Broadway Access Review -
Floyd Collins

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ID: image of the Floyd Collins 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

(Vivian Beaumont Theater)

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the far left front orchestra

Bathrooms: 

  • divided into the binary and located with women’s on the right and men’s on the left. Both are accessible via ramp

Other theater accessibility:

  • the orchestra and box office has step-free access via the wheelchair lift at the 65th Street

  • the theater offers CC, assistive listening, loop receivers, and AD devices, as well as Braille and large print programs

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I did not need earplugs for this show

  • I might recommend a fidget toy if the topic of being stuck in a cave is stressful for you!

  • the sensory accessibility is similar to that of Suffs, Maybe Happy Ending, and Sweeney Todd

Act I:

  • quick light on after Skeets comes running down center (just after Homer teases Squirt and they run off)

  • ~15-20 sec of pain sounds after And She’d Have Blue Eyes that end after “oh shit”

  • single white camera flash about Heart and Hand

  • very brief smoking from the doctor, seemed unscented

  • Riddle Song - small flash when Floyd falls to the ground

Act II:

  • single camera flash after “and you, fella, don’t know machines”

  • single camera flash after the final “scoop the poop”

  • The Carnival - some quick transitions throughout

    • after the third chime from the Strongman, there are fireworks noises and some on/off bulb lights that never feel super flashy

    • white strobe down light on the stage that expands over the audience and speeds up with a spinning pinwheel projection for ~10-15 seconds

  • rock breaking noises and screaming lasts ~5-10 seconds, followed by a quick light on when Skeets is center

  • “act the big shot” - thunder

  • ~5 sec collapse noise after “Carmichael!”

  • 2 loud cracks of the shovel after the line about the worms, followed by a handful more after “newspaper man” - just keep an eye on the shovel and these cues will be clear

Content Advisory

The show is about a man who gets trapped in a cave. It doesn’t visually feel incredibly claustrophobic, but this may be triggering for some people. I might recommend bringing a fidget toy to help offset that.

There are also some moments where sounds of pain are made, I noted specific ones in the specific show breakdown.