VENUE ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
It is our intention at Sign of the Beast Burlesque to have Metalesque Fest be welcoming to all performers and show attendees. The intention of this accessibility statement is to describe the fest venue layouts in a way that is helpful to those with accessibility and comfort concerns so that you can attend the venue well informed in advance and have the best experience possible. In this document, you’ll find notes about each venue that apply to the main areas where audience members are, and below that, you will find notes with the title “Performer Notes” with specifics about the backstage areas that only performers have permission to be in. If this document does not answer your questions, please email us directly at signofthebeastburlesque(at)gmail(dot)com and we are happy to answer further questions and help you in any way that we can. Thank you!
Dante’s 350 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209 www.danteslive.com
-On Trimet bus line #20 with a bus stop one block away and the closest Max transit line two blocks away.
-No stairs at the main entrance on Burnside street. This door is more than 32 inches wide, and no turning or hallways are present to enter the venue.
-Main floor is wheelchair accessible on the stair-free.
-Main floor seating area has standard height bar stools with backs and standard height tables and chairs with backs.
-Floor is concrete. Normal lighting is dim. Once the show begins, there will be strobe lighting and brighter stage lights as well as loud music and a fog machine.
-Bathrooms are on the main floor, and one ninety-degree corner at the entrance. One of these bathrooms is a single stall that is accessible for wheelchair users.
-Venue adjacent parking lot has handicap parking spots, and the lot does not have any stairs. Fee for lot parking is typically $8 dollars.
Performer Notes for Dantes:
Dantes backstage area is unfortunately not accessible to those using wheelchairs. There is a very narrow stairwell with a low ceiling that leads from the main floor to the dressing room, located in the basement. There is a handrail on one side and a wall on the other. The stairwell to the dressing room is fairly well lit, and the dressing room is even brighter.
-There is a performer only private bathroom in the basement adjacent to the dressing room.
-Ceiling in the dressing room is low, just about six and a half feet high.
-There is a three-step wooden stair that leads from the main floor curtained side stage area to the stage, it has no handrail nor does it have a wall to hold on to for balance. For our shows, we have multiple stage kittens/assistants who help people get up and down these stairs if needed, with one person on either side of the stairs offering a hand.
***What we are working on to make this venue more accessible for all performers:
We are working on creating a second dressing room closer to the stage (not in the basement where the dressing room is currently). This dressing room would be temporary and created by curtain walls. Users of this dressing room would not have to utilize stairs to get to their dressing area and would be on the same level as the ADA accessible bathroom on the main floor. However, users of this dressing room would have to use the stairs to get on stage.
Star Theater 13 NW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97209 www.startheaterportland.com
-On Trimet bus line #20 with a bus stop one block away and the closest Max transit line one block away.
-No stairs at main entrance on NW Third Avenue. This is a double door that is more than 36 inches wide, and no turning or hallways are present to enter the venue.
-Main floor is wheelchair accessible. Once you enter, turn right toward the patio entrance. Here you will find the wide ramp with a handrail that leads down to the main seating area closer to the stage.
-Wheelchair accessible bathroom is located just behind the ticket booth near the main entrance. It’s down a short hallway that has no turns. This bathroom is a single user with a lockable door, open floor plan, and an assistance bar on the wall for the toilet.
-Main floor seating area has standard height bar stools with backs and standard height tables and chairs with backs.
-Floor is concrete. Normal lighting is dim. Once the show begins, there will be strobe lighting and brighter stage lights as well as loud music and a fog machine.
-Venue adjacent parking lot has handicap parking spots, and the lot does not have any stairs. The fee for lot parking is typically $8 dollars.
Performer Notes for Star Theater:
Star Theater was built in 1911 and the backstage area is unfortunately not accessible to those using wheelchairs. There is a very narrow short stairway with a very low ceiling that leads from the main floor to the very narrow and small dressing room, located directly underneath the stage. Another similar stairway with a handrail leads from the main floor up to the stage. This area is very dark, and we navigate it with flashlights.
-There is a private bathroom in the dressing room, but it is almost always broken due to the age of the building and plumbing issues. Typically we ask performers to use the bathroom located near the main entrance. If you are in costume you can go out the side stage door onto the patio, and walk through the patio to the other side venue entrance so that fewer people see you in costume. This bathroom is also up a short set of stairs.