Musical Differently Abled to Tour in 2028

Creator Deonte Bolden is fundraising to bring his inclusive musical to more stages by 2028.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Children’s Theater

Bold vector editorial illustration featuring theatrical masks and child tap shoes, representing the inclusive spirit of a theater production. — Creator Deonte Bolden is seeking funding for a 2028 tour of his inclusive musical, 'Differently Abled,' which features performers with disabilities. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe theatrical productions are an effective way to teach children about disability acceptance?

Deonte Bolden plans to launch a mini tour for his musical, Differently Abled, in 2028. The production, which premiered in 2024, features a cast and crew including individuals with disabilities.

Why it matters

Bolden aims to increase awareness regarding the treatment and perception of disability among children through his inclusive storytelling. The production incorporates feedback from the special needs community to ensure authentic representation.

The production holds an initial fundraising goal of $75,000 for the 2028 tour. This follows the 2024 premiere of the musical adaptation at The Art Place.

The players

Deonte Bolden

He is the Atlanta-based creator of the book and musical Differently Abled who focuses on disability advocacy.

Isaac Jmusic

He is a musician hired by Bolden to compose the original songs for the stage production.

The details

The musical adaptation is based on Bolden's 2021 children's book of the same name and features a central character inspired by his brother, who lived with muscular dystrophy. Bolden has partnered with musician Isaac Jmusic to compose the show's songs.

2006: Jaquan Bolden passed away.
2021: Deonte Bolden published the children's book.
2024: The musical adaptation premiered.
2028: The proposed tour for the musical.

Industry Dynamics

This production aligns with the growing industry trend of prioritizing neurodiverse representation within children's performing arts. It reflects a shift toward authentic casting and storytelling that moves beyond traditional tropes to better serve audiences with disabilities.

The potential 2028 tour aims to expand access to this inclusive performance, which features both a cast and crew of individuals with disabilities. Local families can anticipate future announcements regarding potential tour stops and ticketing availability.

The takeaway

Inclusive productions like Differently Abled show how personal experiences can be transformed into educational tools for younger audiences. Supporting such projects helps ensure that diverse perspectives remain a staple of modern children's storytelling.