Sammi Cannold and Liam Pearce, director and actor respectively, from Broadway's award winning How To Dance in Ohio discuss the impact of the show in de-stigmatizing neurodiversity, accessibility and accommodations on our sets, stages, and community, how the casting process and production embodied equal parts art and activism, and the meaning of the key motto in the disability and autistic communities “nothing about us without us.” 

Read more about Sammi and Liam here.

Takeaways

• The importance of authentic representation in theater.
• Creating a role as an autistic actor is groundbreaking.
• The journey of How to Dance in Ohio is deeply personal.
• Inclusivity in casting leads to a richer creative process.
• The show aims to change perceptions of autism in society.
• Accessibility for audiences is crucial for engagement.
• The collaborative nature of the production was unique.
• Neurodiversity should be embraced in all creative spaces.
• The mission of the show is to foster understanding.
• Future productions should continue the conversation about autism.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to In the Podlight

01:00 - The Journey of How to Dance in Ohio

06:05 - Casting and Production Process

09:50 - Identity and Representation in Theater

15:08 - Creating an Inclusive Environment

19:54 - Audience Accessibility and Engagement

24:51 - Future Aspirations and Impact of the Show

30:07 - Personal Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Connect with Sammi on Instagram

Connect with Liam on Instagram

Check out How To Dance in Ohio on their website

Check out &Juliet on their website

Connect with Caroline on Instagram

Connect with Grant on Instagram

Connect with In The Podlight on the Website

The Team:

Caroline Liem – Producer & Host

Grant Kretchick – Producer & Host

Cris Graves  - Producer & Editor

David Margolin Lawson  - Composer

Emily Yaneth Perez – Administration

In the Podlight is produced in collaboration with Pace University – Sands

• The thoughts, opinions, and views expressed by the guests, hosts, and producers of this podcasts do not necessarily reflect those of Pace University.