Broadway Access Review -
Schmigadoon

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ID: image of the Schmigadoon 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

Nederlander Theatre

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the far back center/right mezzanine

Bathrooms:

  • no explicitly gender neutral options

  • located up the central staircase (above the orchestra) and there is one non-gendered accessible restroom on the far left of the orchestra

  • the stalls have really clear red/green vacancy labels

  • there are 2 steps up/down in the bathroom

Other theater accessibility:

  • there is no elevator, though street to orch is step-free

  • they have several accessible seats, as well as an accessible bar on the orchestra level

  • they offer captioning, audio description, and assistive listening options

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I didn’t need earplugs for this show

  • content advisory - there is a lot of sexual humor & innuendo

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Aladdin, Boop, Shucked, and Smash

Act I:

  • some medical beeps at the start, very brief

  • single white washover the audience with a slow rotate after “I’m obviously great at that” and another after “not a song, no!”

  • lighting & thunder after “I will be better, I promise” - this consists of full-brightness white lights pointed directly at the audience flashing for ~10-15 seconds

    • followed by ~15 of normal flashy lightning on stage and some smoke that may spill into the front orch 

    • brief use of flashlights

  • bang after “answer to my gun”

  • some alternating bulbs during You Can’t Tame Me and a few balloons pop at the end but it’s not loud

  • every time they attempt to cross the bridge (through the entire show, this will not be noted again) there is briefly a very slow rotating light on the floor 

  • when the leprechaun comes out there is slow texture on the floor moving like water for about a minute 

  • bang after “what’s a bus?”

  • some slow spinning floor projections + alternating bulb lights during Somewhere Love Is Waiting…

    • the dance break has a disco ball-like spinning light on the audience that’s a bit flashy, as well as some bangs on beat with some on/off downlights that are flashy but not strobey – whole sequence ~45 seconds

  • bang after “he’s over there”

Act II:

  • Entr’acte starts before the lights go down

  • singular moving floor light after “do you miss it?”

  • singular moving floor light at the end of the I’m A Homosexual song

  • some brief smoke during the dream ballet

  • moving white washes over the audience at the end of How We Change that lasts about 10-15 seconds

  • those lights return for bows, as well as moving down lights on the stage