As an autistic and legally blind person living in a society designed by and for non-disabled people,
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Mickey Rowe
Founder & Artistic Director of National Disability Theatre
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Bio
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As an autistic and legally blind person living in a society designed by and for non-disabled people, it was always made clear to Mickey Rowe the many things he was apparently incapable of doing. But Rowe did them all anyway—and he succeeded because of, not in spite of, his autism.
Rowe has had a prolific and varied career as an actor, director and public speaker and is highly sought after both nationally and internationally. He became the first autistic actor to play Christopher Boone, the lead role in the Tony Award-winning play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” This also made him the first autistic actor to ever play any autistic character in a professional performance setting. He then landed the title role in the play Amadeus and co-created the theatre/philanthropy company Arts on the Waterfront.
Rowe is also the founder and Artistic Director of National Disability Theatre, which works in partnership with Tony Award-winning companies such as La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and more. National Disability Theatre productions re-imagine disability and universal design as key storytelling and design elements showcasing that people can be successful not just in spite of their challenges, but also because of them. National Disability Theatre’s productions feature only professional artists, artisans and designers with disabilities.
As an autistic child and through school, Rowe had no friends but found sanctuary as an audience member in theater and the performing arts. His tenacious pursuit of his goals, and his belief that our differences and perceived weaknesses are actually our strengths, have allowed him to live his dream. Rowe is also a husband and a father, learning how to effectively communicate through all types of relationships — professional and romantic. Rowe now teaches best practices and is changing the industries in which he works. He chronicles his inspiring story of growing up autistic and pushing beyond the restrictions of a special education classroom to shine on the stage in his forthcoming book, Fearlessly Different: An Autistic Actor’s Journey to Broadway’s Biggest Stage (2022).
His casting in the lead role of “Curious Incident” led to a multitude of high-profile interviews and speaking engagements. He has been featured in The New York Times, PBS, Teen Vogue, Playbill, NPR, CNN, Huffington Post and Salon, and has keynoted at organizations including the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Yale School of Drama, The Gershwin Theatre on Broadway, the DAC of the South Korean government and more.
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Topics
Topics
Fearlessly Different
Integrated & Equitable Education
The Power and Benefits of Diversity & Inclusion
Videos
Videos
Why Autistic Actors Should Be Cast In More Roles | Mickey Rowe
Autistic Actor Finds His Place At Center Stage
Books
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