Mairéad O’Neill and Thomas Ellenson star in Thomas & Me (photo by Douglas J. Cohen)
THOMAS & ME
Frank Shiner Theater
Sheen Center for Thought and Culture
18 Bleecker St. between Mott & Elizabeth Sts.
September 24-28, $20-$75
sheencenter.org
“I love acting. It’s the only place people stare at me for the right reasons,” award-winning actor, writer, and director Thomas Ellenson says on his website. Ellenson, who has cerebral palsy, uses a power wheelchair, and communicates through an iPad, will be the center of attention when he brings his new play, Thomas & Me, to the Frank Shiner Theater at the Sheen Center, where it runs from September 24 to 28.
In the ninety-minute autobiographical show, Ellenson portrays a man who reevaluates his life as he considers proposing to his girlfriend. The cast also features Mairéad O’Neill (I and You, Soft Star) and Tyler Austin White (The Full Monty, Legally Blonde), with music and lyrics by composer-lyricist Douglas J. Cohen (No Way to Treat a Lady, The Opposite of Sex) and choreography by Megan Loomis.
“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,” codirector Stephen Santa said in a statement. 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.”
Among the songs performed in the show are “I Am Not a Morning Person,” “Yes, But . . . ,” and “Waiting in the Wings”; Sujin Kim-Ramsey is the musical director.
Thomas & Me opens runs September 24 to 28 at the Frank Shiner Theater (photo courtesy Thomas Ellenson)
Ellenson previously won Best Production at United Solo in 2025 for Well, Life Sucks and Best Production at the One Festival in 2017 for It Is What It Is.
“If you can’t laugh at cerebral palsy, you really need to develop a sense of humor. And here it is,” Ellenson recently posted on Instagram.
The short run is almost sold out, so you better act fast if you want to stare at Ellenson for all the right reasons.
[Mark Rifkin is a Brooklyn-born, Manhattan-based writer; you can follow him on Substack here.]