Broadway Tour Access Review -
Frozen

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ID: image of the Frozen 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.

Tour Note

Most of my reviews are of Broadway shows & theaters. this is not one of them! This is a review of a national tour (as well as the theater I saw it in)

National tours fit differently in each theater they go to. This means that some lighting may appear differently in different places and the sound may seem louder or quieter in different places.

Hopefully this gives a general idea of what to expect, but it definitely won’t be as precise to your potential experience as my Broadway/Off-Broadway reviews are!

Theater

Providence Performing Arts Center

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the center of the front mezzanine

Bathrooms:

  • no explicitly gender neutral options (and no sign about gender inclusivity)

  • located on the far right of the building on the orchestra level and the right/center of the building on the mezzanine level

Other theater accessibility:

  • there is a flat no-step connection to the street

  • every level of the theater is accessible - the elevator is located in the lobby next to the Lobby Lounge

  • most of the mezzanine rows involve steps to access

  • the theatre offers assistive listening devices as well as CC/AD/and amplification via the GalaPro app

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • when house lights turn off, the side lights around the PPAC stage flicker/flash before going out 

  • the intro moment was loud but I didn’t need earplugs once I got used to it

  • this is a kid-friendly show! This means you may be surrounded by some [age-appropriately] wiggly and potentially noisy kids

  • there are occasional slow moving northern lights projections throughout and cracking noises with moving or twinkly lights for the magic, many of these cues will not be noted here

Act I:

  • Anna jumping on bed - white flash and scream

  • parents on ship - moving water textured lights on the floor and some thunder, small lightning flashes behind clouds on the back wall

  • twinkly candles on after she is pronounced queen that stay for the remainder of the ball

  • quick light change at the end of Love Is An Open Door

  • the candles reappear after that song 

  • “I said enough!” - brief flash, loud crack, smoke - following scene change is fairly loud

  • loud noise when Elsa runs to the wall - then the light moves around the proscenium and up the stage - flash at the end of the song

  • quick white spot on Kristoff/Anna at the end of What Do You Know About Love?

  • smoke comes back for the scene change

  • fast semi-flashy light change end of In Summer

  • Let It Go

    • lots of magic (with light and sound) throughout

    • very sparkly. much sparkle

    • flash after “the past is in the past”

    • flash on the “stand” of “here I stand”

    • quick blackout after the song

Act II:

  • Hygge (overall pretty chill!) 

    • quick light change after the sauna people stand with their leaves to the left of Anna 

    • quick light change when the line of people goes to the edge of the stage

    • sparkly moving bulb lights on curtain at the end 

    • quick lights on at the end 

  • Elsa’s castle is SO SPARKLY and also so is Elsa

    • during this scene the lights reflected to the side walls beyond the stage 

    • lots of moving snow in the projection 

  • “don’t do it!” - flash and crash

  • loud scene change

  • white flash on the audience at the end of the song

  • Fixer Upper

    • quick light change after “you’ll bring out their best”

    • “true true love” - quick light change on “love”

    • a few more quick light changes during dance break

    • quick white on end of song

  • fog returns after Hans & hunters pass through

  • Monster

    • lots of twinkly/sparkly 

    • quick light change at the end of the song

    • CW - Elsa contemplates whether it’s better for everyone if she is dead or alive in this song

  • window during following scene is either reflective or flashing blue? Unclear, it’s not on for long though

  • small light shift after the fireplace gets put out

  • quick light shift after “some people are worth melting for”

  • smoke returns, also falling snow/fog/haze situation

  • flash after Elsa points at them & lots of fast moving projections on the ground

  • blizzard projection (fast moving snow) 

  • sword causes accidental strobe

  • clang and flash when it hits Anna 

  • twinkly lights when she comes back to life