A Smile As Big As The Moon - Sunday, January 29, 2012 9/8c

This Sunday, January 29, 2012, Hallmark Hall of Fame will present A Smile As Big As The Moon on ABC at 9/8c.  John Corbett (LOVED him as Aidan on Sex and the City) plays Mike Kersjes, a Michigan high school football coach and special-education teacher, who helps his special-ed students achieve their seemingly impossible dream--to attend Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.  Their journey, which is based on a true story, is the basis for A Smile as Big as the Moon.  


What is especially wonderful about this movie is that many of the special-ed students are played by actors who have real special needs including Down syndrome, ADD, autism, dyslexia and Tourrette's syndrome. 

John Corbett and Peter ten Brink

From MIB: Make it Better

Peter ten Brink has been a fixture on the North Shore theater scene since he began acting at age 8.

But now, a national audience will get to know the New Trier High School teen when he appears in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie “A Smile as Big as the Moon,” airing Jan. 29 on ABC.

Ten Brink plays Ben Schmidt, a high school student with Down syndrome who dreams of someday becoming an astronaut. His teacher, Mike Kersjes (played by John Corbett of "Sex and the City" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" fame) is inspired by Ben’s dreams to try to get his class of special education students accepted into NASA’s Space Camp. The movie is based on a true-life account by Kersjes, who wrote a memoir of the same name.

The role came to ten Brink’s attention through the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, which keeps a file of actors with Down syndrome. After finding out he was up for consideration, he took a whirlwind trip to North Carolina around Labor Day to audition. He got the call offering him the part, ten Brink said, while at McDonald’s “waiting for my Chicken Selects.”

“Ben Schmidt had Down syndrome like me. The character wants to go to Space Camp … but Space Camp is really for gifted children, not special needs,” ten Brink said. The story follows the struggles and triumphs of the class as they work toward their goal against all odds.

Ten Brink previously played the lead role in the independent short film “By Any Other Name” and also has a part in the upcoming feature length project “Nightlights,” both by Play On Productions. He got his start acting with Special Gifts Theatre, a Northbrook-based company that features actors with special needs.

He began working with New Trier’s Theatre program while he was still in junior high, landing a role in the school’s production of “The Music Man,” and has participated in New Trier Theatre classes throughout high school.

“Peter ten Brink has been very involved in our Theatre Workshop and Theatre 2: Acting courses,” said New Trier Performing Arts Coordinator Anne James-Noonan. “He is passionate about acting and has been an enthusiastic scene partner to many of our New Trier Theatre students.”

New Trier Theatre teacher Hilerre Kirsch said she has enjoyed ten Brink’s contributions to her classes.

“Peter’s passion for theatre was evident the first time I met him!” Kirsch said. “He was clearly serious about his acting and became a leader in his classes, offering advice and comments that were appreciated by his classmates.”

We can't wait to make some popcorn and watch this movie as a family on Sunday night!