BroadwayCon 2025

David Connolly, the first amputee to have performed on Broadway turned Artistic Director, Choreographer and Disability Advocate, will be joined by disabled Broadway Actors Jenna Bainbridge (Suffs), Anthony Michael Lopez (Camelot, Our Town, upcoming Othello), Marilee Talkington (Camelot) and Artistic Director of Deaf West Theatre, DJ Kurs, to discuss actionable steps to improving representation on stage. Having disabled actors play disabled roles is only the beginning of this shift. The greater goal is to have disabled actors be considered for ALL roles in ALL shows. What is the balance between inclusion and tokenism? Between progress and exploitation? Is the historic lack of inclusion related to a lack of well-trained disabled actors and if so, how do we encourage post-secondary institutions to radically change their models of training and recruitment?