Broadway Access Review -
Becky Shaw
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ID: image of the Becky Shaw 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
Hayes Theater
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the front right mezzanine
Bathrooms:
divided into the binary
located downstairs (below the orchestra, far R of the stage) - please note that the entrance and exit are two different doors in two different directions!
there is also a single-user restroom in the mezzanine on the far side
Other theater accessibility:
there is an ADA accessible entrance from the stage door
there is an elevator to the mezzanine, with accessible seats both in orchestra and mezzanine
they supply loop assistive listening systems at the booth by the stairs
Click here for more information on the physical accessibility of this theater.
Light/Sound/Scent
General:
I did not need earplugs for this show, though some of the scene changes were a bit loud! I’ve only noted the ones that feel a bit like jumpscares, but there are quite a few. Each music moment lasts about 30 seconds.
there’s an LED frame around the proscenium during the pre-show/intermission/post-show that is never utilized in the show itself
the sensory accessibility is similar to that of Caroline, Purpose, and Eureka Day.
Act I:
starts with music before the lights go down and a quick light shift
brief moment of simulated sex, followed by an abrupt scene change
slightly loud scene change (into intermission) after ”I’m okay and I’m going to have fun”
Intermission: the music from the end of Act I lasts for the entire duration of the song into intermission at a bit of a loud volume, but there is no song after that song.
Act II:
begins similarly to Act I in light/sound, though this time the title card quickly changes colors a few times in a slightly flashy way
sudden loud scene change after “I think it would be good for you to do some thinking too”
door slam after the trio exit their mother’s house
the blackout at the end is rather sudden
Content Advisory
grief & parent aging/illness/loss
some mentions of suicide, ideation, and self harm
misogyny
discussions around pornography and sex work
alcohol use
a few moments of simulated sex
mentions of Middle East conflicts/war(s)
description of being robbed at gunpoint
In general, this is a cast of some pretty dubious characters, so side comments and jokes that fall into the category of ableist, racist, fatphobic, misogynist, classist, queerphobic, etc pop up over the course of the play. It is fairly self-aware of these things being offensive and often calls it out within the text itself.