Toronto Symphony TS Orchestra
Visual Guide
I am going to see a Toronto Symphony Orchestra concert.
- 1 - Roy Thomson Hall Getting here
The concert is at Roy Thomson Hall. I can take the subway, streetcar, or our personal vehicle to the concert.
- 2 - - 3 - TTC St. Andrew Station
If I take the subway or streetcar, If I take the subway, I will get off at there may be people I do not know St. Andrew Station. at the station, at the stop, and on the train or streetcar. These people won’t all be going to the concert, but some might be.
- 4 - - 5 - Underground PATH Going up
From the subway, I can walk inside I can take the stairs, escalator, or an the underground PATH system to elevator up from the PATH to the Roy Thomson Hall. Box Office.
- 6 - - 7 - Streetcar Parking the car
If I take the 504 streetcar to the If we take our car, we can go down concert, it will let me off near Roy the ramp and park underneath Roy Thomson Hall. I might have to walk one Thomson Hall. block and cross the street at the traffic lights to get to the hall.
- 8 - - 9 - Underground Box Office
Once we are parked, I can take the The Box Office is the place where I can stairs, escalator, or elevator to the pick up my ticket for the concert. Box Office.
- 10 - - 11 - Ticket pickup Ticket holders
I will give the person working at the My family may already have our tickets. Box Office my name, and they will have We can go directly to the main doors my paper ticket ready for me. instead of stopping at the Box Office.
- 12 - - 13 - Entering Scanning my ticket
Everyone needs a ticket to enter Roy Once I have my ticket, I can walk to the Thomson Hall. My ticket tells me lobby doors to see an usher. The usher where to sit in the auditorium is a friendly helper who will scan my to see the concert. ticket. There might be a beep from the machine when they scan my ticket.
- 14 - - 15 - Mirrors TSO Staff table
Roy Thomson Hall is a glass and Near the entrance, I see a table with concrete building. When I enter the TSO staff members who can answer lobby, I can see myself in the mirrors any questions I have. They can give across from the front doors. me sound-dampening headphones, or earplugs if I need them.
- 16 - - 17 - Coat check Assisted-hearing devices
If I don’t want to carry my coat, I can If I am hard of hearing, I can get a leave it at the coat check and pick it up device that I can wear to help me hear after the concert for a small fee. I may the concert. have to wait in line to drop off or pick up my coat.
- 18 - - 19 - Floors Escalator
There are many floors at Roy Thomson If I take the escalator, I will be careful Hall. To get between them, I can take getting on and off it. When I get on the the stairs, escalator, or elevator. escalator, I will step to the right and hold on to the handrail.
- 20 - - 21 - Elevator Stairs
I can take the elevator to access other I can use the stairs to get to other floors. The closest one is near the floors. If I take the stairs, I will walk lobby entrance. slowly and carefully and hold on to the handrail.
- 22 - - 23 - Ushers Walking around
Ushers are here to help me and If I want to, I can walk all the way everyone else at the concert. They are around the entire lobby and look dressed in black. I can ask them where outside. to find the washrooms, water fountains, quiet room, and my seat.
- 24 - - 25 - Before the concert Lobby announcements
Before the concert, everyone waits in If there is an important announcement the lobby until the auditorium is open. for everyone, it will be announced The lobby may be busy, but it is large through the speakers in the lobby. It and I can walk to a quieter place if I may be loud. I can put my hands over need to. my ears if it is too loud.
- 26 - - 27 - Doors open Tunnels
I will use one of the tunnels to get to The walls of the tunnels are soft, and I my seat. can touch them while I walk toward the auditorium or I can hold on to the handrails.
- 28 - - 29 - Seats Who is sitting with me?
An usher will help me to read my ticket I will sit next to my family, but I may also and find my seat. All seats are assigned, sit next to someone I do not know. They which means my seat is just for me. are also here to see the concert. On my ticket, there will be a letter for the row I am sitting in and a number for my seat.
- 30 - - 31 - Stage Front row
The stage is where the Orchestra will I can walk toward the stage, but I perform. cannot touch the stage or go under or onto the stage.
- 32 - - 33 - Stairs in the aisle Boxes
The seats at the front of the auditorium Some of the seats are at the sides of the are lower than those at the back. I will auditorium and are a little separate from use the stairs to walk down to my seat. the rest—these are called boxes. They have their own entrance, where I can exit the auditorium if I need to.
- 34 - - 35 - Parterre Accessible seating
Some seats are in the parterre at the If I use a mobility device, I will be at the back, on the sides of the auditorium. back of the parterre. I will be able to see They are near an exit, where I can leave and hear the concert no matter where the auditorium if I need to. my seat is.
- 36 - - 37 - Concert begins Conductor
When it is time for the concert to begin, The conductor is the leader of the the lights will dim but not go out. I can Orchestra. They use a baton to tell the tell the concert is starting because the musicians how and when to play. The Orchestra takes their seats, and then conductor may speak to the audience. the concertmaster and conductor come out.
- 38 - - 39 - During the concert Back four rows
During the concert, I can sit in my seat If the concert is too loud from my seat, I and listen to the music. I can also dance can move to the back four rows of the in my seat, or stand. If I stand, I need to auditorium. make sure the people behind me can still see.
- 40 - - 41 - Legend 1. Subway PATH 2. Elevators South Lobby North Lobby 3. Accessible washrooms 4. Men's washrooms 5. Women's washrooms 6. Sensory stations Stage 7. Doors to the hall 8 8 8. TV screens 5 4
Quiet Audience Quiet room room Lower-level view North side — King Street
Back 4 rows
7 7 5 5 4 3 6 6 2
Coat check Box Office 1 Main entrance 2
East side—Simcoe Street Screen Where is the quiet room?
If the music is still too loud, I can go If I need to use the quiet room, I can ask into the tunnels and watch the concert an usher to show me where it is. The on the television screen. I will still be quiet room is close to the backstage able to hear the concert, but it won’t be area. I can access it by using the south as loud. tunnel. There are washrooms nearby for those using the quiet room.
- 42 - - 43 - Inside the quiet room Washroom break
It is darker inside the quiet room. I can If I need to use the washroom during colour or relax there until I am ready to the concert, my family can take me at go back to the concert. In this picture, any time. Our seats will be saved for us the room has tables and chairs, but when we come back. during the concert it will be set up differently.
- 44 - - 45 - Where are the washrooms? Accessing washrooms
To get to a washroom, I will need to go Some of the washrooms are on back up the tunnels to the lobby. The different floors. I can take the stairs, washrooms are all out in the lobby and elevator, or escalator to a washroom. close to the large mirrored wall at the entrance.
- 46 - - 47 - Types of washrooms Inside the washrooms
There are washrooms for men and The washrooms are bright and the washrooms for women. There are also toilets and sinks are automatic. That washrooms where I can go in with my means that the toilet will flush by family. We will choose the washroom itself and the taps will turn on by we are comfortable using and go to it. themselves. This may startle me, but I know I am safe.
- 48 - - 49 - Clapping Bows
I can clap at the end of a piece if I like it. I will know it is the end of the concert Other people will clap too, and this may because the conductor and the make a loud sound. If it is too loud, I Orchestra will stand and bow. I can clap can cover my ears or put on my sound- during the bows to show them how dampening headphones. much I enjoyed the concert.
- 50 - - 51 - Leaving Exiting
After the concert, the lights get brighter I can use the washroom before I leave and it is time to leave. I will leave the the lobby if I need to. Everyone is auditorium with my family and go to the leaving at the same time, and I may lobby. have to wait for those ahead of me to exit.
- 52 - - 53 - Thank You
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is grateful to the following individuals for their early support of the relaxed performance:
Ms. Doris Chan Mrs. Ruth Watts-Gransden Mr. Brian Sambourne
Credits
This Visual Guide was created by the TSO and See you soon! relaxed performance consultant Rachel Marks. Photo credits: We look forward to welcoming you to “Rush hour at Yonge”—Enoch Leung our relaxed performance! St. Andrew Station—Secondarywaltz TTC streetcar—Public domain Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser—Ryan Taplin Ticket holders—Emma Badame Inside the quiet room—Emma Badame All other photos—Jag Gundu
- 54 - - 55 - Toronto Symphony TS Orchestra Visual Guide Have a question?
Call: 416.598.5099 (Mon—Fri, 9:00am—5:00pm)
Email: [email protected]
For more information: TSO.CA/Relaxed
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