Theatre Access Review -
Radio City Christmas Spectacular

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ID: image of the outside of Radio City Music Hall at Christmas time 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.

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