Team of MMC Faculty, Students, Staff, and Alumni Collaborate on “Addy & Uno”

On September 2, Addy & Uno—off-Broadway’s first family musical about disability and bullying—debuted at the 14th Street Y, thanks to a major collaboration of MMC faculty, students, staff, and alumni.

MMC’s Nava R. Silton, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, heads up the creative team, as the musical is based on her widely successful Realabilities Educational Comic Book Series, a 10 comic-book series for students about disability, strength, and friendship.

Addy & Uno features puppets, sign language, humor, and heart, inspiring kindness and acceptance with the message that “it’s nice to be nice.” The show’s creative team explains, “Individuals with disabilities are often under-represented across media, especially children’s media. We’re changing family entertainment, giving a voice to diverse children, and inspiring a new generation of kinder people.”

This musical stands out as the quintessential MMC project—one that is collaborative, creative, and groundbreaking, and addresses social problems with creativity. A wide variety of MMC students, faculty, staff, and alumni participated in the vision and production of the show, including Noah Pyzik ’19 (Uno), Brent Jones ’19 (RJ), Frank Auletti ’19 (Math Snake), Christine Riley, Visiting Instructor in Theatre Arts (Music Direction and Orchestration), Robert Dutiel, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts (Set Design), Lindsay Green ’16, Coordinator of Disability Services (Lighting and Sound Design), Abby Yip ’19 (Scenic Charge), Patrick Riley ’20 (Research Intern), Anthony Ingargiola ’16 (Images, Graphic Design, Website), and the Realabilities 2017 Research Team, who won MMC’s 2017 Shark Tank competition. 

Addy & Uno exemplifies MMC’s commitment to providing unique opportunities beyond the traditional theatre arts program, so that all liberal arts students may exercise and develop their creative abilities. 

Featured in The New York Times and on Fox 5 NY, Time Out New York, Playbill, BroadwayWorld, and BroadwayBox, Addy & Uno will run from September 2 through September 24, every Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 1pm. For ticketing and further information, please visit  www.addyanduno.com.

Congratulations to Dr. Silton and the entire MMC team involved in this unforgettable and inspiring production!

SYNOPSIS: As Uno, a child with autism, faces the challenge of competing in his school’s math competition, his friends with varying disabilities - ADHD, visual, hearing and physical impairment - rally in support. Told through puppets, humor, and unforgettable music, Addy & Uno celebrates the abilities within disability and the beauty of differences.

WHERE: The Theater at the 14th St. Y

WHEN: September 2nd to September 24th, each weekend, 11am and 1pm

TICKETS: $20 Marymount Manhattan Special at addyanduno.com 

PHOTOS: hi-res images here

Directed by Emmy-nominated Donna Drake (Netflix’s Julie’s Greenroom and John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean)

Concept & Book by Nava R. Silton, Ph.D.; Music and Lyrics by Bonnie Gleicher

Published: September 07, 2017