Mickey Rowe

Last updated
Mickey Rowe
BornAugust 19, 1988
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Occupation(s)Author, actor, and speaker
Known forFirst autistic actor to play the lead role in the Tony Award Winning play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Autistic and legally blind author of the award-winning best-selling book Fearlessly Different. Founding Artistic Director of the National Disability Theatre.
Website https://mickeyrowe.com/

Mickey Rowe is an American autistic and legally blind author of the award-winning best-selling book Fearlessly Different: An Autistic Actor's Journey to Broadway's Biggest Stage [1] [2] [3] [4] and the first autistic actor to play the lead role in the play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time . [5] [6] [7] [8] He was the Founding Artistic Director of the National Disability Theatre. [9] [10]

Contents

Biography

Mickey grew up in Seattle and studied drama at the University of Washington. [11] He performed as an actor at the Gershwin Theater, Syracuse Stage and Indiana Repertory Theatre. [12] [13] He is also a public speaker [14] and was the founding artistic director of National Disability Theatre. [11] [15] [9] [10]

Mickey is the first autistic actor to have played Christopher Boone in the play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in 2017 [8] [5] . This made Mickey one of the first openly autistic actors to play an autistic character. [16] He landed the title role in the play Amadeus. [13] [17]

He wrote the award-winning best-selling book Fearlessly Different: An Autistic Actor's Journey to Broadway's Biggest Stage. [1] [2] [3] [11] [18]

Mickey provides DEIA trainings and workshops for companies including Nordstrom, Pfizer, TD Bank, BrightHouse, Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City Ballet. [12]

Awards

  1. Washington State Book Awards [19] [20]
  2. D-30 Disability Impact List honoree 2022 (incredible leaders with disabilities). [21]
  3. LitHubs Best Audio Books of April. [22]
  4. AudioFile's Earphone Award Winner for best Audio Book. [23]
  5. Pathfinder Award for highest alumni honor in 2021. [24]
  6. Syracuse Area Live Theater (SALT) Award for Leading Actor in a Play in 2018. [25]
  7. Winner of the 2017 Christopher Reeve Scholarship, Media Access Awards. [26]
  8. Stage Directors and Choreographers Society's (SDC) Top Ten “Standout Moments” recognition 2017–2018. [27]

Related Research Articles

<i>Rain Man</i> 1988 film directed by Barry Levinson

Rain Man is a 1988 American road comedy-drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. It tells the story of abrasive and selfish wheeler-dealer Charlie Babbitt, who discovers that his estranged father has died and bequeathed his multimillion-dollar estate to his other son, Raymond, an autistic savant whose existence Charlie was unaware of. Morrow created the character of Raymond after meeting real-life savant Kim Peek; his characterization was based on both Peek and Bill Sackter, a good friend of Morrow who was the subject of Bill, an earlier film that Morrow wrote.

<i>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</i> 2003 mystery novel by Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a 2003 mystery novel by British writer Mark Haddon. Its title refers to an observation by the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in the 1892 short story "The Adventure of Silver Blaze". Haddon and The Curious Incident won the Whitbread Book Awards for Best Novel and Book of the Year, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book, and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. Unusually, it was published simultaneously in separate editions for adults and children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gavin Creel</span> American actor, singer and songwriter (1976–2024)

Gavin James Creel was an American actor, singer, and songwriter best known for his work in musical theater. Over his career he received a Grammy Award, a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award and a Laurence Olivier Award.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to autism:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arena Stage</span> Regional theater in Washington D.C.

Arena Stage is a not-for-profit regional theater based in Southwest, Washington, D.C. Established in 1950, it was the first racially integrated theater in Washington, D.C., and its founders helped start the U.S. regional theater movement. Its theater complex was completed for the company in 2010; it is called The Mead Center for American Theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theatre Development Fund</span> Non-profit corporation assisting the theatre industry in New York City

The Theatre Development Fund (TDF) is a not-for-profit performing arts service organization in New York City. Created in 1968 to help an ailing New York theatre industry, TDF has become one of the largest beneficents for the performance arts. Initially, TDF supported performances it deemed to be of cultural value on Broadway and beyond through its subsidy program. While this program was discontinued, TDF continues to support Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-off-broadway theatre and dance productions by selling tickets through multiple programs, the most prominent being its TKTS discount ticket booths. The organization also assists Broadway with complying with the ADA, provides educational outreach programs to secondary and college students, and rents out costumes to productions and other non-profits. It has received a Special Tony Award for its work.

Autistic art is artwork created by autistic artists that captures or conveys a variety of autistic experiences. According to a 2021 article in Cognitive Processing, autistic artists with improved linguistic and communication skills often show a greater degree of originality and attention to detail than their neurotypical counterparts, with a positive correlation between artistic talent and high linguistic functioning. Autistic art is often considered outsider art. Art by autistic artists has long been shown in separate venues from artists without disabilities. The works of some autistic artists have featured in art publications and documentaries and been exhibited in mainstream galleries. Although autistic artists seldom received formal art education in the past, recent inclusivity initiatives have made it easier for autistic artists to get a formal college education. The Aspergers/Autism Network's AANE Artist Collaborative is an example of an art organization for autistic adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Societal and cultural aspects of autism</span>

Societal and cultural aspects of autism or sociology of autism come into play with recognition of autism, approaches to its support services and therapies, and how autism affects the definition of personhood. The autistic community is divided primarily into two camps; the autism rights movement and the pathology paradigm. The pathology paradigm advocates for supporting research into therapies, treatments, and/or a cure to help minimize or remove autistic traits, seeing treatment as vital to help individuals with autism, while the neurodiversity movement believes autism should be seen as a different way of being and advocates against a cure and interventions that focus on normalization, seeing it as trying to exterminate autistic people and their individuality. Both are controversial in autism communities and advocacy which has led to significant infighting between these two camps. While the dominant paradigm is the pathology paradigm and is followed largely by autism research and scientific communities, the neurodiversity movement is highly popular among most autistic people, within autism advocacy, autism rights organizations, and related neurodiversity approaches have been rapidly growing and applied in the autism research field in the last few years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stage Directors and Choreographers Society</span>

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), formerly known as Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC), is an independent national labor union established in 1959, representing theatrical directors and choreographers working on Broadway, National Tours, Off-Broadway, and in various resident, regional, and stock theatres throughout the United States.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization run by and for individuals on the autism spectrum. ASAN advocates for the inclusion of autistic people in decisions that affect them, including: legislation, depiction in the media, and disability services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Wolsey Theatre</span> Theatre in Ipswich, England

The New Wolsey Theatre is a producing theatre with a café & bar in Ipswich, Suffolk. It is a midsized regional theatre, with a seating capacity of 400.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) or autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) describe a range of conditions classified as neurodevelopmental disorders in the DSM-5, used by the American Psychiatric Association. As with many neurodivergent people and conditions, the popular image of autistic people and autism itself is often based on inaccurate media representations. Additionally, media about autism may promote pseudoscience such as vaccine denial or facilitated communication.

Autism-friendly means being aware of social engagement and environmental factors affecting people on the autism spectrum, with modifications to communication methods and physical space to better suit individuals' unique and special needs.

<i>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</i> (play) Play by Simon Stephens, adapted from the novel

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a play by Simon Stephens based on the novel of the same name by Mark Haddon. During its premiere run, the play tied the record for winning the most Olivier Awards (seven), including Best New Play at the 2013 ceremony. The play is a National Theatre Production, in association with Frantic Assembly, who specialised in the movement direction.

<i>How to Dance in Ohio</i> 2015 American film

How to Dance in Ohio is a 2015 American documentary film directed by Alexandra Shiva. The film follows a group of autistic young adults in Columbus, Ohio preparing for their first spring formal. With guidance from their group counselor, Dr. Emilio Amigo, the group spends 12 weeks practicing their social skills in preparation for the dance. HBO Documentary Films acquired television rights to the film eleven days before its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. The film premiered on HBO on October 26, 2015. Three young women are the main subjects of the documentary.

<i>NeuroTribes</i> 2015 book by Steve Silberman

NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity is a book by Steve Silberman that discusses autism and neurodiversity from historic, scientific, and advocacy-based perspectives. Neurotribes was awarded the Samuel Johnson Prize in 2015, and has received wide acclaim from both the scientific and the popular press. It was named to a number of "best books of 2015" lists, including The New York Times Book Review and The Guardian.

<i>All in a Row</i> Play by Alex Oates

All in a Row Live is a play by Alex Oates about a family with an 11-year-old child on the autism spectrum. The play explores the experiences of the parents of a nonverbal, sometimes violent, autistic boy and the emotions that they experience on the night before he is taken to a residential school for children with disabilities.

Marisha Wallace is an American actress and singer, best known for her work in musical theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myles Frost</span> American actor (born 1999)

Myles Frost is an American actor, singer, songwriter, music producer and dancer. He won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Michael Jackson in the Broadway production of MJ the Musical and received a Grammy Award nomination for the cast recording.

References

  1. 1 2 "Fearlessly Different: An Autistic Actor's Journey to Broadway's Biggest Stage by Mickey Rowe". www.publishersweekly.com. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  2. 1 2 "Q&A With Mickey Rowe, Fearlessly Different". We Need Diverse Books. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  3. 1 2 "Fearlessly Different". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  4. ""Be fearless in pursuit of your goals. Be courageous in the pursuit of what you know is right."". www.kuow.org. 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  5. 1 2 Collins-Hughes, Laura (2017-11-06). "The World Really Is a Stage, Scripts and All, to an Actor With Autism". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  6. "I May Be Autistic, But I'm Not A Bad Actor, No Matter What Sia Says". HuffPost. 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  7. "Finally, An Actor With Autism Is Starring In This Iconic Play". HuffPost. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  8. 1 2 Doyle, Nancy. "A Lesson In Inclusive Recruitment From Pixar". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  9. 1 2 Wild, Stephi. "Ford Foundation Gifts $50,000 To National Disability Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  10. 1 2 "Spotlight on the National Disability Theatre". www.arts.gov. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  11. 1 2 3 "Actor Mickey Rowe, '11, puts autism in the spotlight". UW Magazine — University of Washington Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  12. 1 2 Wild, Stephi. "HowlRound Theatre Commons Announces Publication of a New Anthology". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  13. 1 2 Teachout, Terry (2020-12-13). "Opinion | The Best Theater of 2020: With Broadway Dark Due to Covid-19, an At-Home Curtain Call". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  14. "Mickey Rowe: An Autistic Broadway Actor's Journey & Insights". Top Education Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  15. "Autistic Actor and Author Mickey Rowe Fights Ableism On and Off Stage". Observer. 2022-04-28. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  16. Rozsa, Matthew (2017-05-16). "For once, an autistic role will be played by an autistic actor". Salon. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  17. "Mickey Rowe - Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures" . Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  18. "Actor and Activist Mickey Rowe on Taking Pride in Our Differences". Audible Blog. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  19. "Meet the 2023 Washington State Book Awards Finalists and Winners". Seattle Met. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  20. "Here are the 2023 Washington State Book Award nominees". The Seattle Times. 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  21. "D-30 DISABILITY IMPACT LIST". Diversability. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  22. "AudioFile's Best Audiobooks of April". Literary Hub. 2022-04-27. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  23. "FEARLESSLY DIFFERENT by Mickey Rowe Read by Mickey Rowe | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  24. "Pathfinder Award recipients to receive district's highest alumni honor". Mercer Island Reporter. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  25. "Winners! Laughs, tears, more highlight 2018 SALT Awards ceremony". Syracuse New Times. 14 November 2018.
  26. Oweis, Zein (2017-11-19). "Mickey Rowe Awarded for Becoming First Actor with Autism to Perform in The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Night-Time". Respect Ability. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  27. "SDC Announces 2017-2018 Top Ten "Standout Moments" | Stage Directors and Choreographers Society". 16 October 2018. Retrieved 2022-08-18.