One night only, "If I were your Superhero"

A one night only performance of "If I were Your Superhero" is being held on Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in the Eleanor Dempsey Performing Arts Center located at 13651 Hays Road in Spring Hill, performed by Troupe 4009.

Benefiting a classroom expansion project at HOPE Ranch Learning Academy which has been providing children diagnosed with Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and other special learning needs. Opened in 2005 and made available to the community in 2009, HOPE Ranch Learning Academy is a private school that accepts per qualification McKay Scholarships and is registered with the Florida Department of Education.

The academy integrates social skills training, equine learning, speech and occupational therapies, behavioral analysis and mental health counseling as needed to meet the individual student's needs. Each child's grade level placement is based on Diagnostic Testing. The accommodations of their Individual Educational Plan (IEP) are also addressed. "The need for the learning atmosphere provided here at HOPE Ranch Learning Academy is great. We receive phone calls daily from parents who desperately need this type of school setting for their children with special needs. Unfortunately we currently have a waiting list due to our lack of space as we wait on the completion of our school expansion." explains Ampy Suarez, Educational Director. In order to begin accepting new students in 2012, the classroom modular buildings need to be in place and we ask the community to help us build toward that financial goal for the renovations.

To help with this cause, the talented Thespian Troupe 4009 from Lecanto High School will perform a compelling play that centers around the troubled world of teenaged Kylie who is transformed when she becomes the babysitter of young, autistic Guthrie. Through their summertime adventures with superheroes, swimming pools, and basketball hoops, Kylie learns what it means to overcome obstacles and to really care for another person. But when her plans to run away from her difficult home life and live with her older brother finally are realized, Kylie can't seem to let go of her mentor-relationship with Guthrie. Will she move on to a new life, or will she learn to find peace with her past?

"If I Were Your Super Hero" is winner of the 2011 District 12 Thespian Festival One-Act Play Competition and the 2009 Baker's Plays High School Playwriting Competition. Directed by Mandy Mathieu and inspired by her personal journey: "I knew I had some very talented and committed young actors who could pull off these difficult characters. This past summer, I made a decision to take on this play when my son's behavioral therapy was denied due to our insurance not being able to cover him. I was frustrated and felt that autism still needs a lot more awareness and advocacy."

Online ticket purchase $8 per person, $10 at the door, please visit our event page at www.hopeyouthranch.org for ticket purchase information.

Special donors and sponsors are welcomed for this event. For sponsorship information, please contact Melinda@hopeyouthranch.org or call 727-232-0119 ext. 6 (Press 2). Lecanto HS are District 12 Champions for this One Act play and are now representing our District at the Florida State Thespian Festival on Mar. 16 at the Morsani Hall in the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa.

Author Laignee Barron, an award winning playwright who won the California Young Playwrights contest, the 2009 Young Playwrights, Inc. National Competition, and the Rubicon Playwrights Festival. It is produced with permission from Baker's Plays.

HOPE Youth Ranch, Inc. is located at 17933 East Road, Hudson, FL 34667. For more information on this event please call 727-232-0119 or visit us at www.hopeyouthranch.org.

Contributions are deductible for income tax purposes to the extent allowed by law under Section 170 of 501(c)(3) code, EIN: 20-1019180. FL Solicitation #CH18128.