AMERICAN THEATRE: Ali Stroker doesn’t let anything get in the way of her dreams. She has used a wheelchair since an accident left her paralyzed from the chest down when she was two years old. Her vibrant personality and singing voice led her to the stage, where she has been performing professionally since she was 11. Ali is a graduate of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in drama. After attending an open casting call, Stroker became a finalist on the second season of “The Glee Project” and landed a role on the show. Now she is making her Broadway debut in Spring Awakening as the first person on record who uses a wheelchair to be cast on the Great White.
6 comments:
This makes me very happy especially after my comment on the other article about disabilities. I think Ali Stroker is extremely brave and a great role model for disabled people. It is a little surprising that it took until 2015 to have someone in a wheelchair on stage. I love that the theatre and company were so helpful and accommodating to her needs. I really hope that the adaptions they made to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre will stay there permanently. If the theatre is already adapted then it will give more reason to have someone in a wheelchair be in a show at that theatre. Ali Stroker is proving to everyone that it is possible to perform and be in a Broadway show even if she cannot walk and has to sit in a wheelchair all the time. Dancing in a wheelchair is very possible and there are many creative ways to make it look cool. I liked when she said that having someone in a wheelchair forces other people to be more creative because they need to figure out different ways for them to do normal tasks. People need challenges like that in theatre because it will make things more exciting.
This show has taken off widely in like the past few months. It’s really one of those cutting edge companies that takes the world by storm with their no holds bar way of looking at the world. It’s wondrous what they are doing, ever broadening the talent base of theater by reaching into previously untouched territory. This girl in particular is a testament to the new diversity of theater. It was up until now that there was a type, a certain person that was seen to fit the character needed for stage. In schools it was/is easy to see who feel into which category of actor. This girl has completely stepped out of those boundaries and effectively sated that she has no intention of letting theater to continue in a type cast bubble. She has a lot of pressure on her, but I believe that someone with her steadfast willingness to adapt will push forward her success.
This is a really heartwarming story. The more I read about the Deaf West production of Spring Awakening, the more I want to see it. I love how inclusive this production is. It is really sending a message to the rest of the Broadway and theatre community. I wonder how many renovations the producers of Spring Awakening had to forgo to accommodate Ali and the other actors in the production. Regardless, their clear support of inclusivity is paying off as Spring Awakening is getting a lot of buzz. I won't be surprised if more productions start following in Deaf West's footsteps. In fact, a lot of Broadway shows have already started to offer autism friendly performances. Theatre, and all art for that matter, should be accessible to anyone, regardless of what disabilities they may have. What most theaters aren't doing is extending their inclusive practices to the stage. If theatre is going to really become an inclusive art form, more companies will need to follow in Deaf West's footsteps and hire actors despite their disabilities.
I love this article. I love this woman's story. I cant wait to see her in more and more broadway productions because she definitely deserves to be there. A lot of people are talking about how brave and strong she is to achieve her dreams despite her shortcomings, but that's not the most important part of this. The best part about her is her attitude. So many differently abled people are labeled as strong, brave, and an inspiration to us all, and although that is true, it tends to overpower their actual personality and characteristics. The TV show Dancing with the Stars has had two different amputees on the show. Both were labeled as an inspiration and their story as heartwarming and all of their performances, happy or sad, made the judges and the audiences cry. But one thing I noticed from both these people was the amazing and hilarious personalities that they possessed. Both people were so easygoing and so quick-witted and that was often overshadowed by the event that left them disabled. I hope to see more of Ali in the future, but furthermore, I hope to see more of Ali as a person and less as a disability.
It is so amazing to be reminded that limitations are only in our minds. Apart from the fact that this version of 'Spring Awakening" is accessible for deaf people and gives them a chance to visually listen to this amazing show, Ali just adds so much power to the message behind the company. The fact that Ali is doing what she wants and is able to just be a character on stage, while being in a wheelchair, is so commendable. Who said one couldn't dance in a wheelchair? Have you not seen Wicked?
I love this because it is only the beginning with theatre companies being inclusive of all and
giving the chance for others to fulfill their dreams. I agree with sam, the accommodations made to the Brooks Atkinson Theater should remain permanent so other actors on wheel chairs can take advantage of such a space.
This girl's story is really a testament to the diversity and variability of theatre. Her bravery, determination, and perseverance have brought her to the stage, and the adaptability of the art form will make it possible for her to continue pushing for something more. It is very similar to the Deaf West production of Spring Awakening, in that the creators of the piece were able to adapt the performance to accommodate her disability, and make it a more powerful production because of it. The actors in that piece, like Ali, managed to work with their unique abilities to create something more powerful in the end. Her hard work and good attitude are her advantage, as she knows that the challenges she faces are difficult for others to understand. Still, the piece is doing well and she has started a ripple that will play out in the rest of the theatre industry.
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