THOMAS ELLENSON, MAIRÉAD O’NEILL, TYLER AUSTIN WHITE
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New Play THOMAS & ME To debut in New York Written, Directed by and Starring Award-Winning Actor THOMAS ELLENSON, with Music and Lyrics by DOUGLAS J. COHEN
NEW YORK , NY, UNITED STATES, September 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — A celebrated actor, writer, and director becomes the inaugural individual to compose and perform in a full-length New York stage production using a speech-generating device.
NEW YORK, NY — Thomas Ellenson, an award-winning actor, writer, and director, is set to present his deeply intimate, humorous, and poignant new work Thomas & Me in New York for a brief, exclusive run from September 24 through September 28, 2026, at The Frank Shiner Theater (18 Bleecker Street).
Ellenson, who lives with cerebral palsy, relies on a power wheelchair and an iPad for communication, will achieve a historic milestone on September 24 by becoming the first person employing a speech-generating device to both author and act in a full-length play within New York City.
Penned, helmed, and headlined by Thomas Ellenson, Thomas & Me incorporates music and lyrics from Drama Desk-nominated composer-lyricist Douglas J. Cohen. The cast additionally features Mairéad O’Neill and Tyler Austin White. Stephen Santa serves as co-director, Sujin Kim-Ramsey as musical director, Megan Loomis as choreographer, Jason Styres as associate producer, and The Casting Collaborative handles casting.
Blending reality with theatrical narrative, Thomas & Me charts the journey of a young man gearing up to propose to his girlfriend. Yet, before he can take that step, he resolves to first gain a deeper understanding of himself and honestly confront his numerous obstacles.
This involves revisiting his youth. His friendships. The decisions he made. The individuals who influenced him. The moments he wishes he could alter. And the words he has never fully managed to express aloud. Simultaneously intimate, surprising, romantic, and sharply witty, Thomas & Me explores disability — but more profoundly, it is a narrative about maturing, discovering love, identifying your true self, and summoning the bravery to speak what truly counts. It may break your heart — only to piece it back together.
“Thomas is an extraordinary force, his wheelchair never confining him, but rather acting as a foundation for his strength and bold flights of imagination. He affects everyone with whom he comes into contact,” said Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays.
Composer-lyricist Douglas J. Cohen added, “I’m excited to be working on such a unique, surprising and theatrical piece with such a wonderful team of artists. In Thomas & Me, so much resonates emotionally for me, and Thomas has a gift for finding humor and universality in his storytelling. That made my job as a songwriter especially rewarding.”
Co-director Stephen Santa said, “Thomas has created a truly heartwarming and moving story that invites both artists and audiences to reconsider how we tell stories about disability — and, in fact, about all our lives. It is a powerful, deeply human piece that has the potential to inspire meaningful change in how we all see ourselves.”
Thomas & Me represents the newest milestone in Ellenson’s expanding career as a performer and narrative artist. His earlier solo productions have twice earned top accolades on the New York festival circuit: Well Life Sucks captured Best Production at United Solo in 2025, while It Is What It Is secured Best Production at The One Festival in 2017.
THOMAS ELLENSON is an award-winning actor, writer and director whose work combines humor, imagination and deeply personal storytelling. An actor with cerebral palsy, Ellenson uses a power wheelchair and communicates through an iPad. His solo show Well Life Sucks won Best Production at United Solo in 2025, and It Is What It Is won Best Production at The One Festival in 2017. His screen credits include Ryan Murphy’s Grotesquerie, ABC’s Speechless and Disney+’s Out of My Mind. He has trained with The Barrow Group since 2023 and is a member of SAG-AFTRA. Ellenson has also developed a special connection with the Broadway community. In 2021, marking one year since Broadway went dark during the pandemic, he created the video “We’re Still Here,” bringing together more than two dozen Broadway performers, including Jessie Mueller, Alex Brightman and Joel Grey.
DOUGLAS J. COHEN is a Drama Desk-nominated and multi-award-winning composer-lyricist whose honors include the Richard Rodgers Award and Fred Ebb Award. His musicals have been produced in New York, regionally and internationally and include No Way to Treat a Lady, Children’s Letters to God, The Gig and The Opposite of Sex.
STEPHEN SANTA is a New York City-based director and producer whose work has been seen internationally. He is the co-founder and former artistic director of Jumping Jack Theater, a company that created theatrical experiences for audiences with autism and developmental disabilities.
MAIRÉAD 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. Her work includes projects with SpeakEasy Stage, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Keen Company and The Theater Center, as well as voice work on The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel and TOMORROW: The Continuing Adventures of Annie Warbucks. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
THOMAS & ME
Written and Directed by, and Starring Thomas Ellenson,
Music and Lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen
With Mairéad O’Neill and Tyler Austin White
Co-Directed by Stephen Santa
Choreography by Megan Loomis
Associate Producer Jason Styres
Casting by The Casting Collaborative
The Frank Shiner Theater is located at 18 Bleecker Street, New York City
Thursday, September 24 at 7 PM
Friday, September 25 at 8 PM
Saturday, September 26 at 2 PM
Saturday, September 26 at 8 PM
Monday, September 28 at 7 PM
Running time: approximately 90 minutes
Tickets are available at:
https://bit.ly/ThomasAndMe
Joe Trentacosta
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