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/aaee62a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/1680x1110!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png 2x\" width=\"840\" height=\"555\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d21ec76/2147483647/strip/true/crop/985x651+33+0/resize/840x555!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F71%2Ff5%2F2243263a48c7a1d6e81fedce4f15%2Fgr-wordmark-rgb-dkgreen-newsletter.png\" loading=\"lazy\" > </picture> </div> <div class=\"Form-newsletter-text-wrapper\"> <div class=\"Form-newsletter-title\"> Green Room Newsletter </div> <div class=\"Form-newsletter-submissionSuccess\"> <p><b>You’re subscribed!</b></p><p></p><p>Please check your inbox for your confirmation.</p> </div> <div class=\"Form-newsletter-description\">Stay ahead of what’s hitting Chicago stages, galleries, museums and more with Green Room, WBEZ’s weekly arts & culture newsletter!</div> <div class=\"Form-newsletter-errorMessage\"><p>Sorry, there was an error registering your email.</p></div> </div> <form data-ajax-endpoint=\"https://sfmc-subscribe.wbez.org/v1/subscription\" class=\"Form-newsletter-form\" method=\"POST\" > <div class=\"Form-newsletter-item\"> <div class=\"EmailInput\"><label class=\"EmailInput-label\"><span>Email</span> <input class=\"EmailInput-input\" type=\"email\" name=\"email\" placeholder=\"name@email.com\" required aria-required=\"true\"> </label> </div> <button class=\"Button\" type=\"submit\">Submit </button> </div> <div class=\"Form-items-item\"> <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"acquisition_campaign\" value=\"ARTS_Affordance\"> </div> <div class=\"Form-newsletter-disclaimer\"> <p>By subscribing, you agree with WBEZ’s <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.wbez.org/terms-of-use\" target=\"_blank\" >Terms of Use</a> and <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.wbez.org/privacy-policy\" target=\"_blank\" >Privacy Policy</a></p> </div> </form> </bsp-form> </div> </div><p>“Sometimes, when you're in an audience and you bring somebody in, they might be too loud, or they might laugh inappropriately, or something like that,” Jennifer Monroy, an audience member and the mom of an Awesome Life participant, said. “Here, these guys can just be themselves, be silly, and feel relaxed and just have fun.”</p><p>Activities like the improv show are an opportunity for Awesome Life participants to get out of the house, be social and make friends. The organization, based in Naperville, is a nonprofit serving young people with Down Ayndrome, autism and other special needs, who have “aged out” of services from public schools. It also aims to provide participants with skills to help them find and maintain employment.</p><p>“Basically, it's all about activities which promote social interaction and life skills,” Monroy’s son, Clayton McGill, 28, said. McGill has been in the program for a little more than two years.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-510000\" name=\"image-510000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b08d04a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+167/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe5%2Fcf%2Fa671178a43859bb572677341bcc9%2Fimprovkids-260208-6.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3eb46f3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+167/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe5%2Fcf%2Fa671178a43859bb572677341bcc9%2Fimprovkids-260208-6.jpg 2x\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5399543/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+167/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe5%2Fcf%2Fa671178a43859bb572677341bcc9%2Fimprovkids-260208-6.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Daniella Caracci from Awesome Life Academy is all smiles as she attends the Monday Morning Improv performance at the Bit Theater in Aurora on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. \" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5399543/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+167/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe5%2Fcf%2Fa671178a43859bb572677341bcc9%2Fimprovkids-260208-6.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ed77e11/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+167/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe5%2Fcf%2Fa671178a43859bb572677341bcc9%2Fimprovkids-260208-6.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5399543/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+167/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fe5%2Fcf%2Fa671178a43859bb572677341bcc9%2Fimprovkids-260208-6.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>During the show, the improv performers encouraged the Awesome Life participants to shout suggestions for scenes.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Mark Black for the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Monroy said their experience, “has been amazing.” In the time McGill has participated, his parents have noticed him building social skills and connecting with friends in spaces where they feel understood and respected.</p><p>Awesome Life founder Brandon Quaintance said these types of experiences are the driving force behind the organization.</p><p>“I always found that ‘aging out label’ very ironic,” he said. “These are 22-year-olds. They're in the prime time of their life. They're going to have 30-40 more years of quality living. But what's there for them? That's why I primarily focus on this age group.”</p><p>During the show, the improv performers encouraged the Awesome Life participants to shout suggestions for scenes. The youth kept the comedians on their toes with unexpected responses — even for improv — like shouting out “Nashville” as a favorite place in the world to vacation.</p><p>Some of the Bit Theatre ensemble members on stage, who volunteered their time, have special connections to the community. One of them, comedian Bill Weldon, has a son who has Down syndrome.</p><p>He has also taught improv classes for young adults with special needs. When he took the stage for this show, he was pleasantly surprised to see a few of his former students in the crowd.</p><p>“They recognized me,” said Weldon. “They were the ones making the suggestions. They booted me off stage, and they had a great time doing that.”</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-fa0000\" name=\"image-fa0000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3e310c8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+169/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4a%2Fda%2F2bcdf28a45b493193e23e666aa69%2Fimprovkids-260208-8.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4b9552c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+169/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4a%2Fda%2F2bcdf28a45b493193e23e666aa69%2Fimprovkids-260208-8.jpg 2x\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/375083a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+169/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4a%2Fda%2F2bcdf28a45b493193e23e666aa69%2Fimprovkids-260208-8.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Bill Weldon performs as part of the improv cast at the Bit Theater, for a group of individuals with special needs from Awesome Life Academy, in Aurora on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. \" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/375083a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+169/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4a%2Fda%2F2bcdf28a45b493193e23e666aa69%2Fimprovkids-260208-8.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6c4f0ce/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+169/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4a%2Fda%2F2bcdf28a45b493193e23e666aa69%2Fimprovkids-260208-8.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/375083a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2500x1403+0+169/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F4a%2Fda%2F2bcdf28a45b493193e23e666aa69%2Fimprovkids-260208-8.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>Comedian Bill Weldon taught improv classes for young adults with special needs. When he took the stage for this show, he was pleasantly surprised to see a few of his former students in the crowd.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Mark Black for the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>After the show, when asked whether or not there was anything he found funny, McGill said “no” and then laughed. But when asked if he had fun, he lit up and said “yes.”</p><p>“I definitely recommend Awesome Life Academy for people who want a good quality of life, valuable social skills and activities, basically, if you want to have a fun time,” he said.</p><p><i>Mike Davis is a theater reporter who covers stages across Chicago.</i></p>",
  "title": "In the Chicago suburbs, young adults with special needs say 'yes, and…' to improv",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-19T11:35:09.306Z"
}