People from the disability community are grossly underrepresented in the performing arts. When characters with disabilities do appear, too often they are played by non-Disabled actors, even though this practice is widely acknowledged to be inappropriate and offensive.

Those roles that do go to actors with actual disabilities are often villainous, stereotyped, or otherwise portrayed in a negative light. In particular, Disabled people almost never get happy endings or are seen as legitimate love interests. 

'The Light in the Piazza' centers on the story of a young woman who has developmental disabilities as the result of a childhood head injury. The musical shows her fight to be independent and make her own choices, to be seen as an adult, and to show that she is capable of loving and being loved in return. Ultimately, it affirms that she has the same right to all these things as anyone else does. In the end, we see her happily celebrating her wedding to a man who loves her exactly as she is. 

In a society where Disabled people do not have marriage equality, are routinely subjected to nonconsensual sterilization, and are at constant risk of having their children taken away from them, this is a message that needs to be shared. And in order for this story to have that positive impact, Clara needs to be played by an actor who has lived her experience.

Disabled women deserve the chance to see ourselves as beautiful, celebrated, and worthy of love - and the rest of the world urgently needs to see that, too.

Please help accomplish this by casting this role appropriately!