Based on the HBO documentary of the same name, “How to Dance in Ohio” is one of Broadway’s newest musical offerings. The show premiered in Syracuse last fall, and has now transferred to Broadway, having begun previews on November 15, with an official opening date set for December 10.
The show is about a group of seven autistic young adults who go to a group counseling center run by Dr. Amigo, where he strives to teach them social skills to help them make their stride in the world. To do this, he creates and invites his clients to a spring formal dance, where they can be free from a world that restricts them and they have a night to just be themselves.
One of the most important distinctions that the show makes for itself is that the central characters are not just autistic, but that the actors portraying them are autistic as well, adding to the factor that the show strives for authenticity and reverence in representing those on the autism spectrum.
The production stars Desmond Luis Edwards as Remy, Amelia Fei and Ashley Wool as best friends Caroline and Jessica, Madison Kopec as Marideth, Imani Russell as Mel, Conor Tague as Tommy and University alumnus Liam Pearce as Drew. All the actors listed are not only making their Broadway debut, but once again, all of them are also autistic as well.
The biggest positive of the show is its large beating heart that guides the performances. Each character feels realistic, as each gets caught in the whims of life, with many of them feeling distant from family members. One of the best relationships the show has to offer is the distant relationship between Marideth and her father Michael. Madison Kopec and Nick Gaswirth feel completely real, as a father hopelessly tries to reconnect with his daughter after the death of his wife, and her mother.
However, the show, with all its ambition, is not without fault. The music, aside from a standout few songs, is not as memorable as they could be; and the second act is generally superior to the first, as the plot begins to pick up, and the music begins to increase in quality.
The weakest aspect of the show is the character of Dr. Amigo, played by Broadway veteran Caesar Samayoa. While what the writers tried to do with the character was noble, it was not done about in the best way, as even though the character had good intentions, the character felt extremely mean-spirited at times, including his relationship with his daughter, Ashley, played by Cristinaa Sastre (who also makes her Broadway debut here).
The real standout of the show is Liam Pearce, who really gives his all as Drew, owing this to his compelling character beats, including his decision on where he wants to go for college, and his worries about asking Marideth out to the dance. This all leads to his climactic song “Building Momentum,” the stand-out song of the show. Pearce, while giving credit to the other performances overall, was also the stand-out character of the show.
The important thing to note is that this review has been written based on the very first preview of the show on November 15. Obviously the show has been performed before, but previews are an important time where things will change and the show will be tweaked and played with.
“How to Dance in Ohio” is not the biggest spectacle on Broadway. It’s not iconic. The music is not revolutionary. But it doesn’t have to be. The show is an underdog, through and through. But the show has taken great strides for realistic representation of autism in the media, which will most likely be, unfortunately, the biggest splash the show will make. The show does not deserve that fate. Just like those on the autism spectrum, it deserves to be seen and heard by so many more people than it likely will. With a charming cast it may not be the shiniest star on Broadway, but a diamond in the rough is a diamond nonetheless.
