Off-Broadway Access Review -
Mexodus (Daryl Roth)

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Image of the Mexodus Playbill in front of the stage at the Daryl Roth 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.

Theater

Daryl Roth Theatre

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

Bathrooms:

  • divided into the binary and located down a flight of stairs to the right of the building entrance. Men’s will be one of the first doors you see, women’s is straight ahead past the bar

  • there is an accessible restroom in the lobby

Other theater accessibility:

  • there is a flat no-step connection to the street (corner of East 15th & Union Square E)

  • there’s an elevator to the basement (where the bar is)  though the space isn’t wheelchair accessible 

  • beyond the first (B) there is a step up to each subsequent row

  • they have assistive listening devices available

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

Changes

This is the TLDR Access Review for folks who have seen the show before at its previous venue!

The only major design change in the show, as far as I could tell, is that some of the lights hit the audience a bit differently because the stage is lower. Some of the back lights (especially the blue ones) are more directly in the eyes of the audience than at Audible.

I also had one earplug halfway in the entire time because the space is smaller and I was closer to the stage.

It’s otherwise functionally identical to the previous iteration so you should already know what to expect and can skip the rest of the review 

Light/Sound/Scent

The cues aren’t super easy to explain because of how the show is structured, my apologies in advance! The Audible recording should be out soon and might be a really helpful tool for expecting some of the loud pieces if you don’t mind spoilers.

General:

  • I had one earplug halfway in for the entire show and there are 2 songs I put both in 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