Pathway School to Present Reading of BEAUTIFUL BOY at People's Light, 4/6

The Pathway School presents Pete Pryor's Beautiful Boy on Monday, April 6, 2015 at 7 pm at People's Light in celebration of National Autism Awareness Month. Samantha Bellomo directs. People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets, call 610.644.3500 or visit peopleslight.org.

Beautiful Boy, the first play by actor/director Pete Pryor, is an uplifting story of the care and love for one family's autistic child. At around 18 months of age, Pete's son was diagnosed with ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder. This impressionistic piece received an Independence Fellowship and follows a family on its journey from the fearful time of the diagnosis to the finding of an approach and a home program. Scenes of a father dealing with work, travel, and the myriad of therapeutic approaches are intercut with glimpses of his family's life and a look at the community that helps his son. It is a piece full of life, humor, and deep love.

The first professional run of Beautiful Boy took place at People's Light after a highly lauded reading at the theatre's COMMUNITY MATTERS program, a free series of performed readings aimed to spark dialogue about vital issues in the community. Since that time, it has been hosted for one night engagements at Act II Playhouse and The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. First developed at 1812 Productions, this production has evolved over the years from a one-person show to a dynamic three-person presentation directed by the award-winning director/choreographer Samantha Bellomo.

"We are so excited about Beautiful Boy being produced by The Pathway School for a special one-night engagement," affirms Pete Pryor (Associate Artistic Director at People's Light). Over the course of twelve years, People's Light and The Pathway School have developed a deep partnership, centering on in-school residencies that are created and taught by People's Light artists. Individual residencies evolved into Pathway's Theatre Arts Program and the "Pathway Players" theatre club, under the direction of Mr. Pryor, which includes three student productions annually. Rehearsals and performances create meaningful experiences and build confidence through individual responsibility. The lasting benefits of the Theatre Arts Program can be seen beyond the stage performances in front of family, faculty and loved ones. Studies conducted by Butler University (Indianapolis), using students engaged in Pathway's theatre activities indicated enhancements in students' reading, speech, and socialization competencies. Students also improved their abilities to display appropriate emotions, regulate emotions, and acknowledge the perspectives and opinions of others.

President and CEO at The Pathway School David Schultheis says "We are proud to partner with People's Light and Pete Pryor to present this moving and thoughtful play. Beautiful Boy may be one family's story with autism, but through its genuine portrayal of the spectrum of emotions it reflects every family's experience with raising a child with exceptional needs." The proceeds of this special one-night engagement will benefit the work of The Pathway School and People's Light's accessibility-related programming.

All tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at peopleslight.org or by calling 610-644-3500.

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