Broadway Access Review -
Liberation

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ID: image of the Liberation 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

(James Earl Jones Theatre)

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

Bathrooms: 

  • divided into the gender binary, though there is a sign saying “Please use the restroom that best fits your gender identity and expression”

  • located below the orchestra on house right, as well as on the mezzanine level

Other theater accessibility:

  • the theater has a step-free entrance to the orchestra

  • there is an elevator to all floors

  • the theatre offers closed captioning, assistive listening, loop receivers, and audio description devices

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I did not need earplugs for this show

  • the stage is primarily lit by fluorescent wraparound lights at the very top of the stage that occasionally flicker a little. There is also the occasional quick lighting transition

  • there is significant smoking of herbal cigarettes in this show that can be smelled from the audience 

  • some air freshener also gets sprayed twice, but I believe this is unscented

  • there is medium volume music playing pre-show and very loud music playing during intermission

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Caroline and Hills of California

When you arrive you will be handed a Yondr pouch that you keep with you in which they will lock your phone for the duration of the performance. After the show, there are people there to unlock it for you on the way out.

Act I:

  • the house lights remain up for part of the opening monologue

  • the lights flicker when Lizzie invites the ladies out, along with a moving down light for ~5 sec

  • camera flash pointed at the back wall when Dora has her camera out 

  • some briefly quick-shifting lights after “we can get around that” “how?”

Act II:

  • blue stage & a little flickery at the start of the act

  • the first scene contains nudity

  • there’s a single camera flash when everyone gets back from the protest (pointed toward house left)

  • during the argument, Celeste has a brief panic attack

  • moving down lights during bows

Content Advisory

  • adult language

  • sexism 

  • racism 

  • brief mentions of abuse/assault 

  • grief (specifically about parent loss & parent illness)

  • there is a brief panic attack in one of the final scenes

  • there is nudity in the first scene after intermission