BBI sponsors Syracuse Stage production and panel discussion about group homes for people with developmental disabilities
Doughnuts, professional golf, and a prized ring of keys are just a few of the quirky yet endearing sources of humor in The Boys Next Door, a play written by Tom Griffin.
The Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University is pleased to sponsor Syracuse Stage’s production of this gentle and touching comedy that peers into the lives of four men living with developmental disabilities in a group home. The Boys Next Door, directed by Timothy Bond, will run Oct. 19 through Nov. 6 in Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage, 820 East Genesee Street.
The play explores the daily struggles and triumphs of the residents, weaving a lighthearted yet compassionate tale that, according to the New York Times, "moves the audience to an awareness of how many things in everyday life we take for granted."
Set in the 1980s, The Boys Next Door sheds light on the progress that has been made for people with disabilities. The matinee performance on Sunday, Oct. 30 will be followed by a post-show discussion about that progress, as well as the history and current state of group homes. Speakers include:
- University Professor Peter Blanck, chairman of BBI, an international organization for advancing the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities.
- Brian McLane ’69, strategic advisor to Syracuse University’s Inclusive Campus Initiative, which involves all aspects of SU’s operations, every school and college, and 10 campuses across four continents.
- Stanfort J. Perry, executive director of Arc of Onondaga, the largest provider of services to people with developmental disabilities in Onondaga County.
- Agnes McCray, member of ARISE board of directors and ARISE Foundation board, ARISE an Independent Living Center that promotes the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the community.
Tickets ($18-$50) are available at the Syracuse Stage Box Office, 315-443-3275 or SyracuseStage.org. In addition to BBI, Syracuse Stage’s production of The Boys Next Door is sponsored by The Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation, Syracuse University Humanities Center, POMCO Group, and Arc of Onondaga (celebrating its 60th anniversary). The media sponsor is WRVO. Syracuse Stage’s 2011-2012 season sponsor is The Post-Standard.
Read more about Syracuse Stage’s production of The Boys Next Door
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