Off-Broadway Access Review -
Mexodus
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Image of the Mexodus Playbill in front of the stage at the Minetta Lane Theatre 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
Minetta Lane Theatre
All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the second row left mezzanine
Bathrooms:
non-gendered bathrooms, with one divided into urinals/stalls and one stalls only
located down a flight of stairs (around the corner to the left of the bar)
there is a single-user accessible restroom directly to the left of the bar
Other theater accessibility:
this theater has a step free entrance to the orchestra but not to the mezzanine (and the orch is a few steps down from the main entrance, there is a ramp on the side)
they offer assistive listening devices
Click here for more information on the physical accessibility of this theater.
Light/Sound/Scent
General:
I didn’t need earplugs for the show generally, though there were two songs I might recommend them for
the show runs 90 minutes with no intermission
the design favors quick light transitions and quick back wall projections, there are also lights on the back wall that point at the audience for much of the second half of the show
the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Operation Mincemeat, Water for Elephants, Dead Outlaw, and Hamilton
Pre-Show: the lighting is fairly dim and there is medium volume music playing
The Show:
on/off full stage red on the beat during the beating section (in the barn) - happen in three sections, and the third is full stage red that feels a bit strobey (first section maybe ~20, second ~45, third is short)
flashy teal on/off after Henry leaves the piano and stands on top of the stairs that then become full stage flashing - first section ~10 sec, second ~35
loud sound cue after “make it out of hell”
after Carlos hits the loop pedal (when Henry is in the dark) there are quick moving spotlights over/pointed at the audience for ~30, followed by ~45 sec of down light dim white strobes and floor smoke
~30 sec of full stage lightning after Henry hits the loop pedal in water, followed by almost strobey but less harsh quick alternating teal/white down lights (also smoke for the remainder of the song)
fireside story is a little dim; back lights appear here
loud bell rung after “is this a test for me”
single lightning after the fight, followed by some full stage flashes but it isn’t a consistent strobe – throughout the song (I might suggest earplugs for this one, it is a bit loud)
back light flashes tied to the keyboard beat - appear after the accordion is added
about ~30-45 sec of flashing, reappears later and is less strobey but lasts much longer - also disco ball and smoke (might recommend earplugs for this number)
Content Advisory
slavery
violence
war
mention of attempted SA