Broadway Access Review -
The Picture of Dorian Gray
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ID: image of the The Picture of Dorian Gray 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
(Music Box Theatre)
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the middle left 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 beneath the orchestra and between the orchestra and mezzanine with an accessible one on the orchestra level
Other theater accessibility:
the theater’s entrance is step-free
there is no elevator
they offer assistive listening, loop systems, audio description, and closed captioning devices
the ticket counter has covering over the glass so if you need to lipread to understand what they are saying, it can be difficult
Click here for more information on the accessibility of this theater.
Light/Sound/Scent
General:
I might recommend earplugs for this show (also might recommend a fidget if you need one to help with auditory processing because this show is accent-heavy)
the show runs 2 hours without an intermission
the biggest visual sensory thing is that the contrast can be high (much like watching a film in a movie theater) and every now and then there are quick transitions, but it’s usually fairly smooth
there is the occasional use of cigarettes but only in the first ~25 minutes and they seem somewhat scentless
there are some moments where the [typically classical] music suddenly gets very loud that usually aren’t incredibly startling (and thus aren’t specifically noted)
the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Yellow Face, Corruption, Appropriate, and All the Devils are Here
The Show:
after the iPhone bit, the music is in the EDM category and is a little physically visceral, becoming louder after the fig leaf image - the music lasts ~3 min
the iPhone film work here can be a little nauseating, but it only lasts about a minute
light haze after the book and phone are taken away
light blood warning after “it is evil” and loud sound cue on each stab afterward (about 4 times)
deep bass that speeds up as he travels through the opium den that then becomes quite loud when the door opens – at this point there is the occasional camera-style flash that then turns into strobe-style on/off color changing lights for about 90 seconds, this later returns for another 45 seconds. This whole sequence (lights + music) lasts maybe 10-12 minutes?
violin up to a high ringing pitch that lasts ~5 seconds appears a handful of times
the forest sequence has some light haze. It also has loud orchestral music and a smattering of gunshots that are about the volume of the music, with the exception of an actual live gunshot from Dorian after he points his weapon at the screen (“...quite sure?” is the cue line) - brief blood warning after that shot. This sequence probably lasts about 5-7 minutes
Content Advisory
murder
mentions of suicide
minor blood warning (those moments are noted in the design review)
drug (opium) use