Access For All

Accessibility Information

 Black and white image of access logos for open caption, sign interpreted, assisted listening, accessible services, audio description, braille programs, large print programs, Autism friendly performances

Paper Mill Playhouse seeks to welcome guests of all abilities and make their experience as accessible as possible! The theater has an extensive program of access services scheduled for select Mainstage performances, as well as additional accommodations available for all performances and events:

ACCESSIBLE PARKING

Designated accessible parking spaces are located in Parking Lot A and E. Lot A is situated at the rear of the building and accessible to the front entrance via our brick courtyard to the side of the building and contains 6 designated accessible spots. Lot E is next to the courtyard at the front entrance of the building and contains 8 designated accessible spots. A map and parking information can be found on our Parking Information page. We also recommend patrons using wheelchairs or mobility aides to utilize our drop-off zone in front of the theater to disembark their vehicles for faster entry into the building.

Parking Lot C also provides a level route to the theater entrance and may be utilized for accessible parking, though no spaces are officially designated as such, and patrons must cross Brookside Drive to reach the front of the theater from this parking lot.

ENTRY AND NAVIGATION

The lower lobby is wheelchair accessible through the front entrance of the theater only. The lower lobby includes the box office & access services window, women’s restroom, and main concessions bar. Elevator access is available to the upper lobby, lower gallery, and upper gallery levels. The men’s restroom and the entrance to the orchestra level of the auditorium are located at the upper lobby level. An additional concessions bar and the donor lounge are located at the lower gallery level.

BATHROOMS

Gender diversity is welcome at Paper Mill Playhouse. Please use the restroom that best aligns with your personal gender identity or expression. The women’s restroom is located in the lower lobby, directly to the right of the box office. The men’s restroom is located in the upper lobby, to the left and around the corner from the entrance to the orchestra. A single-use, accessible bathroom is located directly next to the elevator at the upper lobby level, across from the gift shop. Additional men and women’s restrooms are located on the second floor, to the left of the elevator.

ACCESSIBLE SEATING – ORCHESTRA LEVEL

There are no steps required to reach any row in the orchestra level. Free-standing chairs are located in the last row of the left- and right-side sections that are designated for patrons in wheelchairs or with other mobility disabilities and their companions.

Please Note: Seats WC-10 and WC-9 are considered companion-only seating. These specific free-standing chairs are in front of columns and are not wheelchair accessible.

The following seats in the orchestra are also designated as transfer seats for patrons in wheelchairs, where the outer armrest is removable to allow patrons to transfer:

  • Row X, seats 1, 2, 101, & 114
  • Row J, seats 1, 2, 101, & 114
  • Row D, seats 11 & 12
  • Row S, seats 27 & 28

Patrons who transfer from their wheelchairs or mobility devices will be able to have their chair or device stored with house management for the duration of the performance; ushers will be available to assist patrons in retrieving their chair or device.

A limited number of wheelchairs are available for transport to and from your seats, free of charge. Please inquire with house management. These wheelchairs are not available for seating during the performance.

ACCESSIBLE SEATING – MEZZANINE LEVEL

There are no accessible seats designated at the mezzanine level, as stairs are required to reach every row:

  • 5 steps up are required to reach the first row of the center mezzanine.
  • 7 steps up are required to reach the first row of the side sections of the mezzanine.
  • There are 2 steps up per row beginning with row BB in the center mezzanine and row CC in the side sections of the mezzanine.
  • An additional 16 steps up are required to reach the rear of the center mezzanine.
  • An additional 14 steps up are required to reach the rear of the side sections of the mezzanine.
  • A total of 4 steps down are required to reach the front row of each Box of the front mezzanine.
ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES

Assistive listening devices are available for patrons who are hard of hearing to assist with amplification and clarity of the performance. Headsets and devices, cleaned between each performance, may be obtained at the access services window of the box office in the lower lobby. A name and phone number are required to check out the devices.

Due to high demand, it is recommended patrons who intend to utilize an assistive listening device arrive at least 45 minutes prior to curtain.

BRAILLE AND LARGE-PRINT PROGRAMS

For patrons who are blind or have low vision, a limited quantity of Braille and large-print programs are available for each Mainstage performance. Programs may be obtained from the access services window of the box office in the lower lobby.

ASL-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES

Scheduled ASL-interpreted performances are offered for Mainstage productions. Paper Mill Playhouse hires trained theatrical interpreters for these performances. Discount tickets are available to patrons using this service.

GUN & POWDER

Sunday May 5, 2024, 7:00 PM Purchase Tickets

BEAUTIFUL

Sunday June 30, 2024, 7:00 PM Purchase Tickets

AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES

Audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision is available for each Mainstage production. Using an earpiece attached to a small, hand-size transistor, patrons can hear a live, objective, and concise description of the action on stage in between dialogue and/or music.

“Sensory Seminars” occur prior to each performance where patrons can receive more detailed descriptions of the costumes, set, and props, as well as feel select items to gain a more tactile experience. Click here for dates and to RSVP to upcoming Sensory Seminars.

Headsets and devices, cleaned between each performance, may be obtained at the access services window of the box office in the lower lobby. A name and phone number are required to check out the devices.

GUN & POWDER

Sunday April 28, 2024, 1:30 PM Purchase Tickets
Saturday May 4, 2024, 1:30 PM Purchase Tickets

SENSORY SEMINARS
Sunday April 28, 2024, 12:00 PM RSVP
Saturday May 4, 2024, 12:00 PM RSVP

BEAUTIFUL

Saturday June 29, 2024, 1:30 PM Purchase Tickets
Sunday June 30, 2024, 1:30 PM Purchase Tickets

SENSORY SEMINARS
Saturday June 29, 2024, 12:00 PM RSVP
Sunday June 30, 2024, 12:00 PM RSVP

OPEN-CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES

Scheduled open-captioned performances are offered for every Mainstage production. A large digital screen that projects dialogue as the action occurs live on stage is placed on the edge of the stage on the left side of the auditorium.

GUN & POWDER

Saturday May 4, 2024, 1:30 PM Purchase Tickets
Sunday May 5, 2024, 7:00 PM Purchase Tickets

BEAUTIFUL

Saturday June 29, 2024, 1:30 PM Purchase Tickets
Sunday June 30, 2024, 7:00 PM Purchase Tickets

AUTISM-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES

Autism-friendly performances are theater experiences in which the environment and typical “rules of attendance” have been relaxed to accommodate individuals with Autism and other developmental disabilities and the families and professionals who support them.

View the schedule of upcoming Autism-friendly performances

SERVICE ANIMALS

Service animals are trained, certified animals which help with performing a function for a person that is limited by a disability. They are both welcome in our theater and legally allowed under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Paper Mill will not request proof of certification or demonstration of a service animal’s training, but all service animals and their owners are liable to abide by all Paper Mill policies and procedures.

Management reserves the right to request service animals be removed from the premises in the event of uncontrolled, disruptive behavior, including (but not limited to) barking, growling, jumping on other people, or running away.

All other animals, including emotional support animals, are not admittable in the theater to ensure the health and safety of our audiences, artists, staff, and volunteers.

DISCOUNT POLICY

Patrons who utilize any of the following services are eligible to purchase tickets at the lowest standard rate:

  • Wheelchair accessible seating (located in the rear of the left- and right-side orchestra).
  • Seating near ASL interpreters and/or open captioning services (located in the front of the left-side orchestra).
  • Use of a provided listening device for audio description services.

A total of 4 discounted tickets are available per patron with an applicable access need for themselves and their companion(s). Please note, a maximum of 4 wheelchair accessible seats may be purchased per patron with an applicable access need to maintain availability for other patrons with disabilities.

TRS

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is a telephone service that allows persons with hearing or speech disabilities to place and receive telephone calls. Just as you can call 411 for information, you can dial 711 to connect to certain forms of TRS anywhere in the United States. For more information visit the Federal Communications Commission website at fcc.gov.

For inquiries related to any of the above services, email Accessibility@PaperMill.org. To request services outside of scheduled performances, please provide at least two weeks’ advance notice.

Your opinion matters! Please take a moment to fill out our accessibility services survey so we may better understand the needs of our patrons and expand on our extensive program of access services.

ACCESS SURVEY


Major funding for autism-friendly programs is provided by the Merck Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Paper Mill Playhouse’s accessibility programs are generously supported by BD, Fund for the New Jersey Blind, The Karma Foundation, Merck Foundation, and The Summit Foundation.

The Hearst Foundations are Paper Mill’s Education & Outreach Partner.

 

National Endowment for the Arts logo         Merck 18-19 Paper Mill Playhouse Sponsor