Reach Out and Read Asking for Children's Book Donations at PETER AND THE STARCATCHER October 15 – 20

In conjunction with Gexa Energy Broadway at the Hobby Center's upcoming engagement of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, show goers are encouraged to give the gift of reading. At each performance from October 15 - 20, Reach Out and Read will have donation boxes available at ticket lobby doors for patrons to drop off new or gently used children's books.

Based on the original novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is an imaginative musical play and a prequel to Peter Pan. A company of a dozen actors play more than a hundred unforgettable characters, all on a journey to answer the century?old question: How did Peter Pan become The Boy Who Never Grew Up? This epic origin story of popular culture's most enduring and beloved character proves that your imagination is the most captivating place in the world.

"We are excited to partner with Reach Out and Read, and to have this opportunity to encourage reading at all ages, not only through the drive itself but also by bringing to the stage a Broadway production with literary origins," said Fran Macferran, president of the Hobby Center Foundation, "PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is an engaging and innovative production which explores some of literatures best-known characters."

Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud. Doctors, nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals incorporate Reach Out and Read's evidence-based model into regular pediatric checkups.

"It has been a real privilege to incorporate Reach Out and Read in my practice for the past 15 years," said Cheryl Hardin, MD, FAAP, Pediatrician at TCP - Corinthian Pointe. "Thanks to the generous collaborative effort between Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the Hobby Center and Reach Out and Read, Houston's youngest readers are one step closer to future school success and economic health."

Reach Out and Read builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning at 6 months of age. The more than 4 million families served nationally each year by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten better prepared to succeed, with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills.

Be on the lookout for donation boxes outside the Hobby Center's ticket lobby entrances, at the 5-time Tony© Award winning show, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER October 15-20.

Tickets for PETER AND THE STARCATCHER begin at $30 and can be purchased by calling (800) 982-ARTS or visiting www.BroadwayAtTheHobbyCenter.com or www.TheHobbyCenter.org. For groups of 10 or more, please call 888-451-5986 or e-mail houston.groups@broadwayacrossamerica.com.

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