autistic young adults front and center as they# face the challenges of leading independent lives.

Adapted from a documentary, Jeffrey# Brown talks to the creators behind## the musical and some of its stars.

It's# for our arts and culture series, Canvas.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) ACTOR: Welcome!

We are going to do a show for you.

JEFFREY BROWN: It's a musical# with an unusual opening,## in which the cast members introduce themselves.

ACTOR: The show is based on things# that actually ha have been embellished for dramatic purposes.

JEFFREY BROWN: Seven autistic# actors playing s characters with a message about their community.

ACTOR: There is the saying, if# you have met one autistic you have met one autistic person.

You# are now meeting seven autistic people.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE) with the audience at first and just# be IMANI RUSSELL, Actor: We're also# establishing that this is a place## where neurodivergence is welcome and accepted.

JEFFREY BROWN: Twenty-year-old Madison# Kopec and 27-year-old Imani Russell,## both with autism, are two of the# stars of "How to Dance in Ohio."

IMANI RUSSELL: The experience of being autistic# is so different from person to person.

And you## see that in the show and people connect with that# in the audience.

But it is really impor understand that, like, whatever ideas that# people might have going into the show about## what it means to be autistic, we're here to# be like, that's one idea.

That's one example.

ACTOR: When I'm out, I don't talk much.# I have trouble making facial expressions.## It's not that I don't care about what# you're saying.

Sometimes, I don't.

(LAUGHTER) making social connections, especially as they# strive to be more independent as young adults.

Madison Kopec, who was diagnosed with# autism at age 17, portrays Marideth,## who often turns to facts to avoid emotions# and potentially disturbing personal contact.

This focus on social interaction# and the difficulties of that... MADISON KOPEC: Yes.

MADISON KOPEC: Yes, I'm very familiar# wish I could be like Marideth sometimes, where# she just kind of says, no thanks and leaves.

And I do, to a point.

But, also, I think# the journey she goes on is really important,## because she tends to, like, block# herself out from having any sort of,## like, interactions because she's afraid.

DOCUMENTARY PARTICIPANT: A lot of times,## people can't rea JEFFREY BROWN: The characters and story# are based on a 2015 HBO documentary of## the same name by director Alexandra Shiva, which# captured a real-life counseling clinic for teens## and young adults with autism in Columbus, Ohio,# as they prepared to hold a spring formal dance.

For composer Jacob Yandura, himself from# Ohio and with a younger sibling with autism,## turning it into a musical was deeply personal.

JACOB YANDURA, Composer: My sister Maria has been# a part of this for she was the first person I told about, like,# there's this documentary.

I mu sical.

And we watched it together, because it# was right around when I was home f And we immediately cried.

And she was like:# "Jacob, now the world can understand what## it's like to be me," you know?

That's what# I hope.

And it's the most -- it's been the# most beautiful gift, the show.

And I'm# getting emotional thinking about it.

JEFFREY BROWN: When she said that, you# thought, I have got to make this musical.

JACOB YANDURA: I have to make# this.

Yes, I have to make this.

JEFFREY BROWN: For director Sammi Cannold,## who also has an autistic sibl and some members of the larger# team meant adjusting her role.

SAMMI CANNOLD, Director: The main piece# of feedback in terms of direction that I## got from mostly our artistic performers# was that what they wanted from very clear and very specific direction,# not can you go over there by the door?## Can you go to eight and turn left and# then go to 10?

So very, very specific.

And that... SAMMI CANNOLD: The script, yes.

And I think that absolut and preparation that I'm thrilled to do, because# it allows our performers to do their best work.

JEFFREY BROWN: In fact, the two actors told us## that acting and following a scri and many autistic people get through# even the most routine interactions.

IMANI RUSSELL: Even, like,# with friends being like, OK,## I got to practice what I'm going# to say.

I'm going to mak little script before I go hang out with# pe MADISON KOPEC: People would always ask, how# can you perform in front of this huge crowd## of people and then be scared to perform in# front of three family member JEFFREY BROWN: Or even go to the store or... (CROSSTALK) MADISON KO JEFFREY BROWN: Yes, and kn MADISON KOPEC: Because I k mostly.

I know this character that I'm# playing.

And even when to a little bit of improv, which I have gotten# more comfortable with over the years, like,## I have still got this character.

So I have a basis# for how she would react in certai IMANI RUSSELL: And it's not like we don't## know h MADISON KOPEC: Right.

MADISON KOPEC: Yes.

theater brings us joy.

I don't like going# to the store.

It doesn't bring me any j (LAUGHTER) MADISON KOPEC: That's true, yes.

JEFFREY BROWN: For this show, accommodations a of aids and cool-down spaces for those who# need to step away due to sensory sensitivities.

Imani Russell hopes "How to Dance in Ohio"# not only helps people in the autistic## community feel represented, but also fuels# change in theater inclusivity more broadly.

IMANI RUSSELL: We're really doing something# that is connecting with people who are coming## and being like, I have never thought that I# could do this.

And seeing the seve stage is giving me hope that I can do this, that# theater, which already feels like a home to a lot of autistic people, but that they can actually do# it, which feels really, really important to me.

JEFFREY BROWN: In that sense,# says director Sammi Cannold,## this is entertainment-plus,# also a form of advocacy.

SAMMI CANNOLD: What's important is that I# think, when people hear the word advocacy,## they think maybe people# picketing on the street or,## like, someone lecturing at you# about what you should care about.

And I think that what I love about art# like this is that, if you come into it## off the street and you know nothing about it,# you're probably not going to leave and say,## I just saw advocacy, right?

But you are# going to leave with a better understand of a community that you may not have# had an understanding of before.

Or,## if you are a member of that community, you may# leave feeling JACOB YANDURA: Represented.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm# Jeffrey Brown in New York.

AMNA NAWAZ: Great to see those# stories on a big, joy-filled stage.