Ohio
Broadway’s “How to Dance in Ohio” shines a light on autistic stories
Clinical psychologist Emilio Amigo, who runs a counseling center for autistic people in Columbus, Ohio, had a big idea: “Many of my clients never went to their homecoming or prom because they weren’t welcomed,” he said. “I’m like, ‘How many of you guys would love to go to a big formal?’”
Putting on a prom involved teaching his clients new skills, like dancing or asking someone out. Their journey was the subject of a 2015 documentary called “How to Dance in Ohio.”
That story is now a Broadway musical.
“All of us who work on the show get messages from autistic individuals saying, ‘I’ve seen myself represented onstage.’ That’s what we do it for,” said Sammi Cannold, the show’s director. She was not, however, its first one. That was the legendary Hal Prince, director of shows like “Phantom of the Opera,” “Evita,” “Cabaret,” and many Sondheim musicals. He sadly passed away in 2019.
“Hal’s granddaughter is autistic; my brother is autistic,” said Cannold. “For him the show was very personal; for me the show is very personal.”
But “How to Dance in Ohio” isn’t just about autistic people. All of the autistic characters are played by autistic actors.
Cannold said feedback she got from people saying, “I don’t think you’re gonna find the actors that you’re looking for,” implied that there aren’t enough Broadway-caliber actors with autism. But, she said, “We could’ve cast the show three times over.”
Ashley Wool, Imani Russell and Liam Pearce are among the show’s autistic actors. “I think you’ve picked the perfect three people, because all three of us are so different,” said Pearce.
Pearce was diagnosed as being on the spectrum when he was age five; Wool was a junior in college. And Russell said it was May 2021 when she was diagnosed: “And I was really excited, ’cause I finally had a word for something that I think I knew about myself, internally, for a long time, but I didn’t have the language for.”
Autism comes in a huge variety of forms; it’s described as a spectrum for a reason.
Amigo said, “The great enemy of someone who’s autistic is social anxiety and anxiety. And that comes from, ‘I don’t know what to expect, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, I don’t know what to say.’”
Wool said, “People like me are more sensitive to a lot of different things, like lights or sounds.”
“I think another thing, when it comes to being autistic, is the concept of masking,” said Russell, “which is sort of having to hide the movements that we do, or the sounds that we make, or having to speak at times that you don’t want to speak to make other people feel comfortable.”
The actors were encouraged to blend their own expressions of autism with their characters’. Pearce said, “Sammi Cannold, our director, was very open and supporting of being, like, ‘If you, onstage, feel the need to let out your energy or, like, show your excitement in your own, individual, physical ways that you do outside of this rehearsal space, feel free.’”
The rehearsal process offered unusual accommodations for the cast and crew, like someone saying they have a sensitivity to scented soap: “And then our company management team will say, ‘Okay, we’re gonna replace all the scented soap in the building with unscented soap,’” said Cannold. “And so, it’s hundreds of little things like that.”
For autistic showgoers with sensory sensitivities, the show offers cool-down areas, sunglasses, and headphones.
And for non-autistic audience members, there’s a message.
Do I only exist on this planet
to make somebody else feel inspired?
–”Nothing at All,” from “How to Dance In Ohio”
Pogue said, “While the characters explicitly sing, ‘We don’t want to be objects of pity, we don’t want to be inspiring,’ at the same time, there’s probably not an audience member who doesn’t say, ‘It’s about people with challenges succeeding,’ which is inspiring.”
Russell said, “I like to pose the question, is your feeling of inspiration just infantilization? They’re so inspiring because they’re autistic, but they did that? Autistic, but they did that? It’s not that our disabilities are the hurdles. It’s other people’s expectations for us that are the hurdles.”
Wool added, “The point that we’re making is, it’s not an ‘In spite of…’ It’s a ‘Yes, and…’”
“How to Dance in Ohio” has earned itself an army of fans. Wool recalled at the very first preview, “The seven of us came on stage to do the prologue — standing ovation, for like a minute-and-a-half. I was like, ‘Wait a minute. We haven’t done anything yet! We haven’t earned this!’”
“It’s so cool, at our stage door and stuff, like, young kids have come up to me like, ‘I’m autistic, too!’” said Pearce.
But some of the biggest fans are the real people from the documentary. Sammi Cannold introduced them on opening night, including the real-life Drew – Pearce’s character. “It was a really crazy, awesome, surreal experience to be able to, like, look at him and be like, ‘Hey, thank you for existing, because my entire life and what I do here every night, is because of you.’”
Dr. Amigo liked it, too. He said he’s seen it “a few times. if I’m counting right, it’s about 13.”
Do the show and the documentary help his clients in any way? “Every day,” he said. “Because it’s a story about them. It builds our self-esteem. It builds our sense of significance.”
When cast members were asked how they hope their show will be perceived in the future, Russell said, “Oh, ‘How to Dance in Ohio,’ that was one of the beginnings.”
“A turning point,” said Wool.
Amigo said, “I hope that in ten years, it’s no longer a big deal that there are seven autistic actors in a cast. Like, ‘Okay. So what? That’s great. Let’s go. Let’s start working on a play!’”
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Story produced by Wonbo Woo. Editor: Steven Tyler.
David Pogue
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s law requiring children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps must be restored, a divided panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
The decision comes as a blow to NetChoice, which has won court victories against identical digital identification laws in other states, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Georgia. The trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies said the Ohio decision went against “clear national consensus” and that it intended to keep fighting.
“An unconstitutional law protects no one, and we remain focused on ensuring the First Amendment rights of Ohioans are protected,” said Paul Taske, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center.
Netchoice brought suit against Ohio’s law in 2024, arguing that it was overly broad, vague and represented an unconstitutional impediment to free speech.
The Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit’s panel disagreed. In a 2-1 decision, it found that the law was not unconstitutional and sent it back to a lower court to have a block on the law’s enforcement vacated.
“At bottom, the Act imposes a parental consent requirement,” Judge Eric Clay wrote in the lead opinion. “That requirement constitutes a marginal burden that precisely targets the multi-faceted problem that Ohio has identified: Children’s unsupervised assent to terms and conditions for use of platforms that take advantage of and harm them.”
Judge Alice Batchelder concurred, writing that “a statute is not vague just because it has a wide berth.”
Known as the Social Media Parental Notification Act, the Ohio law was part of an $86.1 billion state budget bill that Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law in July 2023.
The administration pushed the measure as a way to protect children’s mental health, with then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, now a U.S. senator, saying at the time that social media was “intentionally addictive” and harmful to kids.
The law requires companies to get parental permission for social media and gaming apps and to provide their privacy guidelines so families know what content would be censored or moderated on their child’s profile.
Republican Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson called Thursday’s ruling “a win for Ohio families.”
“The court agreed that parents –- not social media companies –- should get a say in what kids see online,” he said in a statement. “We have an obligation to keep our children safe, and today, the most dangerous place for our kids is the internet. This decision gives parents the tools to be involved and provide oversight.”
Piketon, Ohio (WSAZ) – Folks in southern Ohio are waking up to power outages and road closures.
Route 32 in Pike County is down to one westbound and one eastbound lane due to debris on the roadway.
Drivers are also dealing with tree limbs on roadways.
The Athens County 911 dispatcher told WSAZ that it’s not believed a tornado touched down, but there is storm damage.
The dispatcher said storm damage from flooding and trees being knocked down has affected US 50.
Power outages are being reported in Athens, Pike, Vinton, Scioto and Meigs Counties and even as far south as Boyd County, Ky.
If you’re in a tornado warning area, you’re urged to get to the lower part of your home.
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Clarence Burley, II, affectionately known as “Lil Man,” entered eternal rest on Thursday, June 5, 2026, at the age of 60, at Summa Health Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio.
Born on May 22, 1966, in Youngstown, Ohio, Clarence was the beloved son of Clarence L. Burley and Jacqueline Wilkinson-Burley.
He attended Ursuline High School and graduated with the Class of 1984.
Clarence was a hardworking and dedicated man who spent many years employed at Classic Optical Corporation as a Lens and Frame Specialist. Known for his skill and precision, he was recognized as one of the top lens shapers during his tenure with the company. He also worked for Goodwill Industries, where his exceptional work ethic earned him recognition and awards for outstanding service.
A devoted fan of the Oakland Raiders, Clarence enjoyed football, boxing, roller skating, and bowling. In his younger years, he was also an accomplished swimmer. He loved life and cherished spending time with family and friends. Whether enjoying a cruise vacation, visiting the lake to admire the water, debating sports statistics from A to Z, or simply sharing laughter with loved ones, Clarence brought joy wherever he went.
Known for his impeccable style, Clarence was often dressed to perfection. He was especially proud of his many Cadillacs, but none more than his beloved Cadillac Seville, affectionately known as “the baby caddy.” He could often be found cruising through the city, listening to music and enjoying the ride. His infectious smile, strength, humor, and generous spirit will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved him.
In 1999, Clarence met the love of his life, the former Cathy Winphrie. Their friendship blossomed into a lasting bond, and they were united in holy matrimony in 2015. Together they shared a life filled with love, companionship, and cherished memories.
Clarence leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Cathy Burley; his children, Shannie (Meisha) Burley of Atlanta, Georgia; DeShawn Burley (fiancée Ziah) of Warren, Ohio; Eddie W. Matthews; and Montell Cochrane; his beloved grandchildren, Zaira, DeShawn, Jr., Deondra, Audrionna, Eddie, Jr., Quiara, Azel, Anyia, Marquel, Aiden, Adalese, Meadow, and Amatureas; five great-grandchildren; his mother-in-law, Eula Winphrie; brothers-in-law, James (Jamie) Winphrie and Timothy (Kori) Winphrie; sisters-in-law, Regina Winphrie and Azella Burley; niece Helleenia Winphrie; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence L. Burley and Jacqueline Wilkinson-Burley; his brother, Wesley Burley; and his grandmother, Carrie Davis.
Though Clarence’s earthly journey has ended, his legacy lives on through the lives he touched, the family he loved, and the countless memories he leaves behind. His strength, perseverance, laughter, and love will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know him.
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”2 Corinthians 5:8
A homegoing celebration will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday June 20, 2026 at Jerusalem Baptist Church , a visitation with the family will be 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. at the Church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Gregory-Martin Funeral Home. For additional information, please call (330) 743-4098.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
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