Broadway Access Review -
The Outsiders

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ID: image of The Outsiders 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

(Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre)

All comments on the accessibility of lighting/sound are in reference to seats in the center back mezzanine

Bathrooms: 

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

  • located below the orchestra (women on the right side of the house, men on the left) - please note that there are 2 steps up in the restroom itself. There is an accessible one on the orchestra level

Other theater accessibility:

  • the theater’s entrance is step-free, as is the entire orchestra

  • there is no elevator

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

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I did not need earplugs for this show

  • the floor of the stage is made of ?rubber stones? something in that category. They probably get kicked into the front row by accident at some points

  • the majority of potentially straining light cues are either from lightly moving projections over the back wall, flashlights, or a single white vertical LED strip on the right of the stage that is angled toward the audience

  • they smoke onstage, close audience may be able to smell it

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to Water for Elephants and Illinoise

Pre-Show: there is medium volume music playing. The song directly before curtain is a bit louder and has slight vibratey bass but it’s not too much

Act I:

  • Tulsa ‘67 - lightly flashy projections, ~3 single white flashes from the LED strip after the scrim goes up, and slight moving lights on the back wall. Also Ponyboy briefly goes into the left audience

  • single flash, followed by a high-pitched ringing that turns into a loud train sound followed by a white flash (~10 sec)

  • Great Expectations - flashlight may point at orchestra

  • Friday at the Drive-in - 

    • flickering projection over the stage for the entire scene

    • the Socs’ car causes some accidental strobe

    • also the headlights on while it moves may be flashy

  • ~3-5 sec flashing (lightly strobey) after Ponyboy gets hit, then moving lights and train noise

  • high pitched ringing, then simulation of near drowning for ~30 sec - it’s divided into 3 sections where there’s bass vibration for a bit and then off for a bit and then on/off etc, followed by a white flash (also blood warning!)

  • another white flash, followed by a quick siren

  • Run Run Brother -

    • fast moving projections on ground like a train, then more lightly moving projections

    • flashlights on audience, one becomes small strobe, then fast moving projections return

    • loud train noise and LED flash at the end of the song into a blackout

Act II:

  • Justice for Tulsa

    • begins with smoke and loud bass

    • flashlights pointed at audience (return end of song)

    • red spinning police light on the right, stops after scrim goes up

  • “survive and move on!” - flames and tons of smoke with rumbling noises, lasts about ~30 seconds. Haze lasts a few minutes after

  • following song has lightly moving projections

  • The Rumble - has thunder and lightning and on/off flashing lights but never feels strobey; major blood warning; loud vibratey bass & loud crash/hit/train noises 

  • end of Little Brother - “Johnny can you see me now” - brief flash and loud train sound

Content Warnings

  • domestic violence/abuse

  • mentions of alcoholism

  • general violence

  • attempted drowning

  • blood 

  • death/murder

  • suicide