How to Dance in Ohio
Broadway Promotional Poster
MusicJacob Yandura
LyricsRebekah Greer Melocik
BookRebekah Greer Melocik
BasisHow to Dance in Ohio
by Alexandra Shiva
PremiereSeptember 21, 2022: Syracuse Stage
Productions2022 Syracuse
2023 Broadway

How to Dance in Ohio is a musical with music by Jacob Yandura, lyrics and book by Rebekah Greer Melocik. The musical is an adaptation of the 2015 HBO documentary film of the same name. The musical has direction by Sammi Cannold and choreography by Mayte Natalio. It had its world premiere at the Syracuse Stage in September 2022 and transferred to Broadway in November 2023.

Summary

Seven autistic adults facing and preparing for the challenges of independent living including doses of ableism via press coverage of Dr. Amigo working with said protagonists.[1][2]

Significance

The show is the first Broadway musical to cast autistic actors as autistic characters.[3]

Background

The musical's early stages date back to early 2018 when Harold Prince announced he was working on a musical adaptation of the film.[4] After Prince died in 2019, Sammi Cannold took over as the show's director.

Production history

Syracuse (2022)

The show made its world premiere at Syracuse Stage on September 21, 2022. The cast featured Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Dr. Emilio Amigo, Desmond Luis Edwards as Remy, Amelia Fei as Caroline, Madison Kopec as Marideth, Liam Pearce as Drew, Imani Russell as Mel, Conor Tague as Tommy, Ashley Wool as Jessica, Haven Burton as Terry, Darlesia Cearcy as Johanna, Carlos L. Encinias as Kurt/Rick/Hawkins, Nick Gaswirth as Michael/Derrick, Melina Kalomas as Amy/Shauna, and Marina Pires as Ashley Amigo. The production closed on October 1, 2022[5] due to illness in the cast.

Broadway (2023)

In July 2023, it was announced that the show will transfer to Broadway in the Fall of 2023.[6] Most of the Syracuse cast reprised their roles, with Caesar Samayoa joining the cast as Dr. Amigo.[7] Previews began on November 15, 2023 and officially opened on December 10, 2023 at the Belasco Theatre, with Paula Abdul and Ludacris joining the producing team led by P3 Productions and entertainment mini-studio Level Forward.[8][9] The show opened to generally mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising the representation being showcased with the casting of the seven leads, as well as the performances and script, but criticized the score, deeming it as sounding too similar to Pasek and Paul's work on Dear Evan Hansen, especially the comparisons between "Building Momentum" and "Waving Through a Window."[10]

Cast and characters

Character Syracuse[5] Broadway
2022 2023
Dr. Emilio Amigo Wilson Jermaine Heredia Caesar Samayoa
Remy Desmond Luis Edwards
Caroline Amelia Fei
Marideth Madison Kopec
Drew Liam Pearce
Mel Imani Russell
Tommy Conor Tague
Jessica Ashley Wool
Terry Haven Burton
Johanna Darlesia Cearcy
Kurt/Rick/Hawkins Carlos L. Encinias
Michael/Derrick Nick Gaswirth
Amy/Shauna Melina Kalomas
Ashley Amigo Marina Pires Cristina Sastre

Musical Numbers

References

  1. ↑ The stars of 'How to Dance in Ohio' on exploring connections among autistic adults - PBS NewsHour on YouTube
  2. ↑ Review: How to Dance in Ohio Is a Game Changer for Accessibility on Broadway - TheaterMania.com
  3. ↑ "'How to Dance in Ohio': A Story About Autism and Connection". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  4. ↑ Fierberg, Ruthie (29 January 2018). "'Harold Prince at Work on 2 New Shows, Including a How to Dance in Ohio Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  5. 1 2 "How to Dance in Ohio". Syracuse Stage. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  6. ↑ Paulson, Michael (2023-07-20). "'How to Dance in Ohio,' a Musical, Plans a Fall Broadway Opening". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  7. ↑ Culwell-Blovk, Logan (September 27, 2023). "Caesar Samayoa, More Join Cast of Broadway's How to Dance in Ohio".
  8. ↑ Culwell-Block, Logan (July 20, 2023). "How to Dance in Ohio Sets Fall Broadway Bow".
  9. ↑ Ludacris and Paula Abdul Join HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO PRODUCING TEAM|Broadway World
  10. ↑ "How to Dance in Ohio". Did They Like It?. Retrieved 2023-12-19.

See also

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