Broadway Access Review -
The Fear of 13

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ID: image of the Fear of 13 art 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

(James Earl Jones Theatre)

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

Bathrooms: 

  • divided into the gender binary, though there is a sign saying “Please use the restroom that best fits your gender identity and expression”

  • located below the orchestra on house right, as well as on the mezzanine level

Other theater accessibility:

  • the theater has a step-free entrance to the orchestra

  • there is an elevator to all floors

  • the theatre offers closed captioning, assistive listening, loop receivers, and audio description devices

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • the show runs 1 hour 50 min with no intermission

  • when you enter the theater they will put a sticker over your phone camera 

  • I did not need earplugs for this show

  • throughout the show there are lots of prison buzzers, they’ll only be noted here when especially loud 

  • the sensory accessibility of this show is similar to that of Dog Day Afternoon and Purpose

Pre-Show: there is a semi-loud voiceover every now and then reminding you to turn off your phones. Right before the show they note that the show is about to start by slowly flickering the house lights in sequences of 4 (with a chime sound first). This happens 3 separate times.

The Show:

  • bang after “where the fuck did you get gum?”

  • a gun fires, it’s not even really a noise

  • loud for 10-15 seconds after “like this”, including a moving spotlight over the front audience

  • bright flashlights moving around after he falls asleep in the car briefly, and a boom after they go off

  • very loud buzzer noise after “get out”

  • some quick lighting shifts during the phone montage 

  • after the carjacking there’s an orange light on the top right of the stage that get strong enough to cover the entire front right orchestra and makes things look sort of black and white – lasts 30-45 seconds

  • brief use of flashlights after hat

  • big gunshot during the tousle with the cop

  • loud shift after the fourth “shots fired officer assist”

  • there may have been a high pitched ringing during the widower testimony for a few minutes? 

  • the loud tray banging lasts a few minutes

  • brief smoking during the rain but it dissipates before hitting the audience

  • similar orange light for ~min during final monologue

Content Advisory

  • adult language

  • violence and yelling (but never blood)

  • drugs & addiction

  • mention of pet death

  • some mentions and descriptions of SA and murder

  • description of CSA (near the end)

  • a few mentions of suicide/suicidal ideation

  • prison, incarceration, & the American court system 

  • theatrical firearms (and one real gunshot)