Broadway Access Review -
Harmony

Find my other reviews & learn about my reviews here

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

Ethel Barrymore Theatre

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

Bathrooms:

no explicitly gender neutral bathrooms, though there is a sign saying “Please use the restroom that best fits your gender identity and expression”
located below the orchestra with an accessible one in the orchestra level

Other theater accessibility:

the theater has a step-free entrance to the orchestra
there is no elevator
they offer closed captioning, assistive listening, and audio description access options on the orchestra level

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

the entire set is mirrors/reflective surfaces - the floor, the walls, and the wings. This causes a lot of accidental strobes and odd/unpredictable light refraction
various aisles get used at least 6 different times by actors during the show
I did feel the need to use earplugs for the show

Act I:

when the curtain drops, the bulbs around the stage and on the back wall turn on
Rabbi’s opening - backlights are yellow and then blue
after Rabbi’s “harmony” and movement the bulb lights come on
later followed by moving projections & camera flash
“a miracle” - 5 sec of flashing blue/white downlights
- the scene changes here are all marked by moving downlights (different directions each time), followed by some quick lighting changes
Our Time - when Mary & Young Rabbi exit there are lots of red lights. Ruth holds a flame at the end of the song (for maybe 10-15 seconds)
“at your service” - footlight bulbs turn on and alternate on/off
Your Son Is Becoming A Singer -
- “what the hell” - bulbs around the stage alternate
- “back after today” - bulbs flash a lot from here to the end of the song
- the footlight bulbs flash during the scene change
tailor scene - red downlight reflects on the right of the stage for the entire scene
Barbarina dressing room exit - stage bulbs turn on for the song, also the platters are shiny
end of How Can I Serve You, Madame? - moving lights around the stage into the scene change
Chopin/Ruth piano scene - white downlight reflects on the right of the stage for the entire scene
end of wedding - someone comes up from the left audience aisle - crash sound followed by loud crashes, yelling, & white flashing for 5-10 seconds
loud plane noise when the guy in red starts yelling & bulbs flash on and off throughout
“just harmony” - camera flash
dim white strobe and loud whistle when they descend into the stage floor

Act II:

when they come up through the floor there are flashing lights (blue and white, later in the song they are all colors) and lots of sparkles - there are flashing lights throughout the song, with it getting the most colorful and flashy after the drum break
“let’s give ‘em ambassadors” - blinking yellow lights
Come to the Fatherland - some red/blue bulbs kind of move (they’re on the side but reflect in the mirrors)
- occasional alternating/moving lights throughout
“we’ll come to you” - small spotlight moves around, pointed at the audience
“Heil…” - loud train noise & chugging noises with flashlight on the audience and flashing white downlights
In This World (the movie set) - yellow backlights pointed at the audience that aren’t super bright & projections that kind of flicker on and flicker off
“posted on the door” - loud blackout
“please no more” - blackout, loud train sounds & moving projections (like on a train)
“because the Germans” - moving down white LEDs, loud train noises, repeat of moving projections
when Rabbi closes the record player it can shine lights back on the audience
after Rabbi joins the line of singers in Stars in the Night, speckly lights descend (they don’t move or flash or change at all, they just exist!)

Content Warnings

This kinda contains spoilers! Be warned!