was born in Houston, TX. At two years old, she was diagnosed with autism. She also had echolalia, sensory integration issues, perseverative behaviors, and fine motor delays. She didn’t start speaking short sentences until she was four years old. At 18 months, however, she could sing entire songs. It was clear from her love of singing and performing that she would be a musical theater performer.

 

After attending the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Ellie moved to NYC and attended Molloy College’s CAP21 Conservatory program. While in school, she auditioned professionally, lived independently, navigated NYC, made friends, and learned to be an adult for the first time on her own. She graduated with honors with a BFA in Theater Arts in 2019. She kept auditioning professionally and stumbled upon a theater company that would change her life.  

 

Ellie joined EPIC Players, a theater company in NYC for people with disabilities. She started as an actor and, within a year, started choreographing. In addition, she went on to become a mentor in the company, and eventually got to teach her own successful neuro-inclusive dance class series.