Off-Broadway Access Review -
Animal Wisdom
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ID: image of the Animal Wisdom playbill card 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
Signature - Linney Theatre
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the direct center of the section with even-numbered seats
Bathrooms:
divided into the binary with a sign that says “You are encouraged to use the restroom that best fits your gender identity or expression”
located, from the top of the stairs, with women’s straight ahead and men’s right around the corner. Each restroom has accessible stalls and the accessible single-user restroom is down the far ramp (that kinda goes over the stairs) to the left.
Other theater accessibility:
this specific theater is located in the wider Signature complex on the second floor to the left of the restrooms (the left entrance is by the piano and the right is by the women’s restroom).
most rows have steps up or down to them
they offer induction loops and assistive listening devices
they have select ASL-interpreted, open-caption, and audio-described performances
If you would like more visual information as to what this building looks like and how to navigate it, Signature has both a virtual tour and a visual story with all available access information, including photos of all of the spaces, information on where to park, and anything else you may need. We also have a reel on our instagrams walking through the space.
Click here for more information on the accessibility of this theater.
Light/Sound/Scent
General:
the show runs about 2 hours with no intermission and there is no readmission once it starts
I would recommend earplugs for this show, however it was hard to understand most of the text with them in, so it is a bit of a trade-off
the general design of the show leans toward dim lighting with haze and the final third of the show is done in almost complete darkness
there are moments of audience participation that include standing up once near the beginning, singing some hums at two different points, a prayer using a cup of Coca Cola, and holding bells at the end
the house lights are also up to some extent for a large portion of the show
If you are light sensitive I might recommend getting seats on the odd-numbered side of the theater as many of the lighting things flagged here were exclusive to the far side (with the even seats)
the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Oratorio for Living Things
Show:
very brief moment of cigarette smoke in the far left side of the even-seated section, lightly scented
a few small flickers after “on and off”, followed by ~15 sec flickery lightbulb
loud crescendo after “and then I start to sing”
loud at the “we won’t let you go” sung in the chair - lights flicker for ~20 seconds and it’s hazy after (haze remains for the duration)
if you want to participate in this ritual, it is just a toast/prayer with cups of Coca Cola
a person in the front row is asked to hold a backpack and they do so for the rest of the show
quick light on after “enter music”
rumble and then flash after “squeeze”
two lights slowly flicker on after “and then I saw him”
very loud percussion when the teal tube is put on the platform, followed by a few quick light on/offs
bang after “grief does a thing to your brain”
left (back wall) window gets super bright briefly after “find me that preacher”
loud and left window light after “baby” “baby”
quick light on after “she opens up a window”
bang after “if you need me, I’ll be in here”
bang after “I’m very grateful” - happens twice, then the song is very loud as well
lights get super flickery for ~5 sec and then are just a little flickery for several minutes, then progressively louder and more flickery until she throws down the chair (whole sequence lasts maybe 5 minutes) - after this it is very dim, almost entirely dark
loud drum returns and a lightbulb flickers on - just after this there is a full blackout with the occasional white or yellow flash on full brightness at various moments. This sequence feels like it lasts about 5-10 minutes
loud drum after “resign myself to you Oh Lord” and continues, as well as some smaller flickers. Lights come up a bit to settle at a very dim level
smoking for maybe a minute. Smelled lightly like smoke but not cigarette smoke
Content Advisory
death, loss, grief, and communication with the dead/ghosts
Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Cancer
discussions of migraines
some religious themes
a few moments of sexual language
mention of Hurricane Katrina