Heading for the Big Apple for spring break? If so, you’ll probably want to take in a Broadway show or two. After all, there’s nothing like live theater brought to you by world-class performers, directors and designers in one of Time Square’s gorgeous historic theaters.
But fair warning: Because of their age, many of these theaters are not fully ADA compliant.
According to an article on NY Tix, “Most Broadway shows appear in old Broadway theaters that were built in a very different time with different attitudes towards people with disabilities.
These theaters, some of which are over 100 years old, have narrow walkways and lots of steps, making it nearly impossible for the [wheelchair-user] to maneuver through them. Patrons with vision or hearing problems face similar problems.”
Fortunately, Theatre Access NYC is here to help. Created through a partnership between TDF (Theatre Development Fund) and The Broadway League, and spearheaded by the late Christina Trivigno, a TDF staffer, wheelchair user and disability activist, the organization was founded on the philosophy that “everyone, regardless of disability, should have access to the performing arts.”
Theatre Access provides critical information for theatergoers who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, blind or low vision, wheelchair users and people who have difficulty with stairs or require aisle seats, and those with autism, intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities. Theatre Access’s website is the place to go to find out whether shows offer live and prerecorded audio description; open and handheld captioning; ASL interpretation; autism-friendly performances; wheelchair seating locations; assistive listening devices and more.
To find a performance that meets your needs, first visit Theatre Access’s “How It Works” page. This page will explain the symbols and terms you can use to identify, for example, wheelchair accessibility levels of particular theaters, performances that are autism-friendly, have sign language interpretation or have audio narration via headphones available.
Then, search shows by the accommodation you need. For example, if you want to see “& Juliet” you will find that the Steven Sondheim Theater where the show is playing has wheelchair accessible hallways, bathrooms and entrances; assistive listening devices; closed captioning; autism friendly performances; and pre-recorded audio description. “Aladdin” at the New Amsterdam Theatre has the same accommodations as “& Juliet,” with the exception of autism-friendly performances. “Hamilton” at the Richard Rodgers Theatre has all of the accommodations as “& Juliet” plus loop systems.
Once you know what you want to see, visit tdf.org for information on where to find deals on Broadway show tickets. You will find a real-time list of what tickets are available as well as showtimes and prices. Or head to the TKTS booth at Times Square or Lincoln Center for same-day discount tickets.
