Actress with disabilities stars in a musical

Actress Ali Stroker, who uses a wheelchair, has been cast as the leading role in the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, N.J.

Excitingly Ali’s character was written to be an able-bodied person. She plays Olive Ostrovsky, a young girl whose parents are often away leaving her without the love and support she desires. Appointing Ali as the starring role shows that her acting abilities, and probably good looks, were what convinced the casting directors to taking her on in the role. Although Ali feels her disability ‘does add another element to the character’, it isn’t mentioned.

Ali hopes her success will raise the profile of actors and actresses with disabilities; ‘I am happy that I was cast in a part that isn’t specifically a disabled person, but I also hope producers realize that it is important to at least audition people that are disabled for roles when the characters are disabled.’

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is touring the world and will be in the UK, but sadly Ali won’t be part of the cast. If only I had enough money to pop to America to see a musical!

See Ali performing Here where I stand:

January 21, 2011. Tags: Ali Stroker, disabilities, disability, disabled, disabled actress, disabled arts, disabled wheelchair, Paper Mill Playhouse, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, wheelchair, wheelchair dancing. Entertainment. Leave a comment.