Off-Broadway Access Review -
11 to Midnight

Find my other reviews & learn about my reviews here

 

ID: image of the 11 to Midnight 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.

Theater

Orpheum Theatre

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the far right of the second row

Bathrooms:

  • divided into the binary

  • located up twenty-six steps to the right of the box office. At the top of the stairs, take a left and then another left

  • each stall in the women’s room has a step up

Other theater accessibility:

  • this theater is not wheelchair accessible

  • they offer assistive listening devices

  • the orchestra level is up 5 steps and then has one step down for most rows

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

Light/Sound

  • I definitely recommend earplugs for this show

  • the show runs 70 minutes with no intermission

  • there is a lot of audience participation from the first 4-5 rows (in the sense of being engaged with, they only ever actually give “jobs” to two people). The front few rows also get lots of confetti thrown on them/swept at them throughout 

  • the show is pretty consistently alternating and sweeping lights for the entire 70 minutes. I’m noting specific cues of stronger things, but most of these cues are not noted due to their consistency throughout 

  • there is a scene transition of white lights flickering around the proscenium for ~5-7 seconds that appears frequently

  • if you struggle with sounds like static and alarms and bass and teapot whistles, this may not be the show for you. These sounds are fairly consistent throughout

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Illinoise and Tommy

Pre Show: slow-spinning textured purple & blue downlights, as well as some on/off blue lights pointed at the audience from the stage. The cast members come out pre-show to ask those in the front section about their New Year’s resolutions. Medium volume music is playing. 

The Show:

  • Opening - quick white down strobe for ~5-7 sec after the couple enters

  • confetti over the audience (not from a cannon) during don’t spill your drink & freeze dance

  • during the boys’ song the lighting becomes very strobey yellow and red throughout the entire ~3 min number. They get particularly bright at the audience when they all point at the audience, and then the dancers go into the audience to get people to clap

  • loud bang & bass and white flashing when the person in the black dress slams the imaginary door (~10 sec)

    • this next piece has some loud staticky transitions

    • fireworks sounds during “it’s up to you, New…”

  • fitness number is flashy, the design is blue & pink 

  • amber strobe like an earthquake when the map is located, with rumbling like the building is about to collapse for about a full minute, followed by some strobing amber downlights on the dragon for another minute

  • three loud bangs after that sequence ends

  • after the teapot begins whistling, it lasts for about 2 minutes, cut off by loud beat and flashing lights

  • during the “we’re live!” section, a member of the audience on the aisle is pulled to video the sequence

  • down lights are particularly flashy when they do the sequence again - then transitions into a very bass-heavy song only lit by flashlights (which is flashy and high-contrast/dim). Ends with a camera flash. 

  • audio crescendos really loud to almost a construction drilling sound with full bright white strobe in 3 second increments on and off, slowly becoming longer each time until it is constant. Sequence lasts about 2.5 min

  • pre-show lighting returns for post-show

Content Advisory

  • relationship/marital strife

  • a few Harry Potter-related mentions

  • significant alcohol use/imagery

  • if you get stressed out by people leaving fridge doors open, please note that it happens consistently throughout the show