Our society has made great strides toward giving much-needed representation to specific communities that have been overlooked through the years. Persons with disability are among the most underrepresented people throughout mainstream media. Fortunately, actor, bodybuilder, and disability advocate Mike Infante is turning the tide and spreading an inspirational message for all: “Your disability is your superpower.”
As a cerebral palsy warrior himself, Mike Infante has grown his platform to inspire people from all walks of life. “Regardless of disability or even without disability, you can achieve anything you want,” said Mike Infante. This time around, the passionate actor is sharing his many talents with the world through a stage performance in Resurrection Theater Company’s “Untold Stories.”
Making his return back on stage in Sacramento, California, Mike Infante stars as Austin in “The Other Room” directed by Lee Williams. Joining him on the cast is Destiny Syftestad as Lily, Stephen Watson as Donovan, Andre Ramey as Talbott, Katie Ahnberg as Christian, Gillian Rains as Nick and Xavi Bustos as Tyler.
“The Other Room” was written by Ariadne Blayde and was initially released in Washington, D.C., in 2008. Even as we reach the end of 2022, the show is still as relevant as ever. The story follows a young boy named Austin, a brilliant teenage astronomer with autism. Meanwhile, his popular classmate Lily has a keen interest in astronomy.
When a chance encounter after school leads to a growing connection between the two, Austin’s imagination, intelligence, and constant struggles to connect with the world around him are revealed in the form of four characters representing his inner life. Equally funny and heartbreaking, “The Other Room” offers a captivating and sensitive glimpse into a unique and misunderstood mind of a child on the spectrum.
Mike Infante has been incredibly honored for the opportunity to play a character that hits close to home. As a renowned disability advocate in his community, he has shown a lot of praise for “The Other Room” for shining a light on the representation of disabilities and the many challenges that come with it.
“This show, in particular, means a lot to me because it talks about disability culture, and we see that with the character of Austin trying to fit in the most. Although Austin does have autism, I relate to him in the fact that being a person with a disability, the stigma of disabilities is that we’re outcasts, but in truth, we hold our own,” explained Mike Infante. “In the show, we talk about bullying, isolation and wanting to feel loved. And those are the key components to anything in life, really. We all desire to feel loved. I love this show, and it really holds a special place in my heart,” he added.
As a 21-year-old actor and bodybuilder with cerebral palsy, Mike Infante has never let anything stop him from pursuing his passions. He admits that he may have challenges with certain things, but he guarantees that he will always put 110% into anything he does. Mike Infante is always hungry and is always looking towards the future, planning different goals for himself.
With everything he does, Mike Infante maintains his excitement and passion, knowing that somewhere he is making a difference and inspiring other children with disabilities that anything is possible and their disability is never a hindrance to achieving their dreams. “Playing the role of Austin has been a dream come true for me. My hope is that in the next coming years, we will see disability representation take flight and soar.”
