A Neurodiverse “Seussical the Musical” is Coming to New York City
The musical highlights neurodiverse voices in the arts.
A Refreshing Spin On a Classic Tale
Everyone was once a fan of Dr. Seuss. The childhood poems and rhymes ring in our heads as we age into adulthood. For many, Dr. Seuss served as a catalyst in their lives—the character taught important life lessons such as how to share, how to respect everyone who comes from different walks of life, and the importance of imagination.
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Now, you can relive or experience the classic childhood books on a live stage. From May 8th to May 18th, families can enjoy “Suessical the Musical” at ART/NY The Mezzanine Theatre, an adventure about embracing different points of view and inclusion.
Narrated by the mischievous Cat in the Hat, the story follows Horton, an earnest elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing the Whos—a tiny community whose voices are all too easy to ignore. Among them is Jojo, a child whose imagination is deemed too disruptive and is sent off to boarding school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton’s journey is not just about protecting the Whos, but about standing up for those who think differently and dare to see the world from another point of view.
Change Within the Industry
In recent years, theatre has been a productive and stimulating experience for neurodivergent people. According to the Learning Disabilities Association of America, 20%, or 1 in 5 children, are diagnosed with learning and attention issues. However, studies from the National Library of Medicine show that drama therapy and theatrical techniques enhance social skills in children with communication and emotional challenges, as well as autism. Theatre and plays help build a routine, while acts such as live singing and choreographed dancing serve as a great expressive outlet and help build confidence.
“Through the arts, the artist heals and grows, and those experiencing the artist’s work also have the opportunity to heal and grow,” says Shoshanna Gleich, award-winning filmmaker, writer, director, producer, and actress in both theater and film, and part of the Suessical cast. “It is also important to create a world of acceptance and love of all people, and experiencing the gifts and talents of neurodivergent artists can help to open people’s hearts to those they may have judged as inferior.”
The fight to increase inclusion and diversity on the stage has been ongoing. In 2021, an article published in American Theatre highlighted how the industry continues to have ableist practices behind the scenes, assuming that every actor or actress is able-bodied and minded.
“There is an awful lot of talk about inclusion for audiences, but not for performers or tech folks,” Terri Lynne Hudson told, an actor and performance artist who was born with spina bifida told the outlet. “I see theatres with areas set aside in the audience for people who are on scooters or in chairs, where you’ve got audio description for visually impaired people, captioning for hearing impaired people. But none of that is happening for performers, because people have it in their heads that disabled people are going to be people in the audience, period.”
But, despite the stereotypes, many celebrities are neurodivergent, including favorites like singer Billie Eilish, climate activist Greta Thunberg, “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe and entertainer Reneé Rapp. The world is constantly changing and embracing neurodiversity, and “Suessical the Musical” hopes to continue to inform and change audiences’ opinions of it.
“I hope people walk away with a reconnection with the child-like wonder of playing in the world of our “thinks” as it is called in the musical or another word for imagination,” says Gleich. “In reconnecting with this innate playful part of ourselves, I hope it also reconnects people with that part of ourselves that sees the beauty of all people of all walks of life, as demonstrated in our completely original divergent cast. May all people walk away falling in love with the colorful play of life as mirrored in Seussical.”
For more information and resources on neurodivergency, visit our Special Child issue.
