Video: Meet of the Cast of HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO on Broadway

Hello, I'm Richard Ridge for Broadway World

The new musical How to Dance at Ohio, which is based on the award-winning HBO documentary

is coming to Broadway's Belasco Theater. It will begin performances on November 15th

and we drop by Hasbell Greens to bring you a sneak peek and to meet the company

Well, the story is pretty simple. It's about seven autistic young adults

who are preparing for a spring formal, but really, I think what's so fun about the show

is seeing, the way that this incredible ensemble of actors really shows how these seven young adults

have created their own community, that's the magic word, and to see how they really, in taking

a small step forward, the bravery and the courage that it takes to take that small step

Getting a chance to meet Jacob and Rebecca and actually be able to explore this music is more

than just about the music. It's about the message. So even as we, you know, even as we journey through

it melodically and there are some amazing yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy, yummy music in this score

yes we are taken aback by that but we also understand as we are having the same kind of response and and what the word interaction with it

that others are going to actually have a particular kind of impact that we are so looking

forward to. Yeah. It is so important right now. After the pandemic especially, voices demanded to be heard in this industry that have

never been heard before. And this is the product of that. Look at what this show is doing for a community

that has never been seen on Broadway and doing it in such a beautiful and inspiring way

It's life-changing. Working with this cast! Oh my gosh. This cast is unbelievable. The rehearsal

room, the care that has been taken in each and every step of this process is unlike anything

I've ever seen. If you want a role model for inclusivity and for very much

voices to be lifted up that have never been lifted up before, this team knows how to do it

You're about to come to Broadway and make your Broadway debuts. How excited are you? Ridiculously

It's my answer. That's her answer. That's the answer. That's the answer

It's also just so magical because especially the seven of us in such a tight group and we all experiencing this together There no better scenario than this And we also have a little group chat called Spectrum Club 7 And then we will always check in with one another on this really exciting

but also kind of scary and crazy journey. And it's just magical. It's great

I have no words. It still feels surreal. I've known the news for like a really long time now

And I still can't believe it. Like even seeing like my face on like the side of the theater still can't believe it

There's this song in the show called Butterflies. Yeah, where like all of the kids

Characters are like, we're excited and we're anxious. And I think the term butterflies is a great way to describe it

It's just like that energy moving through you. Totally. Anticipation. Coming to do what you came to do, working towards something and hoping that it pays off

What's been the biggest pinch me moment for each of you with working on this

I will say for me, it's about I received the three copies of Hal Prince's scripts that he

what he used when he was working on the show and audio recordings of

his meetings about the show and have been using those as my North Star

and I think the moment I held that and I was like oh it's my responsibility to

figure out how to pick up this vision where he left it off that I was like oh my

wow better work hard but it's like the hand of the holy grail to take it to the next level

take it to Broadway right yeah I mean it incredible and I think that you know of course there have been other moments along away when we we opened in Syracuse when we saw the Marquis go up It all starting to feel progressively more and more real But that for me will always be the big one

It's amazing to make your Broadway debut regardless, but to do it with this show that feels like it's going to actually change lives

People say that a lot, but I really do believe that this show can change lives and make people see this community and see differences in a different way

And I hope that people will see themselves. Whether they're neurodivergent or not, see themselves and the overcoming of obstacles in that way

But yes, I'm over the moon about making my Broadway debut. As the autistic creative consultant and someone on the autism spectrum

should be making my Broadway debut on a show that is so dedicated to accessibility

and representation of marginalized groups, I think it's just amazing. Our DMs on Instagram and stuff have just been flooded with young autistic people all over the country

and all over the world being like, I finally see myself. in a art form that I care so much about

And I'm so excited to try and come to New York to see the show because this is something how I..

This is not how I've been represented at all before in my entire life. So it's been overwhelming for us to be able to experience our end of that

And I know it's only going to get bigger and grow more. And I'm so excited to be, if anything else

like making my Broadway debut, sure, but to be serving that community, something that they haven't been able to see themselves

And before is just better than anything else in this entire process. us