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The Beltrano Theatre Provides Meaningful Experience for Clients

Tony Beltrano has been visiting his brother at CAMH for 22 years. Over that time, he has noticed there were few placesthat clients could spend time together comfortably. True to his generous spirit, Tony had a vision to build a theatre at CAMH.

Sure enough, Tony opened the Beltrano Theatre in September 2009 inside the Queen Street site library. The new theatre lets clients watch movies and play Nintendo Wii.

“I was visiting my brother one day and I went by to see the theatre. The clients kept me there for an hour playing Wii,” says Tony. The theatre is becoming a popular recreational activity for clients at the hospital.

John Spavor, manager of the Schizophrenia Program, mentions that the Nintendo Wii has been useful in assessing client motor skills, memory, attention, concentration and sequencing. “Many clients with schizophrenia have to deal with obesity due to the side-effects of the medication,” says John. “Playing Wii in the Beltrano Theatre has helped us to assess and improve their stamina. Plus, it’s nice to take a 55 year-old client who enjoys golf to play at the theatre if they can’t leave the hospital.”

According to Rose Anna Della Penna, Recreational Therapist at the Queen Street site, the movies are also a hit. “The Integrated Rehabilitation Unit (IRU) clients prefer going to the Beltrano Theatre instead of watching movies in their unit because of the big screen, dark room, comfortable theater chairs and excellent sound system,” says Rose Anna.

Some people living with mental illness hear voices that are not actually there, a symptom called auditory hallucination. “The whole movie watching experience is more therapeutic and meaningful with fewer distractions,” says Rose Anna. “As a result, some clients choose to stop listening to the voices during the experience.”

Tony credits his own family and friends for helping him raise the money to build the theatre. Last year’s 4th annual Beltrano Family and Friends dinner-dance fundraiser raised more than $20,000. These events have raised more than $100,000 over the years.  

Tony and the CAMH Foundation would like to thank Frank Gervasi of Automated Interiors, and Dona Serato and Benny Caringi of Sunbrite Drapery for providing an audio system and drapery.

A proud supporter of CAMH, Tony also purchased two vans in 2006 for the We Think You’re Wonderful program to transport clients to outings around the city.

“A piece of my heart belongs to CAMH because CAMH has helped my brother so much,” says Tony.