Gena Sims is an award-winning performer, director, and producer with a background in music, film, theater, dance, and arts education.  A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, she has performed in both regional and Off-Broadway productions, including An Enchanted April at Theatre Row.  Her screen work includes leading roles in independent films and the South Florida PBS-aired series The Voice Inside, which she also wrote, directed, and produced. 

Gena’s passion for storytelling and collaborative creation deepened while homeschooling her sister, who is on the autism spectrum. That experience developed her ability to connect across learning styles and communication modes—skills that now fuel her work with autistic actors, writers, musicians, and motivational speakers. As founder and executive director of the Autism Theater Project, she leads original productions and educational programming recognized by festivals and featured by outlets like PBS NewsHour, NBC Miami, and the Miami Herald. Her projects combine narrative depth with artistic innovation, empowering diverse voices across stage and screen.