Broadway Access Review -
Smash

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ID: image of the Smash 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

(Imperial Theatre)

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

Bathrooms:

  • divided into the binary, though there is a sign that says “Please use the restroom that best fits your gender identity and expression”

  • located above the orchestra, with the women’s on the left and the men’s on the right. The accessible restroom is on the right of the hallway where you go left to enter the theater. There are also restrooms on the orchestra level by the bar.

Other theater accessibility:

  • the entrance to the theatre is step-free, as is the orchestra. The mezzanine is up two flights of stairs and there is no elevator

  • they offer closed captioning, assistive listening, loop receivers, and audio description devices

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I did not need earplugs for this show

  • there’s a scene changed cue projection on the back wall of the lights of Times Square sort of flashing that happens between many scenes. It’s typically low enough contrast that it doesn’t feel flashy, but this may feel different from the orchestra 

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is very similar to that of All In, Spamalot, and Gypsy

Act I:

  • Opening - (this is the flashiest number of the show) some alternating bulb lights, some smoke on the floor that spills into the front orchestra, and there are white lights on the back left floor of the stage that move around the theater ceiling 

    • ~15 sec of white camera flashes when Marilyn walks down the line

    • slow moving bright white light over audience when Marilyn gets on the box, followed by a yellow one

    • the following dance break has a lot of red and yellow pulses

  • 20th Century Fox Mambo - Times Square flashing appears with higher contrast after Marilyn puts the frame over her face ~7 sec; reappears after she walks off for ice and after “5678 Action”

  • lots of sparkles after Marilyn takes off her coat at the sitzprobe that continue through the rest of the song

  • CW for vomiting after Karen eats the cupcake, lasts ~30 seconds (ends after the garbage can is pushed off)

  • Let Me Be Your Star - water-esque shimmery flickering from the back wall ~10 sec with a moving blue light over the audience at the end and a flash to blackout

Act II:

  • Entr’acte/Let’s Be Bad - moving blue backlight, followed by purple/red moving over the audience until the curtain goes up ~20 sec

    • quiet gunshots (more like drums) when she grabs the guns, sparkly outfits, and lots of light pulses

  • USO song - flashing and alternating lights with LED arches around the stage for ~15 sec; reappears for another ~20 later in the song and a big flash on the final note

  • significant floor smoke after “places for the finale”

  • quick light shift when the bed comes out

  • alternating bulb lights and moving white spots as the bar breaks away with ~5-7 sec of white camera flashes after “flash” 

  • moving spotlights over the audience before bows and significant camera flashing cues for all of the individual bows

Content Advisory

  • jokes about alcoholism/frequent drinking

  • drug use (benzos)

  • vomiting (specific location noted in the Light/Sound section)