Acting for Autism showcases Valley theaters

April 23, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

YOUNGSTOWN

Members of the Mahoning Valley’s theater community will once again pull together to present “Acting for Autism: A Community Theater Showcase.”

The annual event, now in its second year, features singers, actors and dancers from several theaters and arts organizations.

It will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday at Fairview Arts and Outreach Center, 4220 Youngstown-Poland Road. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased in advance by calling the Mahoning Vallley chapter of the Autism Society of Ohio at 330-743-9184 or at autismohio.org/acting or tophatproductions.org. Tickets also will be sold at the door if available.

Proceeds will benefit the local chapter of the Autism Society’s summer arts camp in August. Camp F.R.I.E.N.D. provides children living with an autism spectrum disorder a week of fun and friendship.

At Saturday’s show, each of the participating groups will present a five-minute piece that represents its style of theater. Songs, dances, soliloquies and humorous skits from past or upcoming shows are planned.

The event also includes complimentary wine and beer, an hors d’oeuvre reception, a dessert showcase, and an elegant silent and basket auction.

There also will be a Weekend on Broadway raffle, with the winner receiving a package that includes two tickets to “Stomp,” two nights lodging at the Sheraton Times Square and other prizes in New York.

Opening the show will be a presentation by a group of teens with autism disorders who have been taking theater classes.

The theater training is a pilot program — dubbed Curtain UP! — that is part of a larger project by Top Hat Productions to provide job training and independent living skills to autism-disorder children, said Brian Palumbo, director of the group.

The goal is to expand the theater program and make it permanent, he said.

Here is the schedule for “Acting for Autism,” with the performing group and the title of its selection, if available:

Act I

7 p.m.: Curtain UP!

7:05 p.m.: Liz Rubino Studios (“Into the Woods” selection).

7:10 p.m.: Snezana Jelic.

7:15 p.m.: Top Hat Productions (“Step Into the Light“ from “The Upper Room”).

7:20 p.m.: Dublin Grange Theater.

7:25 p.m.: Opera Western Reserve.

7:30 p.m.: Youngstown Playhouse (“Tradition” from “Fiddler on the Roof”).

7:35 p.m.: Dave Wolford (“Reviewing the Situation” from “Oliver!”).

7:40 p.m.: Dublin Grange Theater.

7:45 p.m.: Johnny D’Andrea (“The Write Stuff”).

7:55 p.m.: Ballet Western Reserve.

Act II

8:15 p.m.: Jimmy & Brandy duet.

8:20 p.m.: Dublin Grange Theater.

8:25 p.m.: Snezana Jelic.

8:30 p.m.: Liz Rubino studios (“Into the Woods” selection).

8:35 p.m.: Top Hat Productions.

8:40 p.m.: Youngstown Playhouse (“Matchmaker” from “Fiddler on the Roof”).

8:45 p.m.: Cheney Morgan, Brandy Johanntges and Craig Conrad (“Next to Normal” selection).

8:50 p.m.: Donny Wolford (“I Want to Be a Producer” from “The Producers”).

8:55 p.m.: James Burns (“Shrek, the Musical” selection).

9 p.m.: Opera Western Reserve.