Theatre Access Review -
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
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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
Radio City Musical Hall
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the far back right orchestra
Bathrooms:
divided into the binary and located in each mezzanine and below the orchestra, as are the accessible options. Most floors also have a bar and merch, and the upper or lower floors tend to be quieter
Other theater accessibility:
the theater has a step-free entrance to the orchestra on the box office lobby side, and there is an elevator to each level
the theatre offers KultureCity sensory toolkits available to rent for free at the guest services desk, as well as assistive listening devices and CC options
the venue is full of attendants who can answer all your questions, and there is a general map as to where things are once you enter
Click here for more information on the physical accessibility of this theater.
The Show
General:
I did not need earplugs for this show
the show runs 90 minutes without an intermission
since this show is a common tourist event and it seats nearly 6,000 people, you can expect lots of people who might not know where to go and also may have never seen a show before
the show has many projections that go all the way up the side walls, but I rarely found that to be an issue
most cues I mention in this review last around 5 sec
there is the occasional quick on light throughout the show, I don’t note those here
any moving projections I note here are ones that move perspective to give a traveling effect in a way that may be slightly dizzying unless specified
aisles are occasionally used
there are lights at the top of the stage that point down onto the top of the audience which very occasionally cause issues but it’s rare
I found the overall sensory accessibility to be fairly tame and most of the straining pieces were over quickly
The Show:
organists come out ~8 min before curtain and play very quiet music that slowly gets to maybe a medium volume
Reindeer - moving projection when reindeer walk forward, repeats after the antlers blink
Toy Soldiers - the lighting is very white for this, so the contrast can sometimes be difficult - some of the light shifts are quick
~10 sec of moving down lights near the end
audio gets louder as they fall
big light on, moving down lights over audience, ~5-10 sec of flashing down lights on orchestra
Bus - moving projection after ensemble exits
single white flash when the bus gets around the back of the Rockefeller tree
single on/off lights during the Linus & Lucy bit
moving projections return when the bus returns
strong contrast with the sparkly dresses
on/off flashing when they go in a circle + moving bulb and neon lights ~5-7 sec, neons last ~10-12
~5-7 sec of loud flashy fireworks when ensemble goes down to the stage
Santas - after Santas head up to the stage, lots of on/off down lights and the occasional single flash, but not super motion-heavy
moving bulb lights after curtain up and some on/offs toward the audience
final ~3 seconds are quite flashy
Santa’s helper dance has some fading/alternating lights
on the way to the North Pole there are 3 flash fireworks when the wheel comes out
this wheel spins and has alternating lights on it, and there are bulb lights on the projection behind that – this happens on and off throughout
~15 sec of white downlight strobes (at ~half contrast) after “it’s about teamwork!”
this entire song is fairly flashy and spinny
streamer cannon after “36! Let’s tell Santa!”
Mrs. Claus song - occasional pulse
Frost Fairies - brief flashy moment and moving projection
snow over audience
loud noise for a reveal at the end of the ensemble’s on stage “fa la la”s
Finale - projections on the walls have bulb lights that occasionally move/on off in a way that might be straining, also there are lots of sparkles
moving down lights on the kick line
brief moving down lights on audience after bows