Broadway Access Review -
Illinoise

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ID: image of the Illinoise 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.

Also please note that I make these while seeing a show for the first time, so I may miss some cues or be slightly off as to their placement/cue line!

Theater

(St. James Theatre)

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

Bathrooms: 

  • divided into the binary, though there is a sign that says “Gender diversity is welcome here. Please use the restroom that best fits your gender identity or expression.”

  • located below the orchestra and on the mezz/balcony levels with an accessible one on the orch level (please note that the mezzanine bathroom has steps in it)

Other theater accessibility:

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

  • there is no elevator

  • they offer audio induction neck loops and infrared headsets at the access booth in the lobby

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • the show runs 90 minutes with no intermission

  • I sometimes wished I’d had my earplugs on me

  • the lights sometimes reflect off of the drum shield

  • the sensory profile of this show is very similar to that of Hadestown and semi-similar to The Lion King. 

  • this is a dance piece without any non-music text, which means it is really difficult to tell character names or specify lighting cues! So here’s generally what lighting to expect throughout the piece:

    • dancing holding glowing orbs, I didn’t find this movement super straining 

    • dancing holding flashlights, sometimes pointed at the audience. This was straining/flashy at times (they mostly shine on the orchestra, but it’s still a lot from the mezz)

    • back wall and side lights that sometimes do a single on/off on beat. The only time it ever moved fast enough to feel strobey was during Chicago (the “all things go” song) 

    • back wall white lights (on far right or far left, angled) that occasionally wash over the audience at an angle (usually L)

    • yellow concert lights at audience which don’t ever get very bright and really only appear during Chicago

  • A lot of the motifs return so lighting is fairly predictable!

Pre-Show: there is medium volume music playing

The Show:

  • moving bulb lights and then a crescendo into a quick light shift

  • the first section is people telling stories around a campfire made of flashlights that can be very bright in contrast to the rest of everything - it will appear throughout the show 

  • quick lighting shifts after the tap dancing guy in the suit comes out (during orange tank top person’s dance), also the back light washes over the left audience 

  • black tank top person’s song is very green - nothing super straining happens, it’s just. Very Green.

  • following song involves a flashlight pointed at the audience a few times

  • following song involves quick lighting shifts and singular flashes, particularly one white one after he takes off the blue shirt 

  • Chicago - motif with flashlights pointed at audience to make car headlights - this song has the most flashing/lighting cues of the whole show but it’s not super straining - also the moving light washes over the right audience  

  • light pointed at audience when door opens

  • flashlights return for a bit

  • suddenly gets really loud during The Predatory Wasp… as it’s visualizing a panic attack

  • white light mixed with haze fills the top half of the stage for the following song - there’s enough contrast as to make it not straining - ends after spiky hair follows the person in black off

  • replication of the opening light/sound sequence 

  • handful of quick lighting changes during the clapping section, then a quick light change to be blue and hazy, followed by a slow white twinkly light wash over the left audience

Content Warnings

  • suicide/suicidal ideation

  • grief/mental health issues

  • visualization of a panic attack

  • cancer & some related medical imagery

  • one of the campfire stories briefly mentions alcoholism and murder