Students with Autism Perform Broadway's 'Hamilton'

Students with autism and professional actors perform the song “Alexander Hamilton” from the musical “Hamilton.” Screenshot from Liisa DiTarando’s Facebook video.

Students on the autism spectrum at McKitrick Elementary in Lutz, Florida transformed into Broadway stars after virtually performing the song “Alexander Hamilton” from the hit musical “Hamilton.”

On a Facebook post, teacher Liisa DiTarando wrote that she began a social skills group 11 months ago for students on the spectrum that attended McKitrick Elementary. She then started teaching songs from “Hamilton” and wrote that the students resonated with the characters from the play. 

“We explored concepts such as empathy, perspective taking, kindness, friendship, loyalty, and communication all while learning some great songs,” DiTarando wrote in the Facebook post. “Every day for the entire school year, these kids showed up to talk, laugh, practice lines and learn the dance moves.”

Before the pandemic forced schools to transition to distance education, the students planned to perform a couple songs from the musical at the end of the school year. Once the plan fell through, DiTarando wrote that the students were devastated.

“This was going to be their moment to shine and they felt they had been robbed,” DiTarando wrote in the Facebook post. “We were determined to find a way to make their performance happen but with strict social distancing in place and little knowledge of how to film and edit anything we were at a loss for what to do.”

Instead of giving up, DiTarando decided that the show must virtually go on. She received help from professional editors and actors who volunteered their time to complete the video.

The video, which was posted onto DiTarando’s Facebook account on July 6, has received viral attention on Facebook and Twitter.

“Hamilton” actor Christopher Jackson, who performs as President George Washington in the musical, also saw the video and tweeted a thumbs up in approval.

DiTarando wrote that she is grateful for the volunteers and support her students are receiving because of the video.

“Thank you to all of the people who took time out of their day to give these very special children an experience they will remember forever,” DiTarando wrote in the Facebook post.