Broadway Access Review -
Purlie Victorious
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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
Music Box Theatre
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the front right mezzanine
Bathrooms:
no explicitly gender neutral options, though there is a sign that says “Please use the restroom that best fits your gender identity and expression”
located downstairs and between the orchestra and mezzanine with an accessible one on the orchestra level
Other theater accessibility:
the theater’s entrance is step-free
there is no elevator
the ticket counter has covering over the glass so if you need to lipread to understand what they are saying it is really hard! (I’m sure this exists in other theaters, I just noticed it really strongly here)
Click here for more information on the physical accessibility of this theater.
Light/Sound/Scent
General:
the show runs 100 minutes with no intermission
I did not need earplugs for this show
when in Purlie’s house (the first set you see), there is a sound effect of cicadas playing consistently in the background throughout. I eventually tuned it out but it did bother me from a sensory perspective at first
the light through the slats was a little dizzying at first
The Show:
in the first few minutes, they all pose center stage for a photo and there is a semi-slow “camera flash” that’s done with the entire stage’s lights
the whip only cracks once
scene change after “four score…” has 2-3 small light flashes in the back right corner of the stage (like lightning)
the bugs get louder after the following scene change which includes moving candlelight and is semi-dim
the gun is never shot
Content Warnings
racism
beating (in the sense of general ass-whooping)
implied assault/SA
(This show is a comedy so the “heavier” content does not feel heavy for long!)