In recent years, we’ve welcomed the growing popularity of autism friendly aka sensory friendly theatrical performances. But an upcoming Broadway musical puts people with autism on stage instead of in audiences.
“How to Dance in Ohio,” a new musical that stars seven actors with autism, starts previews at Broadway’s Beslasco Theatre on November 15, 2023 and opens on December 10, 2023.
The show tells the story of a group of young adults on the autism spectrum who are part of a Columbus, Ohio-based social skills therapy group. The group plans a spring dance designed to help them practice their interpersonal skills.
Based on a Peabody award-winning 2015 HBO documentary by filmmaker Alexandra Shiva, “How to Dance in Ohio” was adapted for the theater by composer Jacob Yanduro and writer and lyricist Rebekah Greer Melocik. The show is directed by Sammi Cannold and choreographed by Mayte Natalio.
Prior to its Broadway premiere this fall, “How to Dance in Ohio” was performed at Syracuse Stage in Syracuse, New York, in fall 2022. Reviews for the musical were stellar with The Syracuse Post-Standard calling the show “an exhilarating, groundbreaking, celebratory musical.”
The review went on to tell readers: “You’ll walk out of the theater wiping your eyes. You’ll pause in the lobby to catch your breath, clear your head, and see if anyone else is as giddy as you are. ‘How to Dance in Ohio’ is the musical you’ll talk about for the rest of your life.” Wow!
When it opens in New York, the principal actors from the Syracuse production — Desmond Edwards as Remy, Amelia Fei as Caroline, Madison Kopec as Marideth, Liam Pearce as Drew, Imani Russell as Mel, Conor Tague as Tommy, and Ashley Wool as Jessica — will all have their Broadway debuts.
As we’ve often reported on this blog, disability activists have long pushed for better representation of actors with disabilities in film, TV and theater. Too often, disabled actors are passed over for roles in favor of non-disabled actors even when the characters being portrayed have disabilities. “How to Dance in Ohio” is a welcome exception. In addition to hiring autistic actors, the production hired an accessibility team to ensure that the play portrayed people with autism authentically.
Before his death in 2019, legendary theater director and producer Hal Prince (“West Side Story,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Phantom of the Opera,” etc.) was involved in “How to Dance in Ohio’s” development. The show is dedicated to Prince’s memory.
According to Broadway World, tickets for “How to Dance in Ohio” will be available beginning in August.
