Off-Broadway Access Review

The Real Ivanov

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ID: image of the The Real Ivanov 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

Classic Stage Company

All comments on the accessibility of lighting are in reference to seats on the far side of the left seating area

Bathrooms: 

  • located sort of around the corner to the side of the box office (on the right of the main door to the theater) - there is an accessible gender neutral single-user restroom and then multi-stall ones divided into the binary 

Other theater accessibility:

  • the theater building itself has a coffee shop in the lobby, that is the correct entrance! It can look a little confusing on first glance

  • the entrance to the theater from the street is step-free, though there are steps up to each row beyond the first

  • they offer assistive listening devices

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

Light/Sound/Scent

General:

  • I did not need earplugs for this show

  • the show runs 100 minutes without an intermission 

  • there is quiet music playing both pre and post show

Show:

  • some slightly loud mechanical sounds at the start for ~15 seconds

  • theatrical firearm that isn’t shot - when it touches the man’s head he says “boo” and it is startling

  • 30 seconds of flickering after “I quit” with some medium to loud volume music (it’s a warm light flicker, not a white strobe)

  • a little bit of low vibrating bass during the argument where everyone’s in the aisle, followed by a gunshot offstage

Content Advisory

  • alcohol

  • antisemitism

  • discussions of death & dying

  • tuberculosis/terminal illness 

  • depression and some SI

  • suicide 

  • theatrical firearms