Off-Broadway Access Review -
Cold War Choir Practice
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ID: image of the Cold War Choir Practice 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
MCC Theater Space - Newman Mills Theater
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the far right of the front row
Bathrooms:
main restrooms down the hall from the entrance
divided into the binary, however they have a sign that says “MCC Theater supports gender inclusivity and non-binary gender expression. Although New York State law currently requires gendered signage on multi-user restrooms like ours, we welcome you to use whichever restroom aligns with your identity. Single-occupancy restrooms are located on the Mezzanine level, accessible via elevator and the main staircase.”
Other theater accessibility:
fully ADA accessible, with automatic door buttons, ramps, and elevator access to each floor
they offer assistive listening devices (with headphones provided) and large print programs
Click here for more information on the physical accessibility of this theater.
Light/Sound/Scent
General:
the show runs 100 minutes with no intermission
I did not need earplugs for this show
there is a mirror on the left wing of the stage, though I never found it to reflect anything particularly flashy
on the right side of the stage is a television that, when on, has a white flickery light (all cues noted)
the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Purpose,
Pre-Show: medium volume music & the stage is very red
Show:
begins with two white flicker moments from tv, ~5-7 seconds each
two bike bell noises after the candy is spat out
some on/offs from LED light bars on the top of the proscenium after “no one has to die” - two instances, both very brief
high contrast dim lighting ~60-90 sec after penpals
high contrast dim with the only lighting being flashlights after the newspaper is handed over, lasts about 2-2.5 minutes
small flicker after “your American pen pal, me” for ~5 sec – then the stage has some alternating bulbs on the left and the Roll-A-Rama sign on the right pulses lightly for about 15-20 seconds
flash/flicker after “cross the Milky Way” for ~2-5 sec
whole stage becomes very red in a high contrast way after “do you have your travel documents” and lasts ~3-5 minutes
high contrast dim with flashlights-as-lighting return + unscented haze when they arrive at the park – the haze runs for ~20 seconds, takes 1-2 min to dissipate
flashlights continue until “you will arrive home”
a lighter is lit for a cigarette, but that is never lit
stage becomes red again with some light haze, followed by tv flickering
after “tear down the wall” - alternating bulbs and LED bars alternate colors – the whole sequence is song-length, never feels strobey (stops when Virgie & Clay enter)
CW - brief moment of violence
full stage dark with flashlight lighting ~90 sec
loud bang after “we aren’t opening shit!”
a gun is presented, it does not go off
loud boom and strobe-level flashing (mostly red) ~3 seconds after sunglasses are put on, followed by haze that increases significantly and pools into the audience (if you’re haze-sensitive I might recommend a mask, it was strong) - it begins dissipating when Soviet Penpal reappears and takes about a minute or two to do so
Content Advisory
some yelling & strong language
brief moment of violence, but no blood
discussions of racism and specifically racist attacks in the 1980s (like the Pittsburgh bombing, for example)
discussions of nuclear war
cults and cult deprogramming