Alexandria Wailes Wants Deaf Theatre Artists to Get Their Chance to Shine on Broadway

Every Body celebrates inclusivity and the representation of human beings in every shape and form.

Broadway is getting woke. From Hamilton’s political statement about racial diversity and inclusion, Dear Evan Hansen‘s focus on serious mental health issues, or SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical’s political underwire — yes, seriously — audiences often leave the theatre with a new outlook on a topic they’ve never considered before. And yet, one group of people — a group comprised of some 360 million people worldwide — is often severely underrepresented. These are the people of the deaf community. That’s why it’s important when deaf theatre artists like Alexandria Wailes get an opportunity to shine on the Great White Way.

“[It’s] absolutely essential to have deaf representation in the arts and as agents of change,” Wailes told us via email. Wailes is an actor and choreographer who has most recently worked as Director of Artistic Sign Language of this spring’s Broadway revival of Children of a Lesser God, which starred Joshua Jackson and Lauren Ridloff, who has since been nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Sarah. The revival was moving, thought-provoking, and, perhaps most importantly, shone a light on a community that deserves — rather, needs — to be represented.

“We need more theatre-makers, dance-makers, directors, designers, and co-collaborators,” said Wailes. “I think people learn and grow more when granted a different perspective of the same world.”

Children of a Lesser God, a play written by Mark Medoff, originally opened on Broadway in 1980. The show centers on the relationship of two characters: Sarah Norman, a young deaf woman, and James Leeds, a new school teacher who, to Sarah’s distaste, wants to teach Deaf students to read lips and pass for hearing whereas she insists on solely communicating in Sign Language. In 1986, Children of a Lesser God was adapted into a film production that garnered actress Marlee Matlin an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

As Director of Artistic Sign Language, Wailes’ responsibilities were vast.

“For every interaction between characters, I guided the actors and collaborated with Kenny as far as what made the most authentic sense in how they would communicate with each other,” Wailes told us via email. “I worked with all the actors, who use sign language in this piece, [on] what their signs were and how they may sign depending upon their character backstory. In some cases, it is indeed a collaboration, especially for those who already use ASL in their daily life. In other cases, the work is about teaching actors their lines with sign language if they are hearing and their mode of communication is sim-com (simultaneously communicating in spoken English and ASL).”

Alongside Wailes was a team of remarkable professionals coming together to bring this work of art to the stage. Among them: director Kenny Leon and the deaf actor-model Nyle DiMarco, who has won both America’s Next Top Model and Dancing With The Stars, filling the role of producer.

“When I heard that COALG would be on Broadway, I immediately knew I wanted to get involved in some way,” DiMarco said in an interview with Deadline. “It is extremely important to not only have actual deaf actors for deaf characters but also have deaf people involved in all aspects of production. We connected with the creative team and I’m thankful that they felt the value in me offering my experiences as a deaf person and I was brought on to collaborate as a producer.”

Wailes agrees that it’s great to have deaf theatre workers both onstage and behind the scenes. “I think it is so important to have representation on different levels of mounting a show,” she told us. “While the creatives are hunkered down in rehearsals, the producers are out there connecting and drawing attention to the production.”

This is certainly not Wailes’ first time shining a light on the deaf community through theatre. She was a choreographer in the Deaf West revival of Spring Awakening that ran on Broadway from 2014 to 2016 and combined American Sign Language with the show’s impactful storyline.

Wailes intends to keep doing her part to advance deaf representation onstage. “I hope that going forward people are inspired to generate narratives that allow for more collaborations between the deaf and hearing worlds as well as within the community of deaf artists,” she said. “We have some, but need more resources, safe spaces, and continual work of the communal gatekeepers and cultural bridge builders to allow room for playwrights, theatre and dance makers who are deaf.”

(Photos via Bruce Glikas/Getty and Alexandria Wailes)

I have an unpopular opinion — the Millennials Vs. Gen Z debate shouldn't exist. I know it's fun to talk about how different each generation is, but the idea that we're so different or can't get along is confusing.

The debate may initially stem may from the fact everyone seems to lump Millennials into a forever state of twenty-something — á la our Gen Z counterparts — but that's not true, and seemingly only pits us against each other. Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996, while Gen Z covers the period between 1997 and 2012 (via Beresford Research). Both generations are younger than the Gen X and Baby Boomers that precede us, but we're each in our own phases of life, bringing a unique mix of experiences and perspectives to younger adults across the world.

My sister and I are both Millennials, which was shocking to learn given that she was born in 1984 and I was born in 1991. Technically this puts me on the cusp of being a Zillennial which covers the years a smaller 10-year period, according to CNN— making me a Millennial with slightly more Gen Z-coded tendencies compared to my sister. Still, any differences I've noticed aren't enough for there to be such divisive conversations between us. More or less, we feel about the same!

If you want to break it down, of course it's going to be a little harder for someone in their 40s to completely relate to a teen or even someone in their mid-20s — that's a given. But, I still think there's more similarities between Millennials and Gen Z than society has spoon-fed us. If you're still not convinced, here's are five reasons I think the Millennials vs Gen Z debate isn't actually that big of a deal.

Millennials And Gen Z Are Both Living In A Digital Age

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Millennials grew up during a time when the digital age didn't exist, but we watched it unfold and change the way the world communicates. The internet launched in 1993 and connected people to each other in a way no one could've expected (via NPR).

I remember when MySpace, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LTK, Snapchat, and more popular apps launched — literally started from the beginning. Growing during as the digital age became what we know it as today, I can confidently say that Millennials and Gen Z are still finding our footing with all of the technology — and constant connection — at our disposal.

We both watched as social media and the algorithm change the way we think. We saw the rise of content creators and heavy politicized messages filtered to us. We doom scrolled and curated and shared and liked and kept trying to find the balance that would finally feel just right.

We're all in this very online experience together at the end of the day.

Millennials And Gen Z Value Flexibility

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Going from my 20sto my 30s has seriously made me realize the flexibility I crave as a Millennial. It seems like I was born to look at certain parts of traditional ideals and go, "That's not going to work for me." It's even more evident now that I'm older and have found that my approach to my career and family life doesn't completely match what I was taught. And it's not that different for Gen Z either — check it out!

Approach To Careers

Over 80% of both Millennials and Gen Z believe it's important to work somewhere that gives us a sense of purpose. According to Deloitte, both generations also value work/life balance that doesn't require us to pretend that we don't have a life or other obligations outside of our jobs.

As a mom, this was one of the biggest issues I faced because I realized how much society doesn't make room for working parents. The amount of times I heard a random stranger say, "Parents should plan for one person to be at home" as if that solves the problem is ridiculous.

Whether we have families to raise, hobbies to juggle, or anything in between, it's clear that Millennials and Gen Z crave balance in their careers.

Views Of The Nuclear Family

Speaking of motherhood, I like to think Millennials and Gen Z aren't so different when it comes to our perspective of the nuclear family. Studies via Pew Research Center show we're not as judgmental about single-parent homes than prior generations, and that only 44% of Millennials were married in 2019.

This idea that families are supposed to look a certain way in order to be legit is something Millennials and Gen Z continue to raise their eyebrows at — and even scoffed at — but not because we don't value family. We're just less likely to stress ourselves out believing we're failing or behind because we don't have or want the traditional nuclear family model. Both generations approach relationships and family on our own terms.

Millennials And Gen Z Gravitate Towards The Same Pop Culture

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Did you know almost half of Millennials love listening to music in our spare time (via Spotify), while 43% of Gen Z loves to stream it (via EMarketer) as well? It seems like music still makes the world go around.

Besides that, Millennials and Gen Z are still the driving force behind what's considered in or out in pop culture. Gen Z is usually regarded as being tastemakers on TikTok, but reporting from Ad Newsshows that Millennials are "...2.3 times more likely to be the ones fueling this online content engine by posting videos and tagging brands."

Basically, we're both moving the pop culture needle forward, consuming and driving the trends across platforms! So remind me, how different are we again?

Millennials And Gen Z Value Diversity And Inclusivity

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I grew up during a time where certain internal biases were stated as facts and it was always handful of weird pills to swallow. I couldn't understand why I'd hear "Love thy neighnor" in church only to watch some of the same people blatantly treat the LGBTQ+ community in hellish ways. We could talk about what's in the Bible all day long, but I've never been a fan of picking and choosing who's worthy of being treated with love and respect.

It's clear I'm not the only one who rejects those notions, though. First of all, more young adults are identifying as queer than ever. In 2022, 19.7% of Gen Z and 11.2% of Millennials identified as part of the LGBT community compared to 3.3% of Generation X and 2.7% of Baby Boomers (Gallup).

Outside of sexual identity, there's also the racial aspect of how accepting Millennials and Gen Z are. According to reporting from Built In, 48% of Gen Z are racially diverse, and Millennials are 19% more racially diverse than Baby Boomers. This leads me to believe that both generations know that the world doesn't look a singular way — and therefore respect and understand that diversity even more than previous generations.

These shared qualities and values are just another way that Gen Z and Millennials are more similar than they are different at the end of the day. But in the ways we are different — well both generations would know how to celebrate that diversity, now wouldn't they? 😉

Millennials And Gen Z Aren't Fans Of Injustice

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Compared to prior generations, Millennials and Gen Z have found ways to speak out against injustice. Both generations believe that systemic racism is still an issue in society (via Forbes) with 92% of Gen Z willing to be a part of public protests (via Oliver Wyman Forum). Despite the higher number of Gen Z that are actively participating in protests, Millennials have changed their tune.

Social justice organization, Points of Light discovered that 50% more of Millennials believe in civic engagement now that we're living in a post-pandemic era, which isn't hard to believe. We're in the midst of a great political, racial, and social reckoning that's causing more younger people to speak up than before.

A part of me is keeping hope alive that this Millennials vs. Gen Z debate doesn't take away from all of the ways we can align to continue changing outdated ideals and policies. It seems like together, we can create a positive change in the world around us.

I know social media loves to create division about so much, but there's no reason why the Millennials vs. Gen Z debate should be so huge. We can all learn something from each other to help make society and the world better places to live.

Besides, you have to admit — we both have a sense of humor that's totally unmatched. 😉 So here's to Millennials and Gen Z coming together, one shared meme at a time.

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Bubble dresses are officially back in the fashion world for 2025. Once a 1950s staple, the unique bubble hem is definitely divisive among dress lovers right now. Us on the other hand, we’re totally sold on bubble dresses – these 9 styles convinced us they’re so chic. Playful yet polished, these bubble dresses are perfect for making a style statement this spring and summer!

Scroll on to shop the cutest bubble dresses for spring and summer outfits!

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Bubble Hem Mini Dress

Drenched in flattering details – from the drop waist to the straight neckline – this mini bubble dress with removable straps lets you create endless outfit combos while feeling confident AF. The black and white color palette alongside the bold polka dots feels oh-so Parisian, too.

Free People

Damson Madder Becca Bubble Mini Dress

This bubble dress has some bubbly sleeves to match, which only add to the drama of it all! The sleeves themselves are also removable, so you can style it for hotter days. The mixed pattern is downright darling for a femme-leaning look.

Gap

Gap Linen-Blend Mini Bubble Dress

Butter yellow dresses are another must-have style this season, so you're basically hopping on two trends at once with this sleek piece from Gap!

J.Crew

J.Crew Bubble-Hem Mixy Dress

Crafted from a crisp poplin material, this bubble dress is undeniably polished, so it'd be ideal for office days or any work-related events. It also has a subtle drop waist for added flattery!

Anthropologie

Mare Mare Sleeveless Scoop-Neck Bubble-Hem Mini Dress

The easy scoop neck on this dress leans casual, though you could totally dress it up quickly with a structured blazer, a stack of your fave jewelry, and heels. For more casual moments, we'd style this number with some riding boots!

Nordstrom

ASTR The Label Floral Bubble Hem Minidress

Florals are never a bad idea! This mini-length marvel is adorable for any spring occasion.

Madewell

Madewell The Melody Bubble-Hem Smocked Midi Dress

For a longer, higher-coverage option, this gorgeous green dress comes complete with a fitted smocked bodice and a flowy bubble hem skirt for flair.

Free People

Hansen & Gretel Alaska Mini Dress

The pattern on this bubble dress is everything! Full of color, you'll definitely stand out and feel all the summer vibes once you slip it on.

Eloquii

Eloquii Bubble Skirt Midi Dress

A stark white dress like this one wears well with anything. We think this would be the perfect piece for a beachy vacation!

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

You’re sustainable. You use reusable bags for grocery trips and swore off plastic water bottles in favor of saving the earth, but have you ever considered the environmental impact of your period? The tampons or pads that you just used during your last cycle make up one small speck in the nearly 200,000 metric tons of landfill waste derived from period products every year. Yep – it’s an unfathomable number, and it doesn’t even begin to account for the period litter scattered across the world’s beaches *or* the microplastics derived from them (which we have yet to quantify and truly understand their impact).

In a time where our planet really needs it, a lot of us want to practice sustainability, but it’s time to actually mean it. The founders of Sunny Period agree. In response, they developed the Sunny Cup, a first-of-its-kind reusable menstrual cup that inserts like a tampon with the help of a unique applicator.

Cindy Belardo, 26, and Drew Jarvis, 23, might have come up with the Sunny Cup from opposite sides of the country, but both knew they needed to find a solution for traditional menstrual cups that just weren’t meeting their respective needs.

“I had not learned about menstrual cups before, and was so intrigued,” said Belardo. “But, the learning curve was something that was not ideal for me, and I really wanted to make it work. I knew that others would run into the same problem.”

Menstrual cups were downright frustrating to use.

“When I went to try menstrual cups, I was a little bit intimidated, but I was very willing to at least give it a shot. I spent an hour in the bathroom trying to put it in. I was laughing and crying, like “what the hell is this thing?” said Jarvis. “I ultimately realized, there's not really been much innovation with a period cup in years.”

That’s why they’re not only providing better solutions with Sunny, but working toward a more sustainable, more effective, and overall more inclusive approach to periods.

One menstruator will use an average of 9,120 tamponsor pads in their lifetime. More often than not, these single-use products (which are 90% plastic, BTW) end up in landfills, taking anywhere from 500 to 800 years to decompose, though plastic never truly decomposes.

In addition to the raw materials used to make tampons and pads themselves, manufacturing practices suck up energy and water sources, contributing to carbon emissions.

Menstrual cups can be reused for up to a decade with a lot less of an impact on the environment, but a very slim percentage of menstruators are actually using them. The Sunny Cup is reusable for up to a year, replacing an average of 225 tampons that one person can potentially use per year.


“I mean, billions of pads are going into landfills. You're not supposed to flush them, obviously, but people do,” said Jarvis. “After five years of prototyping, research, and development, we finally came up with a design that we feel will help beginner menstrual cup users switch to this really cool, sustainable option that saves you money and saves disposables from going into landfills.”

There’s a bias for tampons and pads because they offer convenience at the tear of a wrapper – but convenience isn't the only factor driving it. Many menstruators simply do not have the luxury of choice when it comes to period products.

This fact became a reality for Belardo in 2018 when she began working with menstruators in India through a research grant. Her team had the opportunity to survey 200 first-time menstrual cup users on their experience with the device.

“One important takeaway was the taboo around periods and the female body. That was not unique to the individuals we surveyed in India – it's here in the US and globally,” said Belardo. “It became very apparent that period poverty is a worldwide issue that needs to be addressed.”

Medical News Today defines period poverty as “the social, economic, political, and cultural barriers to menstrual products, education, and sanitation.” It’s estimated that 500 millionmenstruators around the world lack proper access to a few or all three of these things. Though not exclusively tied to a specific demographic, period poverty is most commonly present in low income, impoverished, and food insecure communities.

“Unfortunately, [period poverty] is everywhere. I think we don't really realize that where there's food insecurity, there’s poverty,” said Jarvis. “That can be in any community. You may not know those people are dealing with those circumstances.”

Period poverty can put a lot of stress on menstruators, depending on their situation. For those without proper access to period products, scarcity can cause physical stress. For those living in poverty, affording period products in the first place can cause financial stress. For those shamed for having a period, the embarrassment can cause emotional stress.

“When you don't have access to period products, a lot of young menstruators will miss school, which is driving a gap in education, and then ultimately leading into a gap in income for people with periods, which is disproportionately women, and is even more challenging for women menstruators of color,” expressed Jarvis. “Of course, that's no place that we should be living in.”

Societal stigmas and myths surrounding menstruation further the divide between menstruators and access to period-related resources. The belief that periods are gross, unnatural, or perverted comes from a lack of education and understanding, according to Belardo.

“We understand that periods are a bodily process that have been punished, stigmatized, and shamed by society, and we committed to educating and working with our community to co-create solutions to unmet needs,” said Belardo. “The only way we are going to see change is if we can shift society's understanding.”

Sunny is combatting period poverty in the states and abroad by simply normalizing periods. In addition to their menstrual cup, they’ve created a graphic novel for young people that aims to educate about periods. They continue to have candid conversations surrounding periods, sexual health, and period poverty through their social media channels. Sunny is also dedicated to donating products and resources to those who need them through Period.org, a non-profit that advocates for menstruators.

In addition to these things, Jarvis and Belardo are ensuring their efforts with Sunny are oriented towards menstruators of all backgrounds in order to serve the community at large.

“It's vital to openly combat the stigma associated with our bodies in order to advocate and sustain our community's mental health. Part of that is being inclusive,” said Belardo. “Truly including everyone in this conversation, cis and trans men, cis and trans women, non-binary folks, menstruators and non-menstruators, lower-income countries and higher-income countries, people of color, et cetera, so that we can normalize our bodies.”

“We've had people get frustrated by that at times. But the reality is, we're a period care company, and we are addressing people with periods and we're not going to exclude anyone from that,” said Jarvis. “We knew that it was going to be political because we wanted to include everybody with a period. We realized that while we are passionate about earth-friendly products, inclusive education, and global impact, we were always going to be more than just a period product.”

Learn more at SunnyPeriod.com. Sign up for our email newsletter to stay in the know about all things health + lifestyle!

Photography by Scott Vo Photography.

Some quotes have been edited for clarity.

The '90s called to let everyone know we're finally getting a sequel to Clueless, but we won't be reliving 97 minutes of nostalgia. Rather, a series is being developed right now and we've got all the details about it! I, for one, am ready to see Cher Horowitz and crew all grown up because the original movie's ending alluded to their bright futures.

Scroll to find out what to expect from the Clueless TV series, plus revisit the scene that made me fall in love with playing dress up!

Is there going to be a Clueless 2?

Yes! Variety announced Peacock is developing the Clueless sequel series yesterday. We can already hear Cher saying "Whatever" to someone who's doing something annoying.

Which cast members will be in Clueless 2?

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As of now, Alicia Silverstone's return as Cher Horowitz is the only cast information that's been publicized (via Variety). We'd love to see Paul Rudd return as Josh and Stacey Dash as Dionne Davenport!

What is Clueless 2 about? 

The plot's details are still TBA (to be announced), but Variety is convinced the Clueless sequel series will pick up after the events of the movie.

Who's producing and writing the script for Clueless 2? 

Writers Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage and Jordan Weiss are hard at work on the Clueless script. Alicia Silverstone is also an executive producer alongside Amy Heckerling, writer and director of the OG film, and producer Robert Lawrence (via Variety).

Knowing the names who made the iconic film what it is makes me feel relieved the series will be the one fans of the cult classic deserve!

My Favorite Clueless Scene

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- YouTube

I was 100% convinced I'd be able to wear computer generated outfits which probably explains my love for the now defunct Polyvore. It was a collage sight that became home for those who loved creating virtual style mood boards and I like to think Cher Horowitz inspired it.

Are you excited about the Clueless TV series?

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Ryan Gosling has already stepped foot in Barbieland and proved his chops as an action star in The Fall Guy, and soon he's taking on outer space. (And no I'm not talking about a Blue Origin space flight). Ryan Gosling is joining the Star Wars universe! His new movie is being directed by Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy and it's going to be one heck of an intergalactic adventure.

Here's everything we know about Ryan Gosling's Star Wars: Starfighter, coming to theaters May 28, 2027.

Is Ryan Gosling going to be in Star Wars?

Yes, Ryan Gosling is going to lead a brand new Star Wars movie called Star Wars: Starfighter.

The movie was announced at the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, and both Ryan and Shawn showed up IRL! The Fall Guy proved he has what it takes to maintain that cool-guy vibe (just like Han Solo honestly), and I hope Starfighter has the same urban sci-fi adventure I love to see in Star Wars.

Where can I watch Star Wars: Starfighter?

Star Wars: Starfighter is coming to theaters May 28, 2027.

The movie's coming just after Avengers: Secret Wars, but it's not the next time Marvel and Star Wars could duke it out in the box office. Avengers: Doomsday is coming to theaters May 1, 2026, ahead of The Mandalorian & Grogu, which premieres May 22, 2026. Yes. That's a lot of Pedro Pascal, thank goodness.

What is the Star Wars Starfighter movie?

Star Wars: Starfighter is a brand new Star Wars movie that's set apart from any of the trilogies we've seen so far (although it looks like it's part of a brand new trilogy!). The movie is a "standalone adventure taking place approximately five years after the events of 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker."

But even though the final movie ended on a peaceful note, Ryan Gosling's character is sure to be in for some kind of crazy adventure. "This is the perfect place to start this journey for us, because it's such an incredible reminder of why we're going to make this movie and who we're going to make this movie for," Ryan said at the Star Wars Celebration (via Entertainment Weekly). "[The] script is just so good. It has such a great story with great and original characters."

"This is a standalone. It's not a prequel, not a sequel. It's a new adventure," Shawn added. "It's set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet."

When is Starfighter filming?


Filming for the movie is scheduled to begin the fall of 2025.

What is a Starfighter?

A starfighter in Star Wars is a small but armed starship used in battle.

Check out The Latest News On Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling's Friendship In 2024!