Broadway Access Review -
Aladdin

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ID: image of the Aladdin Playbill in front of the stage with the text "Access Review" on top

 

General Note

This is a review of the accessibility of the theater, of the lighting/sound/scent design of the show, and a list of content warnings as a way to prep folks with various needs before they go see it. 

This is not meant to scare anyone away from seeing the show. Most productions have about the same amount of content warnings and sensory warnings to go along with it, they’re just rarely explicitly written down. 

For some people, knowing these things ahead of time makes it easier to enjoy the show because they know what to expect. And, often, makes those people more likely to see it in the first place. I hope that it’s helpful! 

I am also happy to clarify any specifics, just send me a message or an email and I will respond when I can.

Theater

New Amsterdam Theatre

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the far left middle orchestra (K25)

Bathrooms:

  • no explicitly gender neutral bathrooms

  • located in the back below the orchestra (men’s on the house right and women’s on the house left) with an accessible restroom on the orchestra level on the women’s side. The mezzanine and balcony levels also have restrooms & an accessible restroom

Other theater accessibility:

  • the theater has a step-free entrance to the orchestra

  • there is an elevator to each level of the theater

  • they offer sound augmentation headsets, T-Coil loops, audio description, I-Caption devices, and translation options

Click here for more information on the physical accessibility of this theater.

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I would recommend earplugs/ear defenders

  • a lot of tourists new to theater and a lot of littles come see this show so expect that the audience may be a little more restless/wiggly than you may be used to

  • this isn’t an access thing, but the New Amsterdam is where the Ziegfeld Follies used to perform and there are tons of little museum exhibits with artifacts around the theater so make time to check them out!

  • there is lots of accidental strobe in this show, primarily from tons of sparkly costumes, all the swords being real metal, and the lamp

Act I:

  • Entr’acte - first note is loud, be warned. The lights on the very patterned curtain change colors during the song and the pink and blue are particularly a bit harsh

  • Arabian Nights - small flash/quick light pulse after the men do the backflips in a line

  • “try not to miss me too much!” - quick light shift that felt a bit flashy

  • after These Palace Walls there is a lot of unscented onstage fog (lit green) that goes into the pit, not the audience

  • “presides!” - thunder and ~5 sec lightning flashes

  • “show us this diamond in the rough” - again

  • “diamond in the rough” - same, about ~3 sec

  • “of Agrabah!” - same, about ~3 sec

  • “cave of wonders” “we’ve waited long enough” - low rumble and then big loud voice from the cave

  • this cave is SO deeply glittery and shiny gold and it reflects off of everything - also it has moving lights sort of like water rippling

  • when Aladdin touches the necklace there is a giant loud crash, followed by ~15-20 seconds of white/red flashing lights (effectively a strobe) with other crashing and loud noises

  • “I think it says something” - crash and small smoke

  • flashing lights on set piece while Genie ascends

  • “possibilities!” *snap* - about 2 sec of fire with noise

  • Friend Like Me

    • the dishes are very shiny 

    • third “never had a friend like” - flashing light change on the back wall

    • “Dancing With The Scimitars” - disco ball that shines all over the audience for about 45 seconds

    • quick light changes between each Disney medley song

    • “ya can now!” - four shots of fire

    • bulbs alternate around the stage during the kickline down the stairs

    • after this there is basically one big fire flash after every word the Genie sings as well as flashing downlights through the end of the song

  • “well watch this” *snap* - fire on each side of him and then small flash by the mouth of the cave

Act II:

  • same entr’acte situation as Act I

  • streamer cannons at the end of Prince Ali 

  • A Whole New World - stage is dark with twinkle lights that speed up and then all move really quickly toward the center - definitely caused some eye strain during the second half of the song

  • High Adventure - “to the palace!” - white downstrobe for 20-25 seconds

  • “it’s genie time” - little smoke/dog and lightly flashing lights on the wall of the cell

  • when Aladdin is freed, there is a small flashing light on that wall behind each chain

  • full wall flashes when the other three are freed

  • *rubs lamp* - flashing lights on the back right wall

  • “you are now Sultan of Agrabah” - thunder, flashing, and smoke for ~10 seconds 

  • “you will all bow to me” - thunder and flashing ~5 sec

  • “and heaven help us all!” - flashing and thunder for 10-15 seconds with a big boom at the end

  • when the two of them are lifted during the wedding, the floor lights move like water rippling for about 5 seconds 

  • “happy ending!” - small flashing white lights (on the hung lights in the back right corner) as the carpet exits

  • when the Genie bowed there was light motion/a pulse on his spotlight, unclear if that was an accident or actually part of the design