Off-Broadway Access Review -
Oratorio for Living Things

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ID: image of the Oratorio for Living Things 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

Signature - Linney Theatre

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seat D103 in Tier 1

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 on the second floor to the left of the restrooms (the entrance is by the piano)

  • there are 3 steps up to each row

  • they offer induction loops and assistive listening devices

  • they have select ASL-interpreted, open-caption, and audio-described performances

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • the show runs 90 minutes with no intermission

  • I might recommend bringing earplugs to this show

  • the show is immersive, meaning the actors are constantly using the stairs/aisles and there is often extended eye contact with them (which can be avoided if you choose to look away). It also means that the lighting is in the house which can be rather disorienting, as it favors full colors (like blue light or red light) that make the entire room look different (sort of like when you walk into a room lit only by blacklight, for example). It is also often rather dim on top of that, with a yellow-lit cloud hung from the ceiling in the center. I think these contrasts might be easier on the eyes when seated closer to the stage (though worse during the haze portion)

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is very similar to that of the song Doubt Comes In in Hadestown

  • social note– there is no applause until the end of the piece!

Pre-Show: the entire theater is lit with pink LED downlights

Show:

  • the first clapping song has a stomp that was a bit of a jumpscare– it gets briefly loud after

  • after the song listing how many hours/days/years things take, the lighting shifts to a harsh blue for some time

  • quick loud shift after “small he had ended up coming home being”

  • cymbals are briefly used, it is obvious when– around this time the contrast shifts so the blue is less harsh

  • “Why can’t I just be still?” - bright white flicker, followed by the room being lit entirely amber (making the room feel black and white) that gets progressively brighter - lasts until “sees the sun”

  • loud string squeaks after “you have to change”

  • red lighting is a bit difficult on the stripes center stage

  • a bit loud after the second round of “abyssus abyssum”

  • slightly scented smoke/haze after “where it’s warmer” that fills the entire room and does not dissipate for several minutes. Light refracts through it like sunbeams

  • light through the haze pulses a bit once the song gets to the “72”s, then shortly after begins to dissipate

  • the “audience participation” piece is just standing in silence– this silence is broken by a thunder-like drum 

  • “say to you/say/say” - followed by a full brief blackout and lights up - then there is a blackout after “mean”