Ryan Duda
In 2016, Dionne O'Dell, Kathryn Stahl, Evan Phillips, and I began devising an original musical written specifically for children and young adults on the autism spectrum. Farm! A Musical Experience, the first university-produced musical of its kind, premiered on April 21st, 2017 at Michigan State University. Farm! launched a tour to Michigan schools in 2018-19 and was hosted by Wharton Center for Performing Arts. In 2019, we reunited as Sense-Ability Ensemble and collaborated with architects from the University of Michigan to create another original sensory-exploratory musical, POND, utilizing the medium of interactive fabric.
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My teaching experience, in addition to serving as faculty at Michigan State, includes OpenSpot Theatre, an organization specializing in performing arts classes for individuals with intellectual disabilities; and Wharton Center for Performing Arts, developing curriculum for and administering their outreach programs. Other credits in arts education: Playhouse on the Square, Marquis Theatre, Lansing Public Schools, Holt Public Schools, Dewitt Public Schools, and Northville Public Schools. More info can be found on my Educator page.
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Upcoming Projects
Miracle (Working Title) - Co-Lyricist/Co-Librettist with Christian Boyd
Sense-Ability Ensemble
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Through living your passion, you inspire others to live theirs.
I am an artist, administrator and educator dedicated to making the arts accessible to all. As an actor, I have performed professionally on stages across the country, winning the Ostrander Award for Best Actor in a Drama in 2019. I also serve as an Associate Artist for Sense-Ability Ensemble, a theatre company that creates original, sensory-exploratory, interactive musicals for young audiences with autism. Our most recent project, Soda Pop Shop, an experimental virtual experience with Michigan State University students, is available for booking.
In the wake of the pandemic, I pursued a Master's degree in Arts & Cultural Management, to gain the skills to lead arts organizations to a more community-engaged, equitable future. I currently serve on Michigan State University's faculty where I practice Conscious Leadership as an educator.
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At Michigan State University, I specialized in creating accessible theatrical works, collaborating with artists of all neuro and physical abilities to push the boundaries of theatre. Upon graduation, I was awarded the College of Arts and Letters' Community Partner Award and the Alumni Award for Undergraduate Excellence.