Directed by Tricia Regan, 2007
Autism: The Musical follows five children with autism, their parents, and the extraordinary acting coach Elaine Hall as they improbably and heroically mount a full-length original stage production. Through trial and error, tears and laughter, these incredible families learn to communicate their feelings in song and performance, finding solace and joy in the act of creating.
A veritable feast of astounding breakthroughs and heartbreaking hardship, this spellbinding film is a musical celebration of kids living with this increasingly prevalent disorder. Director Tricia Regan vividly captures the individual personalities and problems of each child, from precocious Henry who talks a mile-a-minute about dinosaurs to Neal, a sensitive and articulate boy who nonetheless struggles to speak at all. The parents, too, are fascinating studies in unconditional love, especially Elaine, the mastermind behind the musical and mother of Neal.
A consciousness-raising and empathetic portrait of children and their families living with autism, Autism: The Musical celebrates the spark of humanity in each of us. “Moving, dramatic, therapeutic and unburdened by reliance on talking heads” (Variety), this film will change the way you look at autism.
Bonus Features
Companion Guide; Deleted Scenes; About Autism Speaks; About the Miracle Project; Filmmaker Biography
Elaine has appeared on CNN, CBS, Oprah Radio, NPR, and featured in The LA Times, the Boston Globe, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Her memoir, Now I See the Moon, was chosen by the United Nations for World Autism Awareness Day 2011 and as selected reading by the International Jewish Disability Awareness Month Consortium, February 2013.
A champion for Inclusion, she is an international keynote speaker, a workshop leader, blogs for the Huffington Post and LA Parent Magazine, and was an invited to speaker at The United Nations for World Autism Awareness Month 2009, 2011 and 2013. In 2013, her son joined her at The United Nations using assistive technology to present to an audience of over 400 people.
Through her personal experience with her son, “Coach E!” helped develop methods to create The Miracle Project. This groundbreaking theatre-based socialization program is featured in the Emmy winning HBO film, AUTISM: The Musical.
For more info on The Miracle Project visit www.themiracleproject.org
ISHA Convention Sessions with Elaine Hall
Keynote Session: Thursday April 3rd, 2014 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Be The Change: Confessions of an Accidental Activist
Thursday April 3rd, 2014 1:30pm – 3:00 pm
Using Music, Movement, Theatre and Art to Enhance Communication and Foster Inclusion
ISHA Movie Night on Thursday April 3rd, 2014 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
AUTISM: The Musical
Don’t miss the opportunity to view Autism: The Musical and book signing with ISHA’s 2014 Convention Keynote Speaker, Elaine Hall!
