“Learn how to Dance in Ohio,” a poignant new musical a few group of younger autistic adults gearing up for a spring dance, will open on Broadway late this 12 months, with a forged of seven autistic performers taking part in the central roles.
The musical is predicated on a 2015 documentary from the filmmaker Alexandra Shiva that adopted individuals in a social abilities remedy program for individuals on the autism spectrum; the musical can be set at a remedy program, and it tells the story of younger adults making ready for a dance that they hope might assist them confront a number of the challenges they face in navigating social interactions.
The musical had a earlier run final 12 months at Syracuse Stage in central New York; the manufacturing schedule was lower brief when Covid instances arose among the many forged and crew. The assessment of the present in The Put up-Commonplace, a Syracuse newspaper, was headlined “The musical you’ll discuss for the remainder of your life” and known as it “exhilarating, groundbreaking, celebratory.”
Casting is just not but full, however will embrace a number of actors making their Broadway debuts: Desmond Edwards, Amelia Fei, Madison Kopec, Liam Pearce, Imani Russell, Conor Tague and Ashley Wool. Among the many others on the invoice to this point are Haven Burton and Darlesia Cearcy.
“Learn how to Dance in Ohio” includes a e-book and lyrics by Rebekah Greer Melocik and music by Jacob Yandura; it’s directed by Sammi Cannold and choreographed by Mayte Natalio. The famed director and producer Hal Prince was initially connected to the venture; he died in 2019.
The musical is being produced by an organization known as P3 Productions, which is led by Ben Holtzman, Sammy Lopez and Fiona Howe Rudin, together with Stage Ahead, the manufacturing firm co-founded by Abigail Disney. It’s being capitalized for as much as $15.5 million, in keeping with a submitting with the Securities and Change Fee.
The present is to start previews Nov. 15 and to open Dec. 10 on the Belasco Theater.
