Broadway Access Review -
Rocky Horror

General:

• the theater itself (including the lobby ) is lit very strongly green and red. Also when you enter there will be medium to loud music playing

• orchestra aisle are utilized throughout the show, and some things get thrown into the front row area

• the show design extends out into the audience and up the sides of the mezzanine with bulb and neon lights

• I wore earplugs for the pre-show/intermission music but didn’t need them for the show itself

• there are many moments of lightning throughout the show, only the jumpscare-like one(s) are noted

• basically every song has some quick on/off pulsing light shifts at various points in it. I will only note if especially strobey/flashy

• there is fairly consistent smoke/haze throughout, I will only note when it’s enough to spill into the front orch

• the theater was notably cold, I think it’s for the haze

• the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Moulin Rouge, Death Becomes Her, Beetlejuice, and Tommy 

Callouts:

If you’re not familiar with the world of Rocky Horror (welcome), heads up that this show/movie is famous for “callouts”, which are certain phrases that people yell out in response to various lines. This means that at certain moments in the show, you may hear people yelling stuff from the audience. That is to be expected! The night that I went it was only in a few specific spots, it wasn’t constant by any means. And there is no pressure to participate if you don’t know what they are or just don’t want to.

Act I:

• opens with big white lightning and thunder crack - this number has moving bulls and can feel a little flashy, also a quick flash of red on the audience

• after Damn It, Janet there is a lot of stage smoke that dissipates to about half once the song starts - also quick flash white after the tire issue

• lightning after “in the darkness” and another during the applause

• loud boom after “you’re too kind” 

• super bright lights strobing at the audience during the start of The Time Warp, lasts the length of a verse 

  • when Magenta (the person on the stairs) lifts her lef, there are white strobes and slow spinning floor lights that are a bit disorienting but it’s brief

  • some audience members are pulled up for the end

• back lights (like behind Hades’ door in Hadestown) behind the door when Frankie enters + smoke

• some brief flashing after “I’ll remove the cold but not the symptom” 

• some flickering, flashing, and spinning when the lab is revealed – feels very spinny and disorienting for ~15-20 seconds

• very flashy after Eddie enters, mostly red & white, has a section of greeen – song ends with loud chainsaw noises for ~30 seconds, followed by light blood warning 

Intermission: pre-show music returns but louder, also the lighting inside the auditorium becomes flickery & flashy

Act II:

• slow spinning red siren-like lights ont he side after curtain closes on Brad, lasts ~30 seconds

• whenever the machine is messed with the lights all get flickery for about 30 seconds, happens herer

• wall bulbs move & other flashy things for ~30 sec during the Touch-A Touch-A…  “creature of the night” section

• machine flickery returns on two separate occasions

• siren light returns after “I don’t know” for a flashy ~45 seconds

• a few quick flashes after “the day she died” - this song has a very strobey chorus

• brief blood warning for fake limbs in a bag, not gory 

• quick spinning floor projection for 2-2.5 minutes after “we’re trapped” - lasts duration of the song

• green flicker after “you shall receive it in abundance”, then floor spin returns for another ~30-45 sec

• bulbs on for 90 sec-2 minutes (a bit disorienting)

• lots of smoke when the curtain comes up

• disco ball when Dr. Scott takes off his pants, lasts duration of the song (also some almost-strobey lights)

• low rumble after “I’m Going Home” with slow pulse lights

• “do your worst, inferior one!” - green & red strobes on each targeted moment with less flickering in the back, whole sequence lasts ~30 sec

• floor spinning again after Brad & Janet exist

• loud after “activate transit crystal!”, then flickery & flashy with loud boom for 60-90 sec

• some light flashing after bows