‘State of the Field’ roundtable: Disability pedagogy and practice in musical theatre

In this roundtable conversation, six musical theatre scholars and practitioners engage in a wide-ranging discussion about the evolving intersections between disability and musical theatre in pedagogy and professional practices. Starting from the provocative notion that disability unsettles musical theatre’s fixation on idealized bodies and normative performance standards, the discussants interrogate current institutional practices, reflect on their personal experiences navigating accessibility and call out persistent barriers. This roundtable vividly captures tensions between artistic norms and the lived realities of disabled performers in university training grounds and the industry by highlighting inclusive approaches and critically examining what it genuinely means to embed accessibility into theatrical practice. Collectively, the roundtable dreams forward, positioning disability not as an exceptional condition but as an expansive, dynamic source of creative potential.

Duke Scholars

Author Ryan M Donovan Theater Studies