BWW Preview: Encore Theatre District will Present a Scene from FALLING at this Year's Autism Walk, in Palm Desert.

Encore Theatre District will preview a scene from FALLING, its next production, at this year's five-kilometer autism walk, which the Coachella Valley Autism Society (CVASA) holds each spring to raise funds for autism-related issues. The walk will be held at Palm Desert's Civic Center Park, 43900 San Pablo Ave., on April 6, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. FALLING, by Deanna Jent, explores the difficulties in a family when one member is a low-functioning, autistic individual.

Encore is producing FALLING in partnership with CVASA, which is paying the production expenses. Fifty percent of the show's proceeds will go to the Society's young adult programs. The play asks how family members remain devoted to someone who is difficult to love without sacrificing their own lives for the needy individual.

Broadway World spoke to Tiffanie Patscheck, who is Encore's artistic director, and Jeremiah Rhoads, her oldest son, who is 20 and has been cast to play Joshua, the autistic teen, in Encore's production of FALLING. Ms. Patscheck is herself the parent of two low-functioning autistic young men, ages 16 and 18, and Mr. Rhoads explained the difficulties of attempting to be a big brother to two siblings who not only could not do the things other younger brothers can do, but who often tried to hurt him. Ms. Patscheck was forced to place one of her sons in a group home when her youngest child came along; Madeline's birth was bittersweet, because her son left the same day. She had to place the other son soon after, because, he, too, became a threat to Madeline's safety.

Ms. Patscheck told Broadway World that one of the problems with dealing with low-functioning autistic young adults is that most of the programs, especially in the Coachella Valley, are geared to higher-functioning individuals who can remain at home. In order to find the right group home for one of her sons, Ms. Patscheck needed to place him in Los Angeles. She also explained that placement can take some time - her sons spent time in facilities inappropriate for them because they catered more to people who had to be hospitalized for mental illness or drug addiction.

The annual Autism Walk & Resource Fair not only creates awareness but also helps to raise much needed funds. The idea is to give local families coping with autism the information, resources, and support they need to experience the highest possible quality of life. For more information and details about the 2019 Autism Walk, please visit the Walk website at https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/PalmDesert/CVASAAutismWalk.

The preview scene from FALLING will take place at the park's amphitheatre. The play itself will be performed at the Palm Springs Black Box Theater, on the campus of Palm Springs High School, 2401 East Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Performances will be held from May 17, 2019 to May 26th, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 2pm. There will be two private performances on both Saturdays at 2pm for those associated with the Coachella Valley Autism Society. Tickets are on sale now, at https://bpt.me/4073169.

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