About the Show

A group of autistic young adults face challenges and embrace independence through a school dance.

Adapted from the acclaimed HBO documentary, How to Dance in Ohio presents a heartfelt, original musical delving into the desire for human connection and the bravery required to venture beyond comfort zones.

Set in a Columbus-based counseling center, the musical follows seven young adults on the autism spectrum as they gear up for a spring formal dance—an endeavor that breaks open their routines and sets off hilarious and heartbreaking encounters with love, stress, excitement, and independence.

This show captures the pivotal juncture in these individuals' journeys, as they confront their aspirations and anxieties, poised to embark on a significant inaugural leap...into the world of dance.

Critic Reviews (26)

“it is a welcome change that the seven autistic characters in ‘How to Dance in Ohio’ are presented, without condescension, as young adults a lot like most others, albeit with unusual gifts and challenges. That they are also played by autistic performers makes the feel-good show, which opened on Sunday at the Belasco Theater, more than a first: It’s a milestone.”
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“At the heart of the wonderfully performed but uneven musical ‘How to Dance in Ohio’ beats a reality for its key characters that is at once simple and profound...in the end, this worthwhile musical finds the steps to an upbeat last dance.”
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“All of the actors playing autistic people publicly identify as autistic themselves; they’re also all making their Broadway debuts, and while some are more experienced than others—Pearce, with his expansively emotional voice, is a ringer—they all make winsome impressions.”
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“It’s a credit to ‘How to Dance in Ohio’s’ cast that they deliver compelling performances, even when their material gets rote and didactic...If we’re here to meet these characters who aren’t going to be stand-ins for generalized traits, let’s really spend the time to get to know them all.”
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“ ‘How to Dance in Ohio’ is certainly less raw and dispassionately observed than the movie. But this is not a documentary but a Broadway musical comedy, and as such engineered to meet the requirements of most popular entries in the genre today: uplift, sweetness, rainbow endings for all.”
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“One of the things ‘How To Dance In Ohio’ gets so splendidly right is the easy comfort with diversity these young people with autism are graced, as if they’ve long ago made peace with the very concept of outsiderdom.”
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“Under director Sammi Cannold’s staging, the actors perform with verve, commitment and authenticity — and, in a few cases, show some real star power.”
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“Generically staged by Sammi Cannold, ‘How to Dance in Ohio’ was clearly made with love and will touch some hearts—on the spectrum or not—but feels synthetic and patchy when not outright tacky.”
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