Broadway Access Review -
Old Friends

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ID: image of the Old Friends 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

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the front right mezzanine

Bathrooms:

  • divided into the binary, though there is a sign that says “Please use the restroom that best aligns with your personal gender identity and expression”

  • located downstairs beneath the orchestra and two levels above the orchestra

Other theater accessibility:

  • the theater’s entrance has 3 steps to the orchestra (and some steps in the orch), but the elevator is step free

  • all levels of the theatre are wheelchair accessible

  • they offer assistive listening and hearing aid compatible devices, captioning devices, AD headsets, and braille/large print Playbills

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I did not need earplugs for this show 

  • the design of the stage is a bit reflective (the floor is slightly mirrored, almost?) and the set has LED tube lights framing every piece of it, as well as bulb lights around the proscenium, so while there are very few light cues of note, the overall contrast can be difficult at times 

  • the costumes are very sparkle-heavy 

  • the lighting design favors an end of song pulse

  • content advisory - the show is a revue, so there is no main plot, but Sweeney Todd is a part of that (singing about murder and visualization [without blood] of cutting someone’s throat) 

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Harmony, Funny Girl, English, Floyd Collins, & Gypsy

Act I:

  • You Could Drive A Person Crazy - singular white on/offs sort of pointed at the audience during the choruses, maybe 5-6 total 

  • “there’s something in the glade there” - small thunder/lightning (in Into The Woods) 

  • Wolf “awoo” after Red runs by - thunder/lightning (repeats after I Know Things Now ends)

  • loud factory whistle with brief red LED lights pointed at the audience after Send In The Clowns 

  • Mrs. Lovett bangs the knife on the counter loudly a few times during Worst Pies after he tries one

  • factory whistle with red + scream when the blade goes to the person’s throat at the end of Pretty Women

  • bright white lights pointed at the audience at the end of A Little Priest

  • slow-moving projection over the audience at the end of Sunday

Act II: (Most of the numbers in this act include alternating bulb lights, I will not note them going forward)

  • opening overture is a little loud initially - near the end of it there are some lightly pulsing lights but it’s small

  • Broadway Baby - some light pulsing at the end

  • Could I Leave You - paper thrown into the left two rows of the orchestra at the end of the song

  • Buddy’s Blues - alternating bulbs are a little faster than the other numbers which can feel a bit flashy

  • Losing My Mind - slow moving lights over audience at the end of the number

  • Being Alive - slow white moving lights over the audience at the end