Being Autistic In Musical Theatre

[@laurenrogers]

Also I forgot to mention how mean it was for god to put me in a career where rejection is a constant and then give me RSD

[@shanimontani]

okay first of all, i'm so proud of you for doing this video and sharing it with the world because i know it must have been really hard to 1. actually spend the time to make it 2. posting it and knowing that a lot of people is gonna see you being vulnerable. we see you, we love you and we thank you 🤍

[@olived9560]

i said this in the chat, but i wonder if wanting everyone to see what you're expressing visibly is part of the reason you love DT losing it moments (as well as the fact they're just so good)..? those are VERY outwardly expressive and physical (and it shows those outward moments can be INCREDIBLE) (also i'm like that as well i feel like nobody will pick up on nything if i'm being subtle...)

[@mychanel3162]

The thing is to not fall in the trap of wanting EVERYONE to like it, because that will never happen

[@shanimontani]

im halfway through the video but i relate to everything you say on a soul level omg

[@Addy-ve1yc]

I relate to you on not having a diagnosis. I have also been told by people with autism that I might be autistic. I think the first time I was told, I never really considered it. I looked into it more, and it seemed like it made more sense. I've been told I'm "acting autistic" when I struggle to regulate my emotions or I can't communicate or even when I'm hyperfixating on things. I feel like I'm going to struggle a lot in anything I do, but I am DETERMINED to get somewhere. Even if I get diagnosed with autism, I really don't want to get held back I fully support you, and I hope you are able to go far, and thank you for taking the time to share this ❤

[@cantantenoel]

wowwwww, I was a music major in college and am neurodivergent-diagnosed ADHD, possibly/probably(?) autistic-and I clicked on this expecting to find it interesting and relatable but I did not expect it to resonate *in my entire soul* the way it did. this was actually really hard to watch, in the best way possible, because I am almost 40 and still struggling with a lot of these questions. I currently work in a music-adjacent job and perform on the side for funsies, but I often wonder if things might have gone differently for me if my neurodivergence (and my queerness, let's be honest) had been things I was more settled in and had more knowledge and support around back then. all I can say is keep on keeping on, you're gonna be great.

[@mychanel3162]

Thia video helps me so much, wanting to get in the acting industry myself and struggling with whether I will be strong enough every day. When I heard your recital it was clear to me that you are a talented hardworking performer and you deserve the best. You will bring something unique to the table and I believe people will see that, like Russel T Davies did with DT. The thing about awkward characters is that they are either male, the comic relief that will never have a love interest or a polished version of "quirky" which comes out fake in 90 per cent of the movies. PS: Can you imagine the sheer magnificence of a Sheen-Tennant Odd Couple adaptation?

[@laurenrogers]

@@mychanel3162 ugh yes I know EXACTLY what you mean about “awkward” characters. David Tennant has been my biggest acting inspiration largely because our autism manifests in very similar ways, so I see him as such a beacon of the success people like me can achieve. However, it is quite a bit more accepted for male actors like David to display those traits, and its difficult for me as an afab person to find roles like those david plays that I identify with so strongly. I think there’s hope though :) here’s hoping I get my tenth doctor one day and can put all that autism to use!

[@samanthabarry5997]

Tw: bit of a vent w/ some mild rambling Your story of getting overstimulated watching a show reminded me of a few months ago when my roommates and I went to see a rock concert. (I had never been to a band concert before and I have no interest in rock or radio music in general, I SPECIFICALLY only listen to musical theater songs and radio songs made before the 90s) Anyways, I just remember my roommates and all the other people there singing along to the songs and bouncing on their feet and I was just standing there, spacing out in the middle of a chaotic rock concert. Eventually, I went to the basement bathroom and just plugged into Spotify and listened to musical songs to calm me down. But I relate to what you said about not fitting into the people you thought would be your clique, because I go to a visual arts college, however, the people I’ve made friends with are all into video games, anime, DND, everyday radio songs and I just can’t relate to any of them on those things. There’s no one I’ve met here who maladaptive daydreams to musical theater songs instead of radio songs because there’s more of a plot, there’s no one who’s (a bit unhealthily) obsessed with David tennant content lol Also, one thing I’ve noticed is that, there is basically no deeper meaning to the pieces I make. Like, I can make a photorealistic portrait, but the minute you tell me to put meaning behind it, my brain just completely stops working. It’s just not the way I make art. So I understand feeling like you don’t deserve to be at the college you got into. Also, relatable about the looking and sounding mature and having absolutely no coordination 🤞🤞🤞 Anyways, I don’t think there was really a point to my comment, but I just wanted to let you know that you aren’t alone with your struggles, which, I don’t know if that makes you feel better but I hope it did!! ❤️❤️❤️ Sorry if this was a mouthful to read and I hope I didn’t end up upsetting anyone who does read this.

[@queenteacherbee]

I have always been so proud of you! I still am! You are amazing!

[@laurenrogers]

@@queenteacherbee MRS LAWSON 😭😭😭

[@godfrey_approves]

this is all so real I've been hoping to become an actor for a while now and I'm just like. Rude of God or whoever to make me interested in the Do Good At Tone Of Voice And Facial Expressions And Coordination Career, and then give me the Bad At Tones Of Voice, Facial Expressions And Coordination Disorder I was lucky enough to get a diagnosis at 9, and while I do hope to be an actor, I don't know how to do it really

[@bluevortexpng1211]

i'm autistic and in a very different field of study (data science/physics) but i could relate a lot to going into college and finding that a lot of the friend groups have been made already. also it's weird bc i feel like my deepest hyperfixations/special interests are all around things that aren't directly related to my academic field of study. it makes me feel a little bit like a fraud in a way? but one of the main reasons i ended up pursuing my major was bc i was afraid that i wouldn't get a stable career in the arts. ah, capitalism

[@bluevortexpng1211]

also i wonder if having the peer reviewed autism is a common thing cuz when i was first doing research and i said to my partner "i think i may be autistic" they were like "yeah i thought you were and also if you're friends with me it's already a bad sign" LMAO. like i guess autistic ppl gravitate towards one another or something

[@shanimontani]

i would love to talk to you about this topic because i feel like i've also been there and maybe it helps you, also i feel like we would be great friends 🤍

[@shanimontani]

sorry if this is weird and out of the blue but omg i've just never felt so seen

[@laurenrogers]

Not at all! Feel free to leave more comments

[@shanimontani]

​@@laurenrogers ah thanks for saying that, i feel really annoying leaving a ton of commenrs 😅 is there any way i can contact you directly ??? (if you feel comfortable sharing ofc)

[@laurenrogers]

@@[e-mail]

[@shanimontani]

@@laurenrogers thanks ! i just sent you an e-mail! maybe grab some snacks and drink some water before you read it because idk how long it is but it sure did take me a looooooong time to write it lol... 💌