Off-Broadway Access Review -
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Find my other reviews & learn about my reviews here

 

Image of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Playbill in front of the stage at New World Stages (Stage 4) 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

New World Stages

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats in the back left orchestra of Stage 3

Bathrooms:

  • divided into the binary but have a sign that says “Gender diversity is welcome here. Please use the restroom that best fits your identity or expression”

  • these restrooms are wheelchair accessible

  • located to the left of the theater (by the escalator down), down that escalator and around the corner, and down the hall on the side of the other escalators

Other theater accessibility:

  • the entrance to New World Stages is step-free and there is an elevator to each theater level. This theater is located on the first floor, to the left of where your tickets are scanned

  • they offer assisted listening and induction loop systems at the audience services desk

  • this specific theater is located on the bottom floor on the left side of the building

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I didn’t need earplugs for this show 

  • the aisles are used - left aisle once, front aisle once, right front/side aisle throughout 

  • the show runs 100 minutes without an intermission

  • there are 3 LED bars around the proscenium that can be high contrast at times

  • if you are seated on the far left of the theater you might feel some rumbling from the bass of Heathers next door

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Two Strangers, Gypsy, Merrily We Roll Along, and Suffs

The Show:

  • near the beginning the students say the Pledge of Allegiance and the audience is encouraged to stand (and do a few gym class stretches) for that bit

  • Pandemonium - some slightly quick changing lights after the comfort counselor jumps on the trampoline and then some spinning lights at the end 

  • Magic Foot - uses the LEDs in red which can be a bit high in contrast, there are also some slow alternating lights on the back curtain 

    • slightly flashy alternating LED lights when the spellers exit their seats

  • My Unfortunate Erection - candy gets thrown into the front audience on all sides and at the end two juice boxes explode into the front right audience (probably hitting the first 5 or so rows) 

  • Spelling Montage - water-like fast moving teal projection that gets increasingly fast and is kind of strobey for ~20 seconds – then stops for the slo-mo section - then returns for ~15 sec

  • slight lighting pulse after “sluice” for ~10-15 sec

  • confetti onto the front audience after “we have a winner” but it’s not a confetti cannon!