• CALENDAR
  • SIGN UP FOR EMAILS
  • DONATE
  • MEMBERSHIP
  • MY ACCOUNT

Academy Center of the Arts

Lynchburg's Local Arts Center

  • PERFORMANCES
    • BUY TICKETS
    • BOX OFFICE
      • Discounts
      • Gift Certificates
      • Group Sales
      • Ticketing Policies
      • SEATING CHARTS
    • COVID-19 Policies
    • Digital Programming
      • Academy @ Home
      • ACOA NETWORK
    • GETTING HERE
      • DINE
      • STAY
      • Parking and Directions
    • RESIDENT COMPANIES
      • The Charlottesville Ballet
      • Jefferson Choral Society
      • Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra 20/21 Season
      • Opera on the James 20/21 Season
      • Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest
  • EDUCATION
    • ALL CLASSES
    • ADULT CLASSES
    • YOUTH CLASSES
    • ONLINE CLASSES
    • POTTERY CLASSES
    • YOUTH THEATRE
    • Birthday Parties
    • Education Access Program
    • Instructor Interest Form
  • GALLERIES
    • ARTIST MEMBERS
    • The Academy Artist Expansion Initiative
    • 2021 National Juried Art Exhibition
  • RENTALS
    • VENUE RENTALS
      • Birthday Parties
      • Corporate Rentals
      • Performance Rentals
      • Social and Private Rentals
      • Weddings
      • Virtual Rentals
    • Venue Specs
    • Performance Partners
    • Facilities Access Program
  • OUTREACH
    • COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFERINGS
    • Education Access Program
    • Facilities Access Program
  • SUPPORT
    • Make a Donation
    • Join our Membership Program
    • LEGACY GIVING
      • Endowment
      • Legacy Giving
    • OUR DONORS
    • CORPORATE SPONSORS
  • ABOUT
    • CONTACT US
      • Board of Trustees
      • Staff Directory
    • PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
    • VENUES
      • OUR VENUES
      • Tours
      • Venue Accessibility
    • WORK WITH US
      • Employment
      • Internships
      • Volunteer
  • PERFORMANCES
    • BUY TICKETS
    • BOX OFFICE
      • Discounts
      • Gift Certificates
      • Group Sales
      • Ticketing Policies
      • SEATING CHARTS
    • COVID-19 Policies
    • Digital Programming
      • Academy @ Home
      • ACOA NETWORK
    • GETTING HERE
      • DINE
      • STAY
      • Parking and Directions
    • RESIDENT COMPANIES
      • The Charlottesville Ballet
      • Jefferson Choral Society
      • Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra 20/21 Season
      • Opera on the James 20/21 Season
      • Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest
  • EDUCATION
    • ALL CLASSES
    • ADULT CLASSES
    • YOUTH CLASSES
    • ONLINE CLASSES
    • POTTERY CLASSES
    • YOUTH THEATRE
    • Birthday Parties
    • Education Access Program
    • Instructor Interest Form
  • GALLERIES
    • ARTIST MEMBERS
    • The Academy Artist Expansion Initiative
    • 2021 National Juried Art Exhibition
  • RENTALS
    • VENUE RENTALS
      • Birthday Parties
      • Corporate Rentals
      • Performance Rentals
      • Social and Private Rentals
      • Weddings
      • Virtual Rentals
    • Venue Specs
    • Performance Partners
    • Facilities Access Program
  • OUTREACH
    • COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFERINGS
    • Education Access Program
    • Facilities Access Program
  • SUPPORT
    • Make a Donation
    • Join our Membership Program
    • LEGACY GIVING
      • Endowment
      • Legacy Giving
    • OUR DONORS
    • CORPORATE SPONSORS
  • ABOUT
    • CONTACT US
      • Board of Trustees
      • Staff Directory
    • PARKING AND DIRECTIONS
    • VENUES
      • OUR VENUES
      • Tours
      • Venue Accessibility
    • WORK WITH US
      • Employment
      • Internships
      • Volunteer

Casting Christopher: How one Local Actor Works to Incorporate Research and Understanding into Character Development

February 27, 2020

Community Through Theatre and local high school student, Maxwell Castagne, takes on the challenging role of Christopher Boone, lead in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, running in the Warehouse Theatre March 7-8 and 13-15, 2020.

 

Christopher, fifteen years old, stands beside Mrs. Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in the book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain, exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and he distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

 

When describing Christopher, Max told us that “Christopher is unique! He loves science and math, which I relate to because I like those subjects as well.” Max finds additional similarities with Christopher in that he also “doesn’t prefer to be touched, which is a trait that Christopher carries.”

 

“I’m not on the spectrum but there are many similarities between us which I’ve noticed throughout rehearsal,” said Max. 

 

Preparing for the role, Max took the time to study the Netflix series ‘Atypical’, which is a heartfelt comedy that follows Sam, a teenager on the autism spectrum, who has decided he is ready to become more independent.

 

Max watched Atypical as a way to study an appropriate and accurate depiction of a person on the spectrum in current media. “My main goal when watching the show was to learn the “ticks” of Sam and how he reacted when things ‘set him off’,” said Max. 

 

Max also visited EC Glass High School with Director of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Corey Wilson, and met with special education teacher Jennifer Lithgow to discuss different scenarios regarding how an individual on the spectrum might react in a certain situation.

 

“I definitely wanted to portray Christopher in the correct way,” said Max. “ I did a lot of research in preparation for the role”. 

 

Another form of guidance Max received was from working with cast mates, of whom work or live with individuals with disabilities. “This helped me a lot, as they were able to give me a lot of advice on character development.” 

 

Max says his takeaway from portraying the role of Christopher has allowed him to gain a newfound understanding for individuals with special needs. “Digging into this character, Christopher really just wants to be Christopher and he wants to be loved; maybe not touched, but he still wants that connection with people. He doesn’t like to be touched by strangers and that’s really not so odd”.

 

“The whole process has been hard but so much fun. Having gotten into theatre recently, I feel that it’s given me insight to more than I ever imagined having. I feel honored to play this role and put it in the right light. I’m able to show people that individuals with disabilities aren’t so different”.

 

Don’t miss your chance to see Max in the role of Christopher, as well as the rest of the cast, in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, running in the Warehouse Theatre March 7-8 and 13-15, 2020.

 

Tickets are available now at academycenter.org.

 

This event is sponsored by Campbell Insurance and First National Bank.

Filed Under: Theatre

Eblast Signup

Sign Up to receive updates from us.

Categories

  • Art
  • Community Outreach
  • Donors
  • Events
  • Film
  • Gallery
  • Holidays
  • iPad
  • Local Art
  • Music
  • Press Release
  • Theatre
  • Uncategorized
  • Youth

Archives

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015

Recent Posts

  • Celebrating Youth Art Month
  • Academy Meets Needs for Organizations Hosting Virtual Events
  • Celebrating Makers of Black History: Past & Present
  • Lottie Payne Stratton Award Recipient Recognized for Supplying Access to Arts for All
  • Featured Artist Transforms Trash into Treasure 

CONTACT US:

(434) 846-8499
600 Main Street
Lynchburg, VA 24504
  • Tickets
  • VISIT
  • EDUCATION
  • Galleries
  • Support
  • About
  • Blog
  • Board of Trustees
  • Employment
  • Internships
  • Press & Media
  • Contact Us
SUPPORT THE ACADEMY DONATE
STAY UP TO DATE EMAIL UPDATES

Academy Center of The Arts Copyright © 2021