Broadway Access Review -
How to Dance in Ohio

Find my other reviews & learn about my reviews here

I also wrote a review for this show that you can read here
and made a full-length video deep dive into the show with historical context that you can watch 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

Belasco Theatre

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats on the left aisle of the 5th row of the orchestra

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, in the mezz, and balcony, 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:

    • two cool down/sensory spaces (they’re labeled on the map in the playbill - one is in the basement and one is on the mezzanine level

    • a social story of the parts of the theater with photos on their website (this is not up yet, will update on here when it is!)

    • sensory kits to borrow (with sunglasses, headphones, an AAC card, and 3 fidget toys)

    • adaptable sound accessible headphones (you can change the volume of the show audio in them)

    • closed captioning, assistive listening, loop receivers, and audio description devices

    • they also sell fidget spinners at the merch stand (they are yellow and I like mine a lot)

Click here for more information on the physical accessibility of this theater.
Click here for the show’s resource page and here for their sensory guide.

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I did not need earplugs/ear defenders for this show

  • lighting accessibility levels for this show are pretty similar to Shucked, Hadestown, and Wicked (not entirely accessible, but mostly chill)

  • some things in Remy’s room are sparkly and cause occasional accidental strobe

  • the chairs also sometimes cause accidental strobe

  • they have their own breakdown of various sensory things to expect on their website. I have some overlap with theirs but some of my own notes as well - I highly recommend reading both!

Act I:

  • the pre-show is the stage with the bulb light letters and blue downlights that point very far upstage (almost onto the audience but not really noticeable)

  • opening number - two quick lights, both after/during lines from Tommy

  • the magazine in the office caused occasional strobe

  • “Your folding has improved. Fact.” - quick downlight on after subsequent entrance

  • How to Dance in Ohio - quick light switch after the ?first time that line is said, also at one point a scoreboard-like thing comes down with bulb lights counting down until the dance

  • quick light switch (bright to dark) when Tommy walks forward

  • Unlikely Animals - backlights are very purple and slowly transition to blue - quick color switch after “a zoo”

  • “but also butterflies” - quick light shift

  • “stop the clock” - white downlights click on and off with each tick

  • “my car is just over there” - quick light change

  • in Macy’s, the back wall is a sequin curtain that causes accidental strobes a lot, also there are two small disco balls and sparkly dresses

  • Macy’s disappears for Marideth interlude but it returns

  • circuit monologue - lights move through the letters and the downlights also move a bit

  • Waves and Wires - lights in the letters move more quickly when Drew is center stage, followed by a visual crescendo of faster movement/flashing and then pulsing white downlights

Act II:

  • “I’ll drift to you” and Marideth walks off the turntable - quick white downlight on her

    first beat after the bed enters is a quick lighting change

  • So Much In Common -

    • quick downlight when Remy & Tommy enter

    • “strike” - quick lighting color switch

    • on/off white downlight when the turntable spins

    • Marideth’s macbook causes some accidental strobe

    • quick white light on last beat

  • “a jerk” - quick light shift

  • the car’s steering wheel and the road signs cause some accidental strobe

  • “from Drew” - quick white downlight on Drew

  • after Reincarnation - “01” on the board pulses for 2-3 seconds

  • shiny mylar streamers behind the actors during the nightclub scene

  • Nothing At All - lots of quick lighting changes and the actors use phone flashlights while on the turntable that sometimes reflect into the audience - slow flashing/changing downlights later in the number

  • when Amigo is on stage at the club waiting for the dance, there are quick white downlights on each parent when they speak

  • quick white on at the end of Building Momentum

  • the thing that comes out of the giant box at center stage is VERY SHINY - think disco ball but less consistent

  • at the dance there is a full back wall (and side wings) of shiny mylar curtain that causes a rippling effect/accidental strobe; many sparkly outfits

  • quick lighting switch after bows

Content Warnings

  • mentions of grief

  • ableism

  • some depictions of meltdowns/autistic overwhelm

For folks with tic disorders - explicit stimming can sometimes be a tic trigger (I was fine, but just a heads up!)

For autistic folks - a common phenomenon many autistic people experience when consuming autistic media representation is that it in the moment it makes us seem “more autistic” - we get more stimmy, more likely to overload, more aware of sensory issues, and generally have a harder time masking. This is likely because we get extra involved in the story and because, in seeing others unmask, we feel safer to unmask as well. It often makes me realize how much I naturally mask and how exhausting that is and I lose the desire to put the energy into it. This may happen to you when you see this show and that is okay! And normal! Absolutely no shame in being more you.