Theatre Horizon’s Autism Drama Program Offering Fall 2017 Classes on a Special “Pay What You Can” Scale
Theatre Horizon, a professional theatre company located twenty minutes from Center City Philadelphia, returns this September with their celebrated Autism Drama Program for both children and adults, part of the company’s Education division which was recently nominated for a Victory Foundation Award for Outstanding Theatre Education Program. The Fall 2017 session, which runs September 23 through October 28, 2017, is offering a special “pay what you can” tuition for interested students.
Using a variety of dramatic techniques, Theatre Horizon’s Autism Drama Program inspires imagination, communication, and interest in personal relationships for individuals on the autism spectrum. The classes help students develop social skills, verbal expression, empathy for others, and a sense of self worth and accomplishment. Class size is limited to provide a small student to teacher ratio.
The company is offering two special programs this Fall 2017:
Youth Drama (Saturdays 10AM-11AM, 9/23-10/28): This class, which is designed for students age 10-16+, provides individuals the ability to learn flexible thinking and value social skills through improv games and creative play in an environment that celebrates their unique talents.
Storytelling and the Art of Playwriting (Saturdays 11:30AM-1PM, 9/23-10/28): This class, a collaboration between Theatre Horizon and Philadelphia Young Playwrights designed for students age 17-30+, introduces participants to the fundamentals of storytelling, helping writers and actors develop the skills necessary to communicate their ideas effectively. Class focuses on story structuring, building suspense, conveying emotion, and using voice and body to add layers to the audience’s experience. Through improv games and writing exercises, participants learn to create strong characters, rich dialogue, and engaging story-lines. Class culminates in a showcase of participants’ work.
Both courses offer a special “pay what you can” tuition scale. The true cost to run the Autism Drama Program is $180 per student. Thanks to funding from individual donors and foundations, Theatre Horizon can make the program accessible to all families regardless of household income by offering sliding scale tuition. The company asks that families pay what they feel they can afford on a scale from $65-$180. Interested students and their families should visit theatrehorizon.org for more information or to register.
Interviews with Theatre Horizon’s Education Program staff are available by contacting Bryan Buttler at bryanbuttler@gmail.com.
DETAILS:
Theatre Horizon Autism Drama Program
Theatre Horizon
401 DeKalb Street
Norristown, PA 19401
Theatrehorizon.org
Classes run September 23-October 28, 2017.
ABOUT THEATRE HORIZON: Theatre Horizon, founded in 2005, is a professional nonprofit theatre company headquartered in the county seat of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: Norristown, located 20 miles west of Philadelphia. Since its inception, Theatre Horizon has produced critically-acclaimed productions that fulfill its mission of connecting audiences and students with professional theatre artists through relevant and compelling theatre, and has been the recipient of multiple Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. The company has also presented original works and has an extensive education program that reaches hundreds of students in the greater Philadelphia region. Through theatre, the company creates a community of artists, students and audiences in which each member is encouraged to grow. More info at theatrehorizon.org
