On June 22, the New Amsterdam Theatre was filled with the kind of energy that can only happen when more than 100 students, 25 professional performers and one very special community come together on a Broadway stage.
Arts for Autism 2026 marked the concert’s 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of music, friendship, inclusion and opportunities for young performers to discover just how powerful their voices can be.
The evening was hosted by Broadway’s original Aladdin, Adam Jacobs, who has been part of the Arts for Autism family since the very first concert in 2016. Under the direction of Natalie Malotke and music direction of Paul Staroba, the anniversary performance brought together an extraordinary cast of Broadway artists, neurodivergent performers, student groups, dancers, musicians and supporters from across the country.
A Broadway Debut to Remember
One of the most moving moments of the evening belonged to 11-year-old Olivia See, a neurodivergent musician and performer with perfect pitch and a deep love of Broadway music.
Olivia joined Caroline Bowman, whose Broadway credits include Wicked and Frozen, for a joyful Frozen medley featuring “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” “For the First Time in Forever” and “Let It Go.”
For Olivia, the performance was much more than a chance to sing on Broadway. It was an opportunity to show audiences that people with unique abilities can thrive, succeed and make a meaningful impact. Watching her take the stage with confidence was a beautiful reminder of exactly why Arts for Autism exists.
Broadway Stars and Student Performers Share the Spotlight
The anniversary cast included an incredible lineup of Broadway talent, including Miki Abraham, Katie Adams, Caroline Bowman, Tony nominee Charl Brown, Amy Justman, Kevin Smith Kirkwood, Kelvin Moon Loh, Zachary Noah Piser, Ryan Vona, Brynn Williams and more.
Together with the Arts for Autism Choir and student performers, they brought the New Amsterdam stage to life with songs from Pippin, Rock of Ages, Rent, The Wiz, Ragtime, Children of Eden and Songs for a New World.
The program moved from big, joyful production numbers to heartfelt moments of reflection. Highlights included Adam Jacobs singing “Come Fly With Me,” EPIC Players performing “Rent,” Katie Adams joining the Silver Starlites for “Twirl the Baton,” and the full company coming together for “If the World Only Knew,” a song written by Scott Evan Davis and students from the P94 Spectrum School.
An anniversary medley featuring songs such as “She Used to Be Mine,” “Falling Slowly,” “Waving Through a Window” and “For Good” offered a moving look back at the music and memories that have shaped Arts for Autism through the years.
Stories That Deserve to Be Heard
This year’s keynote speaker, Kevin Ray Johnson, shared his experiences as an autistic actor and professional performer. Kevin recently appeared in the Off-Broadway production of Rent with EPIC Players, a neurodiverse theatre company dedicated to creating professional opportunities and supportive arts communities for neurodivergent and disabled artists.
EPIC Players also joined the concert as special guests, bringing their talent, spirit and mission to the Broadway stage. Their participation reflected one of the evening’s most important messages: inclusion is not simply about inviting people into the room. It is about creating meaningful opportunities for them to be seen, heard and celebrated.
Students From Across the Country Take the Stage
Student groups traveled from Michigan, Texas, North Carolina, Indiana and New Jersey to be part of the 10th anniversary performance.
Caldarona Studios, Cedar Ridge High School, Midwest Academy, Moving Youth Dance Company, Miss Kim’s Children’s Dance & Arts and Our Time to Shine each brought something unique to the production. Students rehearsed alongside Broadway professionals, worked with an experienced creative team and performed in one of Broadway’s most iconic theatres.
For many of them, it was their first time performing on a Broadway stage. It will almost certainly not be an experience they forget.
Ten Years of Using the Arts for Good
Arts for Autism began in 2016 with a simple but powerful idea: bring students and Broadway professionals together to celebrate differences, encourage kindness and raise money to improve the lives of people impacted by autism.
Ten years later, that mission continues to grow.
Funds raised through Arts for Autism support Arts & Community Access Grants for nonprofit organizations and projects that make a meaningful difference in the autism community. The grants may support arts programming and many other initiatives that improve access, opportunity and quality of life.
The concert would not be possible without the Broadway artists who donate their time, the teachers and directors who prepare their students, the volunteers and production teams working behind the scenes, and the families, friends and audience members who continue to show up and support the mission year after year.
Special thanks also go to Disney Theatrical and the New Amsterdam Theatre for welcoming Arts for Autism back for a third year and giving students and performers a true Broadway home for this milestone celebration.
The Next Chapter Begins
The 10th anniversary concert honored everything Arts for Autism has become, but it also offered a glimpse of what is still possible.
When students are encouraged to embrace what makes them different, when artists use their talents to lift others up, and when a community chooses inclusion and kindness, the impact reaches far beyond one performance.
The curtain may have come down on Arts for Autism 2026, but the music, friendships and memories created that night will keep inspiring people long after the theatre lights have dimmed.
Here’s to the next ten years of bold voices, open hearts and Broadway dreams.
