Theatre Horizon, a professional theatre company based in Norristown, is the recipient of a $25,000 grant from NBC10, Telemundo62, and Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, writes Alexa Gallo for NBC 10.

The grant is part of Project Innovation and will go toward the theatre’s Autism Drama Program, which aims to inspire imagination and social development for people on the autism spectrum.

Theatre Horizon was founded in 2005 by Erin Reilly and Matthew Decker. Its mission is to use storytelling’s transformative power to foster empathy and create an inclusive space for artists, audiences, and students.

The Autism Drama Program started together with the theatre, and it is one of its core components. The classes the program offers help individuals on the autism spectrum develop social skills and verbal expressions, as well as empathy for others and a sense of self-worth and accomplishment.

The program has grown from just one student to serving more than 1,000 students. During the pandemic, the program moved online and was able to expand its reach both nationally and internationally.

This grant money will help the program continue and expand upon having both virtual and in-person options. It will also help double the number of teaching artists and add new classes.

Read more about Theatre Horizon at NBC 10.