Ashley Wool in The Broadway Era

Sometimes you have to break your own rules to find your true voice–and change the game forever.

In her one-of-a-kind cabaret coming to the Laurie Beechman Theatre on July 28, The Broadway Era, Ashley Wool shares humorous and heartfelt stories from her unconventional journey to Broadway as one of the original cast members of How to Dance in Ohio, a joyful and groundbreaking musical that marked a watershed moment for neurodiverse representation in the media.

In 2008, Ashley Wool received the gift of a lifetime that she absolutely did not want: an autism diagnosis.

Deep in denial and horrified of what the label of “autistic” would mean for her chances at an acting career–or any career, for that matter–she decided she could never talk about it publicly if she wanted to make it in showbiz.

But when the pandemic hit—and suddenly there was no showbiz—she began exploring and sharing the pieces of her identity that she had refused to acknowledge, and realized she had a lot more to say. After penning a viral op-ed on autistic representation in a certain film, she quickly became one of the most highly sought-after voices for autistic self-advocacy in the entertainment industry.

Turns out, there were even bigger plans in store for her artistry and her advocacy once showbiz returned–and what happened next would make her fall deeper in love with musical theatre and the Broadway community than she ever dreamed possible.

Directed by Joe Langworth with musical direction by David John Madore, The Broadway Era is a musical celebration of the connections, communities, and changes that become possible when we find the courage to live authentically.