Thomas Ellenson brings disability-centered play Thomas & Me to New York

Thomas Ellenson will debut his new play Thomas & Me at The Frank Shiner Theater in New York from Sept. 24-28, 2026, in what is billed as the first full-length New York play written and performed by a person using a speech-generating device. The 90-minute production pairs Ellenson’s story with music and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen and puts disability, love and self-discovery at the center of the stage.

Why it matters: - Thomas Ellenson is set to make history on Sept. 24, 2026, as the first person using a speech-generating device to write and perform in a full-length play in New York City. - Thomas & Me puts disability representation on a major New York stage while telling a broader story about growing up, love and identity. - The production expands Ellenson’s profile as an actor, writer and director with a track record of festival recognition.

What happened: - Thomas Ellenson is bringing Thomas & Me to New York for a strictly limited run Sept. 24-28, 2026, at The Frank Shiner Theater at 18 Bleecker Street. - Ellenson wrote, directed and stars in the play. - Douglas J. Cohen wrote the music and lyrics. - The cast also includes Mairéad O’Neill and Tyler Austin White. - The production is co-directed by Stephen Santa. - Megan Loomis handles choreography. - Jason Styres is associate producer. - The Casting Collaborative handled casting.

The details: - Thomas & Me is described as part reality and part theatrical storytelling. - The story follows a young man who is preparing to propose to his girlfriend. - Before making that decision, he turns inward and confronts his childhood, friendships, choices and the people who shaped him. - The play centers on the things he has not been able to say out loud. - The production is billed as intimate, surprising, romantic and sharply funny. - The running time is approximately 90 minutes. - Performance dates are Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Monday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. - Tickets are available here. - Ellenson uses a power wheelchair and communicates through an iPad. - His previous solo show Well Life Sucks won Best Production at United Solo in 2025. - His earlier work It Is What It Is won Best Production at The One Festival in 2017. - Ellenson’s screen credits include Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie, ABC’s Speechless and Disney+’s Out of My Mind. - Ellenson has trained with The Barrow Group since 2023 and is a member of SAG-AFTRA. - Ellenson created the 2021 video “We’re Still Here” to mark one year since Broadway went dark during the pandemic, bringing together more than two dozen Broadway performers including Jessie Mueller, Alex Brightman and Joel Grey. - Cohen is a Drama Desk-nominated, multi-award-winning composer-lyricist whose honors include the Richard Rodgers Award and Fred Ebb Award. - Cohen’s works include No Way to Treat a Lady, Children’s Letters to God, The Gig and The Opposite of Sex. - Santa is a New York City-based director and producer and co-founder, as well as former artistic director, of Jumping Jack Theater. - Jumping Jack Theater created theatrical experiences for audiences with autism and developmental disabilities. - O’Neill is a New York City-based actor, singer and musician and a graduate of Boston University’s School of Theatre and LaGuardia Arts High School.

Between the lines: - The project frames disability as a central creative lens rather than a side note. - The involvement of Broadway-connected artists and a festival-tested lead suggests the production is aiming for both artistic credibility and audience reach. - The play’s focus on self-revelation and communication mirrors Ellenson’s own lived experience, which gives the material added emotional weight.

What's next: - Thomas & Me opens Sept. 24 and runs through Sept. 28, 2026, at The Frank Shiner Theater. - The short run suggests limited availability for New York audiences. - The production’s reception could shape future opportunities for Ellenson and the team behind the show.

The bottom line: - Thomas & Me is a milestone New York production that pairs personal storytelling with a broader push for more visible disability representation on stage.