On Oct. 22, Ryan O’Connell will be performing in Goldstein Auditorium, University Union announced in a press release Monday night. The event is sponsored by University Union and the LGBT Resource Center and the Disability Cultural Center and will consist of a standup routine by O’Connell as well as a Q&A with the audience. 

O’Connell is a writer, actor, director, comedian, LGBTQ activist and disability advocate. His most recent work is an adaption from his book, “I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves,” which is a short series on Netflix that was produced with Jim Parsons. The series entitled “Special,” is loosely based on O’Connell’s upbringing. The show was nominated for four Emmy awards earlier this year.

In the show, which is loosely based on his own life, O’Connell plays Ryan Hayes, who has cerebral palsy — which O’Connell actually has—  and is a young gay man who is looking to branch out by starting his first job at a media publication and beginning to date. 

Before the Netflix series, O’Connell was an executive story editor on NBC’s revival of “Will & Grace.” O’Connell’s work on “Will & Grace,” was nominated for a 2018 Golden Globe for Best Television Series. He also wrote for the TV show “Awkward,” which resulted in a character in the show that was based on him. 

As well as working for television, he is the editor of Thought Catalog, and has contributed to publications such as Vice, Buzzfeed and The New York Times.

Tickets for the show go on sale on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Tickets are free for students and can reserve them at the Schine’s online box office.