Broadway Access Review -
English

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ID: image of the English 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

Todd Haimes Theatre

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the back center of the orchestra

Bathrooms:

  • divided into the binary, though each has a sign that says “this restroom may be used by any person regardless of gender identity or expression”

  • located in the penthouse lobby (level 5) and lower lounge (beneath the orchestra) with accessible options on level 5 and the orchestra level

Other theater accessibility:

  • the theater has a step-free entrance to the orchestra, though please note that the last 4 rows of the orchestra are up anywhere from 1 to 3 small steps

  • there is an elevator to each level of the theater

  • they offer hearing devices, captioning, and audio description

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I did not need earplugs for this show

  • there is no intermission

  • the lighting is primarily classroom lighting, which is fluorescent. I sometimes struggled with the contrast of that from far away, but otherwise the light cues are primarily in and out fades. There is also one scene that is entirely orange and slightly dim which may have similar contrast issues.

  • there is a light behind the left window that occasionally points onto house right but never for more than 10-15 seconds and it only happens a few times

  • there is [very] brief smoking in two scenes, only Omid’s smoking has actual smoke

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of The Counter, The Roommate, and Prayer for the French Republic

Show:

  • there medium volume music playing pre-show that is fairly bass heavy (you don’t feel it, just the frequencies are low). I might recommend earplugs for this, though it no longer bothered me by 10 min to show time

  • the music in the boombox is loud initially but gets turned down quickly - it becomes louder again during the scene change

  • after the Coke scene, the back left light that points onto the right orchestra appears for ~10-15 sec

  • the second music is also a little loud in contrast, but not as loud as the initial use of the boombox - also becomes louder in the scene change 

  • light on audience reappears after Marjan exits with her purse

  • there is medium volume music playing during bows and while you’re exiting the theater