Last month, Santa Fe Christian’s theater program presented its summer show, “The Curious Incident of the Dog and the Nighttime.” It was a night of suspense, laughter, and fun in the theater.

The show offers a unique perspective of the protagonist, Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old boy diagnosed with an unknown neurodevelopmental disorder, as he investigates the murder of the dog next door. As the murder mystery unfolds, so do the mysteries surrounding his unknown condition, according to a news release.

The journey to the stage was one of careful consideration and deep understanding. Director Matt Corsaro, sought guidance from Katie Pratt, Santa Fe Christian’s director of academic support, before mapping out the production.

“I was looking to get insight from her on ways to approach this material,” Corsaro explained in the news release. “My main takeaway from this meeting was that it’s so important to know that everyone is made perfectly by God. We are gifts from God, and it’s honoring to Him to use whatever skills, talents, or abilities we have to spread His love to those around us.”

This message resonated deeply with the cast and crew. The students, already passionate about their craft, found a greater purpose in their performance. They wanted to do more than just tell a story—they wanted to make a difference.

In honor of Corsaro, the students made a donation to the American Autism Foundation under his name. The students were overjoyed to support a foundation that directly supports families with children with autism in need.

“This show has been such a learning experience for both us as a cast and for people who came to watch the show about people with autism,” said SFC senior Duncan Shuck in the news release. “Before every show, we would sit in a circle and share stories of how different people who saw the show were affected and inspired to do something. I even heard one student say that she wanted to be a special education teacher because of this show.

“As seniors, we felt very proud of this but we wanted to be able to do something with all that we have learned in the process of doing this show, and we wanted to thank our amazing director for not only having the bravery to do such an important show, but to do it so well.”

Read here in the San Diego Union-Tribune.