ID: image of the King of the Yees 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 - Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the back center
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.
Click here for more information on the accessibility of this theater.
Light/Sound/Scent
General:
I did not need earplugs for this show
all of the aisles are used on multiple occasions, including in front of aisle F and in front of the stage (generally, if interacting with performers isn’t your thing I might recommend sitting behind row F or in the mezzanine)
cigarettes are occasionally used, they’re scentless
the house lights are up for the majority of Act I
the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Cold War Choir Practice and Mother Russia
Act I:
house lights turn on after “hold please” and stay on for most of the act
they then give out water and later voter registration info to people in some of the front rows (mostly row D and below)
there’s a moment of seeming “crowdwork”, but it’s scripted so you won’t be picked on!
thunder & lightning after “shrimp boy” every time
~2 min of medium to loud music after the lion appears
loud after “on with the show”
the gong is loud on its second and third ring, followed by ~10-15 sec of light flickering
bang after “that’s pretty important”, followed by ~2 min of a slight tv flicker that gets stronger for ~2 min with a few bang after “everyone’ll be there” and the second “daddy”
Intermission: medium to quiet music
Act II:
door light briefly flickers after “it was empty”, returning after “open sesame” for ~30 seconds
boom after the gun comes out, but not loud
some white strobing for about a minute after “famous shrimp”
after “we all look same” there are flashing on and off blue/red lights, followed by a few small bangs and then ~2 minutes of white flashing that ends with a bright white flash (it’s not straight strobe the whole time, and it switches it up every 20-30 seconds or so)
green LED flashes after each knitting needle is used
green then sort of pulsates for ~15 sec
two flashes after “go before it’s–”
flash after “what am I supposed to do now?” with a flickery scene change
white flicker into very bright LED blue light pointed at the audience with smoke after they can’t find the door
very briefly flickery when the elders convene
during the Lion Dance portion there are very flashy lights like in a club that cycle to a different color/pattern every ~20-30 seconds, with medium to loud music - it ends with a red LED pointed at the audience
a little flickery after “Chinese doors” and then blue and moving in a spiral motion with some smoke, followed by loud music & color changing LEDs for ~30 sec
same LED briefly cue reappears after “f*ck those Wongs”
Content Advisory
a few mentions of parent loss (both in death and via cognitive decline)
theatrical firearms (but any gunshots are fairly quiet booms)