Broadway Access Review -
Our Town

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ID: image of the Our Town 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

(Ethel Barrymore Theatre)

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

Bathrooms: 

  • Divided into the binary, 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 on 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 on the left orchestra level

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • the show runs 105 minutes without an intermission, but the show itself is broken into 3 acts

  • I did not need earplugs for this show

  • there are lanterns above the audience and on the front of the stage that lightly flicker for the entire show. I rarely noticed them, but I would imagine it would be more noticeable in the front few rows

  • the aisles are used frequently 

  • the show includes scent design that was strong enough to be noticed while wearing a mask, so keep that in mind

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Purlie Victorious, Doubt, and The Hills of California 

  • content advisory for grief and a mention of suicide (Act III)

Act I:

  • house lights sit at half for a bit of the opening, also the sound cue after the piano plays a few notes is a bit startling

  • strong smell of flowers that appears around the choir scene and lasts for the about rest of the act

  • music after “he brought it just the same” gets a little bit loud

Act II:

  • “it’s early morning” - 2 small flashes

  • quick flash after Howie Newsome exits

  • apparently there’s a vanilla cupcake smell during the wedding day section, I personally didn’t notice it

Act III:

  • smell of bacon after Emily returns to her mother’s kitchen that lasts for most of the rest of the act - stage also gets somewhat hazy for this scene

  • there is medium volume music after bows