Meet the recipients of the 2023 Arts for Autism Access Grants here.

Caissie is currently appearing in her eighth Broadway show, Tom Stoppard's Leopoldstadt; this past year she starred in Sarah Silverman's The Bedwetter and the Tony nominated and Grammy nominated Broadway revival of Caroline, or Change at Studio 54. Later this year she will star in London's Donmar Warehouse production of Next to Normal. She created the role of Elsa in Disney’s Broadway production of Frozen, and recreated the iconic role of Fantine in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables. She is known to Broadway and West End audiences for originating the roles of Sheila in the Tony Award winning revival of Hair, and Molly in Ghost. Other Broadway credits include Elphaba in Wicked (also LA); Penny in Hairspray (also 1st national tour & Toronto); Maureen in Rent (national tour). Off Broadway credits include First Daughter's Suite (The Public Theater) and Murder Ballad (MTC). Caissie has recorded 5 original cast albums and been featured on many singer/songwriter's records. Her solo EP, With You, is available wherever you buy your music. In concert, she backed up Sir Rod Stewart in his Las Vegas residency, headlined Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, and has played solo across the US, UK and Canada. 

Miki Abraham

Shucked

Beautiful

Gabi Campo

Some Like It Hot

Beetlejuice

Tasia Jungbauer

Moulin Rouge, the Musical

John Michael Dias

Jersey Boys

Beautiful

Kevin Smtih Kirkwood

Kinky Boots

25th Annual...Spelling Bee

Alyse Alan Louis

Amelie

Mamma Mia!

Eric William Morris

King Kong

Mamma Mia!

Dylan Paul

Moulin Rouge, the Musical

Cabaret

Tiffany Renee Thompson

Little Shop of Horrors

Josh Strobl

Dear Evan Hansen

Quinn VanAntwerp

Jersey Boys
Shucked

Teal Wicks

The Cher Show

Wicked

Brynn Williams

SpongeBob SquarePants, the Broadway Musical

13, the Musical

Ashley Bruce

The Prom

Justin Campbell

Carmen

Hannah DelMonte

Fiddler on the Roof

Madeline Fansler

Six

Jessica Freedman

Frog and Toad

Jeff Goble

Sweeney Todd

Keiji Ishiguri

Jillian Jameson

The Sound of Music

Jayson Kerr

Porgy and Bess

Jennifer Lorae

Parade

The Hello Girls

DeMond Nason

Walmartopia

Paul Pilcz

Bye Bye Birdie

Danielle Erin Rhodes

The Buddy Holly Story

Jackson Tucker-Meyer is a fabulously autistic playwright, theatre artist, filmmaker, arts administrator, and educator who makes work that is weird for weirdness' sake.

Jackson's film Satan Cured My Autism won Best Mockumentary at the Museum of the Moving Image's inaugural Marvels of Media Awards. Jackson's play Banana Guy and Banana Girl with Banana Dreamz in a Krazy World was part of Roundabout Theatre Company's inaugural Reverb Theatre Arts Festival. Jackson's play The Perfection of the Donut was a semi-finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival. Jackson has been an artist-in-residence with the Modern Accord Depot's MADarts program.

As an arts administrator, Jackson is Director of Programs for Actionplay, a neuroinclusive theatre nonprofit. As a musical theatre lyricist, Jackson is a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. As a performer, Jackson has participated in new works by Stew (The Blacker The Bärry), Dan Hurlin (Harmless), Bluelaces (Scribble), and Rat Queen Theatre Company (Judy Doomed Us All). As a public speaker, Jackson has given talks on the intersection of theatre and disability at Lincoln Center, Brooklyn College, the City College of New York, and the 6th International Teaching Artist Conference.

Evie Reed recalls being enchanted by the Wizard of Oz when she was two years old, and she's loved musicals ever since! When asked about her favorite musical, she says, "RENT was my first love, but of course I also love Hamilton. All musicals celebrating diversity." Despite finding few opportunities for involvement in theatre as an autistic adult and even facing active discouragement from vocal teachers, the Kansas City native found the experience and encouragement she was looking for in her current vocal coach, composer Scott Evan Davis. Evie dreams of a career that will allow her to be creative and involved in the performing arts. She says, "I would love to be an actor and author, and one of my biggest dreams is to be a part of original musical theater pieces as an actor, but maybe as a writer, too. I love the development stages of new works and the idea of bringing a character to life for the first time. I would love to one day bring a story centered around an autistic person of color to the stage—a story that doesn’t center around being autistic."

Shining Stars Network is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization that specializes in shining a light on the special needs community through the performing arts while providing opportunities for people with and without special needs to improve their singing, dancing, and acting abilities and to enhance self-confidence and self-esteem.

Shining Stars Network was founded in 2012 by the Curci family to provide a platform for the special needs community to showcase their many talents in an inclusive environment!

Starting as a local talent show in Cranford, N.J., Shining Stars Network has grown into a charity that offers creative arts opportunities all year round, currently serving members of seven New Jersey Counties.

Arts for Autism is a one night annual Broadway benefit concert where the biggest names on Broadway join performing arts students from around the country onstage at the Gershwin Theater, home to Broadway's production of Wicked. Together we perform, spread acceptance, and inspire compassion, kindness, and understanding for those impacted by autism. We hope you'll join us for this evening celebrating hope and new beginnings as we look forward to a brighter future for all. 

Each year funds raised from the Arts For Autism benefit concert will be distributed in the form of grants between $1,000 and $5,000. We are passionate about the arts and how they can positively impact everyone. For this reason we have established the Arts Access Grant to ensure that each year at least one of our grants will be used specifically to expand access to the arts for people impacted by autism. The Community Access Grant can be used more broadly for any project (including arts-related) that improves the lives of people impacted by autism and we will grant as many as possible until funds raised are exhausted. Arts organizations may apply for both grants. Grants are available for any U.S. based organization or individual and people on the autism spectrum are encouraged to apply. Funds granted must be used within twelve months of being awarded.

Our newly established advisory board will oversee the granting of funds raised at the Arts For Autism benefit concert. The board was formed in 2022 in response to community feedback about where money raised is being donated. We are excited to see where they decide to make an impact to support the autism community this year and beyond! Check our site later this summer for updates.

Every year dozens of Broadway performers lend their time and talents to our event. Check out our program archives to find all your favorite stars!

"This event to me is special because it shows that there isn't one way to tell a story. The power of song. The power of dance. It has a farther reach than just entertainment. We can do something. We can do something really important."

- Kelvin Moon Loh, The King and I & Spongebob Squarepants, the Broadway Musical

"I believe all people need to be respected and accepted for who they are."

- Laura Osnes, Two-Time Tony Award Nominee, Cinderella & Bonnie & Clyde

Presented By

Educational Travel Adventures (ETA) & Believe NYC

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info@artsforautism.net

917-475-4580

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