About Us

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Who we are

EPIC Players (Empower, Perform, Include, Create), founded on August 25, 2016, is a nonprofit, neuro-diverse theatre company dedicated to creating professional performing arts opportunities and supportive social communities in the arts for Neurodivergent and Disabled artists. Via inclusive mainstage productions, musical cabarets, original showcases, skills-based classes and career resources, we hope to increase critical employment opportunities, pioneer increased inclusion in the arts, and break down social stigmas surrounding neuro-diverse communities.

Meet Our Team

Why we exist

 

Individuals living with developmental disabilities are often underpaid and under-represented in the workplace; the Department of Labor reports that only 32% of eligible working-age individuals with disabilities are employed.

Only 2% of roles in the entertainment industry are written for characters living with a disability. Of those roles, 94% are played by able-bodied or neuro-typical actors. Representation is important; you can’t be what you can’t see.

#changethestats

At EPIC, we are working to change the stats listed above by enabling and supporting this community to participate and be included in the creative process. It is EPIC’s vision to provide an elevated platform on New York City stages for neuro-diverse communities to be both represented and heard.

What we do

 
A black and white image of two young men with their arms around eachother.

Originals

EPIC works with Players to create two original works per year: EPIC Plays devised piece and The EPIC Underground stand-up show.

six actors on stage during a performance of Little Shop of Horrors. a man in glasses with a grey beard holds a large boom box while five actors in silver windbreaders, colored scarves, and sunglasses lean in to listen.

Mainstage

EPIC produces two neuro-diverse mainstage productions per year reaching audiences of over 1600 people in venues all across New York City.

A woman in a dress and a tall man in a tuxedo are smiling on a stage. There is a piano and a projection of the EPIC Players logo behind them.

Cabaret

EPIC produces two, neuro-diverse cabarets per year at venues like Joe’s Pub at The Public and The Clark Theater at Lincoln Center.

a black and white photo of a young woman laughing next to a young man.

Education

EPIC provides its community with over 100 free performing classes per year and partners with schools to bring EPIC into the classroom.

30%

Of EPIC audience members indicated that ours was the first neuro-diverse production they had witnessed; and that they were likely to return or seek out similar performances.

What people are saying

“While EPIC was in my theater, I was able to rebuild my thinking about access and opportunity within the contexts I worked in on a daily basis. I felt like their presence helped me to achieve a greater understanding, not only of the autism community, among others, but also my own neuro-typical community, and how their mission could help my own.”

— Tim C.

“I have such positive experiences at EPIC Players shows that its hard for me to put into words how much I love the events! First, everything is done on a top notch level. The enthusiasm of the actors for their roles is inspiring... I used to look forward to my favorite director's films, but now I look forward to EPIC Players.”

— EPIC Audience Members

“EPIC's Virtual programs are helping me because it gives me structure and many of the programs are fun for me. I am happy to be able to still have them and participate and learn new things. It’s great that we have this technology to allow us to continue having classes.”

— Gideon P.

Hear from our EPIC Players

Click on the videos below to hear from our Players about their experiences with our community and what EPIC means to them.