Off-Broadway Access Review -
The Connector
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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
MCC Theater Space - Newman Mills Theater
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats on the far right of the fourth row
Bathrooms:
main restrooms located to the slight left of the entrance
no explicitly gender neutral options, however they have a sign that says “MCC Theater supports gender inclusivity and non-binary gender expression. Although New York State law currently requires gendered signage on multi-user restrooms like ours, we welcome you to use whichever restroom aligns with your identity. Single-occupancy restrooms are located on the Mezzanine level, accessible via elevator and the main staircase.”
Other theater accessibility:
fully ADA accessible, with automatic door buttons, ramps, and elevator access to each floor
they offer assistive listening devices (with headphones provided) and large print programs
Click here for more information on the physical accessibility of this theater.
Light/Sound/Scent
General:
the show runs 1 hour 45 minutes with no intermission
I began the show without earplugs but ended up putting them in because the orchestra was kind of loud, though the words in comparison were not loud so I then had a hard time understanding what was going on and kept them halfway in my ears
content warning since there’s only one general one - lots of sexism
the floor is black and shiny so it may be super reflective from the mezzanine. It is also divided into cubes that have LEDs around them which are used throughout
the back wall is a grid of newspapers that operate as the home for the projections throughout the show. During the pre-show, there is white text scrolling across it
the side lights (there are 2 large ones on each side) somewhat point at the audience
for an overall rating, this is one of those shows where I took a lot of notes of small cues but there were only maybe 2 or 3 things on here I actually found somewhat straining for me
Show:
Opening number -
white quickly moves across back wall at first drum
numbers on the back wall flash on/between numbers at the end of Conrad’s singing bit
when Robin goes to her desk, the lights move across the back wall
lights on quickly at the end of the song
“dreams come true” - back wall lights up across the wall
last “I’m watching you” - everything shifts quickly orange and then quickly blue
Success (the Scrabble song) -
Scrabble board quickly lights up on the back wall when Ethan slams it on the table
during the choruses, the floor pulses and moves all colors of the rainbow and it moves over the wall as well. The first chorus starts when Waldo puts his foot up on the right chair - none of this felt strobey to me
after the line “jarrah is a [not sure about this word]”, everything flashes multicolored for ~5 sec (strobey)
end of The Voice of My Generation - quick lights on/off
in the next scene the back wall is lit in a very speckly manner, also CW there is a slightly intoxicated character
Wind In My Sails -
“3am” - back wall text comes on
after the next line, the projection on the back wall quickly expands and the floor is horizontally moving teal stripes
after “to whom it may concern”, the stripes turn blue and the text expands/pulses on the back wall
pulse gets stronger when Willis is center stage and everyone’s arms go on his shoulder
pulsing returns after the next dialogue break
“kid in the video” - loud siren for ~3 seconds
pulsing teal at the end and then quick lights off
quick white floor LEDs on after Now What
Proof (Muriel’s song) - CW mention of self harm after the dialogue between Ethan and Florencia; also her file causes some accidental strobe
back wall text appears after the phone call
Western Wall -
moving blue speckles on the floor that often change colors, it’s a slow fade between each color
during the chorus, orange lights are pointed at the audience from behind the back wall
the projection on the back wall moves occasionally, kind of in the style of a Google Maps zoom in, I couldn’t keep track of all of them but it’s not fast
the number contains a lot of stomping which shakes the stage and slightly the seats
after “God reached out to me”, text appears on the back wall and the orange lights come on
“I will have to be God” - everything turns white and it comes on quickly and in motion
the next scene is very very bright white for a bit, also brief yelling
“The Connector, 1997” - crash sound and blackout