Accessibility at Bratton Theater
Accessing the Theater
Bratton Theater’s main entrance is on Pratt Avenue and requires navigating several sets of stairs.
The theater’s accessible entrance is on Wythe Avenue; scooters and wheelchairs can enter the lobby area using the ramp at the rear of the building on Wythe (between Scott and Root Avenues).
There are a limited number of accessible parking spaces behind Norton Hall, on Root Avenue, and in the Main Lot. A valid state-issued accessible parking permit is required to park in these spaces, and standard parking rates apply.
A temporary drop-off pass can be obtained at any gate to let off a patron with limited mobility. We recommend entering through the Welcome Center Main Gate or the Turner Gate. Please note, all patrons entering the grounds must present a valid gate pass or theater performance ticket.
The Institution provides regularly scheduled complimentary transportation service to/from the Main Parking Lot and within the grounds during the season. Take the North bus or the Lake Tram to Bratton Theater. Live updates for trams and buses are available here during the summer assembly season.
Accessible restrooms are on the porch.
Patrons can rent mobility devices including scooters, wheelchairs and walkers at the Main Gate Welcome Center (1 Massey Ave, Chautauqua, NY, 14722). Advance reservations for mobility devices are highly encouraged. Please visit mobility.chq.org for more information.
Accessible Seating
Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC) and Chautauqua Institution are dedicated to the comfort of our patrons. Bratton Theater’s audience seating is at an incline with steps. To ensure there is adequate accommodation, the entire first row is designated as accessible seating.
Upon patron request, a wheelchair or other non-motorized mobility device can take the place of a theater chair.Individuals with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, can purchase tickets for accessible seating. Individuals purchasing an accessible seat in the front row can purchase up to three additional companion seats in the first row.
Upon arrival at the theater, there are several options for getting to one’s assigned seat. Patrons can:
- Patrons can bring their own wheelchair into the theater if they purchased an accessible seat in the front row or choose to park their mobility scooters outside the theater so there is ample room for emergency evacuations.
- If a patron is unable to walk from the theater entrance to their seat, the scooter can be used to the first row and then transfer to an accessible seat.
Notes: Our ushers park the scooter and bring it back -at the end of the performance. Patrons can request a complimentary walker or wheelchair to transport between the entrance and their accessible seat.
Please be aware that our ushers are unable to lift patrons from mobility devices or seats or help patrons transfer between devices and seats due to liability concerns. Patrons unable to transfer independently may be eligible for an aide pass if they have a dedicated medical aide or companion. Refer here for information on the aide passes.
For more information about accessibility to Chautauqua Institution grounds, parking and more, visit accessibility.chq.org.
Sensory-Friendly Performances
CTC is joining other arts organizations worldwide to make select performances sensory-friendly for neurodiverse audiences. Patrons can expect low house lights, creating a more calming environment with softer and less intense stage lighting and reduced sound levels to minimize sudden loud noises or jarring sounds. Movement around the theater is encouraged as needed.
Performances selected as Sensory -Friendly include:
July 16 @ 2:30 pm Week Four (July 13–20)
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Birthday Candles (Sensory-Friendly Performance)
Bratton Theater
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Birthday Candles (Sensory-Friendly Performance)
This performance of Birthday Candles has been selected to be sensory-friendly. To better accommodate neurodiverse audiences, patrons should expect dimmed house lights, creating a more calming environment with softer and less intense lighting and reduced sound levels to minimize sudden loud noises or jarring sounds. Audience members are permitted to move around, vocalize, or express themselves as needed. This can include the freedom to leave and re-enter the performance space without judgment.
By Noah Haidle
Ernestine Ashworth contemplates her cosmic insignificance on her 17th birthday, a feeling that follows her through the swift passage of time. In the blink of an eye, she reaches her 18th birthday, hurtles toward her 41st, accelerates into her 70th, and glides into her 101st. Birthday Candles is a heartfelt and humorous story that guides the audience through the significant, challenging, and remarkable moments as time inexorably marches on. One ordinary woman’s life is measured by the simple tradition of baking a birthday cake.
Originally developed as a New Play Workshop during the 2017 season and then performed around the country, Chautauqua will finally mount its own full production of Birthday Candles. What a fitting way to open CTC’s mainstage season and celebrate Chautauqua Institution’s 150th birthday!
This production may not be suitable for youth under 8.
August 1 @ 2:30 pm Week Six (July 27–August 3)
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Fabulation (Sensory- Friendly Performance)
Bratton Theater
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Fabulation (Sensory- Friendly Performance)
This performance of Fabulation has been selected to be sensory-friendly. To better accommodate neurodiverse audiences, patrons should expect dimmed house lights, creating a more calming environment with softer and less intense lighting and reduced sound levels to minimize sudden loud noises or jarring sounds. Audience members are permitted to move around, vocalize, or express themselves as needed. This can include the freedom to leave and re-enter the performance space without judgment.
or, The Re-Education of Undine
By Lynn Nottage
Previews: July 27-28
Performance Dates: July 30- Aug. 4
Undine is a powerful and successful business owner basking in the glory of all her accomplishments. She has everything from wealth to love and a fabulous wardrobe to match, but life has a wicked sense of humor. The man she believes is the love of her life pulls the ultimate disappearing act, stealing everything and leaving her pregnant and penniless. Plummeting down the precarious ladder of society, Undine finds herself grappling with the disintegration of her once-perfect life as she is forced to return to her humble roots in Brooklyn and the family she once abandoned. Can Undine manifest her future without acknowledging her past?
Fabulation is a sharp-witted satirical comedy that takes us from riches to rags, through twists and turns, and reveals the unexpected joys within chaos.
This production includes adult content—depictions of drug use and harsh language—and may not be suitable for youth 13 and under.
August 13 @ 7:30 pm Week Eight (August 10–17)
Chautauqua Theater Company presents The Light and The Dark (Preview) Sensory-Friendly Performance
Bratton Theater
Chautauqua Theater Company presents The Light and The Dark (Preview) Sensory-Friendly Performance
This performance of The Light and The Dark has been selected to be sensory-friendly. To better accommodate neurodiverse audiences, patrons should expect dimmed house lights, creating a more calming environment with softer and less intense lighting and reduced sound levels to minimize sudden loud noises or jarring sounds. Audience members are permitted to move around, vocalize, or express themselves as needed. This can include the freedom to leave and re-enter the performance space without judgment.
By Kate Hamill
Directed by Jade King Carroll
Artemisia Gentileschi, a trailblazing artist, was the most successful female painter of the 17th century. Her artistic legacy endures as one of the few Baroque-era female artists, with dozens of paintings exhibited globally alongside Rafael and Caravaggio. Artemisia, characterized by her irreverence and audacity, aspired to attain immortality through her groundbreaking work. However, her journey took an unexpected turn, marked by a series of brutal betrayals that forever altered her life and art. The resulting transformation kindled a fire within her, a flame that continues to astonish and resonate with audiences today.
The Light and The Dark delves into the profound impact of art in assuaging trauma and explores the transformative power of female rage in reshaping societal paradigms.
This production includes adult content — nudity, a depiction of torture and an act of sexual violence as well as profanity — and may not be suitable for youth 13 and under.
Assistive Listening System
An assistive listening system is available during performances. Patrons may bring their own equipment or use our complimentary equipment, available for loan during the performance. Please ask an usher for assistance.
Bratton Theater uses a radio frequency (RF) Assistive Listening System. The equipment is coil-compatible if the patron has a compatible jack/patch cord. Most users own several different sizes just in case. The system is also helpful for patrons who need hearing assistance but don’t have a hearing aid. For more technical information, visit the “Assistive Listening Systems” section at accessibility.chq.org.
Live Audio Descriptions
Live audio descriptions (LAD) are narrated depictions highlighting the crucial visual aspects of a theatrical presentation. These descriptions are read by a professional and seamlessly integrated into pauses within the dialogue, enhancing accessibility for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, those who are neurodiverse, or individuals with attention or processing diagnoses. LAD is a complimentary service.
Performances including LAD are:
July 13 @ 4:00 pm Week Three (July 6–13)
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Birthday Candles
Bratton Theater
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Birthday Candles
By Noah Haidle
Ernestine Ashworth contemplates her cosmic insignificance on her 17th birthday, a feeling that follows her through the swift passage of time. In the blink of an eye, she reaches her 18th birthday, hurtles toward her 41st, accelerates into her 70th, and glides into her 101st. Birthday Candles is a heartfelt and humorous story that guides the audience through the significant, challenging, and remarkable moments as time inexorably marches on. One ordinary woman’s life is measured by the simple tradition of baking a birthday cake.
Originally developed as a New Play Workshop during the 2017 season and then performed around the country, Chautauqua will finally mount its own full production of Birthday Candles. What a fitting way to open CTC’s mainstage season and celebrate Chautauqua Institution’s 150th birthday!
This production may not be suitable for youth under 8.
July 16 @ 2:30 pm Week Four (July 13–20)
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Birthday Candles (Sensory-Friendly Performance)
Bratton Theater
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Birthday Candles (Sensory-Friendly Performance)
This performance of Birthday Candles has been selected to be sensory-friendly. To better accommodate neurodiverse audiences, patrons should expect dimmed house lights, creating a more calming environment with softer and less intense lighting and reduced sound levels to minimize sudden loud noises or jarring sounds. Audience members are permitted to move around, vocalize, or express themselves as needed. This can include the freedom to leave and re-enter the performance space without judgment.
By Noah Haidle
Ernestine Ashworth contemplates her cosmic insignificance on her 17th birthday, a feeling that follows her through the swift passage of time. In the blink of an eye, she reaches her 18th birthday, hurtles toward her 41st, accelerates into her 70th, and glides into her 101st. Birthday Candles is a heartfelt and humorous story that guides the audience through the significant, challenging, and remarkable moments as time inexorably marches on. One ordinary woman’s life is measured by the simple tradition of baking a birthday cake.
Originally developed as a New Play Workshop during the 2017 season and then performed around the country, Chautauqua will finally mount its own full production of Birthday Candles. What a fitting way to open CTC’s mainstage season and celebrate Chautauqua Institution’s 150th birthday!
This production may not be suitable for youth under 8.
July 31 @ 2:30 pm Week Six (July 27–August 3)
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Fabulation
Bratton Theater
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Fabulation
August 3 @ 4:00 pm Week Six (July 27–August 3)
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Fabulation
Bratton Theater
Chautauqua Theater Company presents Fabulation
Fabulation
or, The Re-Education of Undine
By Lynn Nottage
Previews: July 27-28
Performance Dates: July 30- Aug. 4
Undine is a powerful and successful business owner basking in the glory of all her accomplishments. She has everything from wealth to love and a fabulous wardrobe to match, but life has a wicked sense of humor. The man she believes is the love of her life pulls the ultimate disappearing act, stealing everything and leaving her pregnant and penniless. Plummeting down the precarious ladder of society, Undine finds herself grappling with the disintegration of her once-perfect life as she is forced to return to her humble roots in Brooklyn and the family she once abandoned. Can Undine manifest her future without acknowledging her past?
Fabulation is a sharp-witted satirical comedy that takes us from riches to rags, through twists and turns, and reveals the unexpected joys within chaos.
This production includes adult content—depictions of drug use and harsh language—and may not be suitable for youth 13 and under.
August 20 @ 7:30 pm Week Nine (August 17–25)
Chautauqua Theater Company presents The Light and The Dark
Bratton Theater
Chautauqua Theater Company presents The Light and The Dark
The Light and The Dark
The Life and Times of Artemisia Gentileschi
By Kate Hamill
Directed by Jade King Carroll
Previews: Aug. 10–14
Performance Dates: Aug. 15–23
Artemisia Gentileschi, a trailblazing artist, was the most successful female painter of the 17th century. Her artistic legacy endures as one of the few Baroque-era female artists, with dozens of paintings exhibited globally alongside Rafael and Caravaggio. Artemisia, characterized by her irreverence and audacity, aspired to attain immortality through her groundbreaking work. However, her journey took an unexpected turn, marked by a series of brutal betrayals that forever altered her life and art. The resulting transformation kindled a fire within her, a flame that continues to astonish and resonate with audiences today.
The Light and The Dark delves into the profound impact of art in assuaging trauma and explores the transformative power of female rage in reshaping societal paradigms.
This production includes adult content — nudity, a depiction of torture and an act of sexual violence as well as profanity — and may not be suitable for youth 13 and under.
Braille & Large Print Programs
Braille and large print programs are available upon request for performances at Bratton Theater. We kindly ask patrons to provide at least one week’s notice prior to your visit.
To request a braille or large print program, email accessibility@chq.org.
Additional Accommodations
If you require any additional accommodations that are not covered here, email accessibility@chq.org. Advance notice is always appreciated.