I was a young, Los Angeles-based theater director discovering my path in life when I met Elaine Hall. She was an acting coach for kids, a mom of a nonverbal child with autism, and was the person who encouraged me to become the director of the first Miracle Project team — a group that produces musical theater productions with kids who have autism. Totally baffled and excited by the possibility, we set off to create a play written and performed by the kids in the program. It was in those first days that the true power of the Miracle Project took shape. We were proud to build an organization that was fully committed to the idea of pure acceptance.
Our first day, there were kids doing the things that autistic kids sometimes do, like hiding under tables and flapping their arms. Yet, rather than looking at the kids in our group as children with disabilities, Hall taught me to see each child as an individual with individual means of expression. Each had a distinct way of looking at and experiencing the world!
Creating a play was a huge undertaking but we found that the kids in our program had an intense desire to express their individuality and passions on stage. And because of this, our performance became a way for these incredible kids to become part of something larger than themselves. I was hooked on The Miracle Project and wanted nothing more than to learn about children with autism and to use my talents in the arts as a vehicle to connect with them. I continued working with the project in Los Angeles as the two-time Emmy Award-winning documentary “Autism the Musical,” filmed our efforts, focusing on a few of the kids in our program. So, naturally, when I moved to New York five years ago, I was determined to bring the Miracle Project to the east coast with me.
This past year I had the pleasure of leading a Miracle Project group of 12 teens at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan for 20 weeks on Sunday mornings. The Y has been a great New York partner for us — the organization has a long history of doing great programs for kids with autism and special needs. Melanie Mandel, the longtime director of special needs programming at the 92nd Street Y, was directly involved with the kids and helped oversee the program. Hall flew out from LA to do a training series for my staff while I trained the teen and adult volunteers at the Y. Along with Gabriel Lit, the musical director at Miracle Project New York, we interviewed all the teens this past October and accepted everyone that we interviewed into the program. I remember thinking that it was a truly diverse group of kids with interests ranging from Japanese Manga comics to Michael Jackson, and the presidents of the United States. Yet, I couldn’t help but worry how we were going to respect each of their individual talents while maintaining the focus of the collaborative work that goes into building an ensemble performance.
We got to know each other by doing a lot of improvisation-based activities. Kids with autism commit to their own ideas in incredible ways, but it can be difficult for kids on the spectrum to embrace new ideas. Improvisation — built on the idea of accepting your partner’s idea and then expanding upon that idea as a team — is the Miracle Project’s way to get kids on the spectrum to become involved in their peers’ ideas. Acceptance is key and it is what allows improvisation to work.
We also had unexpected tantrums, outbursts, and other expressions of individuality that we had to accept. We all have little moments of fear, anxiety, and nervousness — those moments for kids with autism can be challenging because it is more difficult for them to express their feelings in a typical way. That said, this group of teens was extremely encouraging toward one another. They were also incredibly patient and tolerant of each other’s “moments.” Our fantastic staff and our teen and adult volunteers kept the environment safe and fun, even in the most difficult moments. We also had a group of supportive parents who were willing to commit and be excited about the process through its various triumphs and tribulations. As a whole, this little community was determined to create a show that would delve into the passions and interests of everyone during our Sunday sessions.
The result was “A Brief History of All Things,” a musical performed on May 15 at the 92nd Y in Tribeca. The play was about a group of super geniuses trying to figure out the most important things to resolve in the past if they could travel in time. Throughout the course of the play each of the smarty-pants characters attempted to do something significant in time that was important to each of the autistic teens. This included saving Abraham Lincoln at the Ford Theater, watching Michael Jackson at his Bucharest concert, and singing a song to eulogize Whitney Houston.
What happened throughout the rehearsal process was mirrored in the stage performance. They worked together to explore each other’s interests and passions, but the teamwork was not without its arguments and disagreements. Everyone had different ideas that defined and shaped their diverse personalities. Every kid got the chance to express their passions and talents on stage while becoming part of a true ensemble.
Through the Miracle Project process, we saw these unique individuals come out of their shells and work together to create an entertaining, heartfelt, funny, and enlightening piece of musical theater. It was astonishing and truly worthy of the standing ovation the kids received at the end of their final performance. Autism was on stage, but so was an ensemble that was committed to singing the songs, saying the lines, and supporting their fellow performers in the show. I think Hall says it best: “It may take a village to raise a child, but we say it takes one child with special needs to raise the consciousness of the village.”
This production was performed by a true ensemble raising consciousness for the community while celebrating their abilities, talents, and unique interests that are not limited to, or defined by, the autism diagnosis.
Aaron Feinstein is the director of the Miracle Project New York, a musical theater program for children of all abilities, and executive director and founder of Actionplay, which provides training and program development for museums and cultural centers to meet the needs of children with autism and developmental disabilities.
