There’s a new live show playing 8 times a week in New York City, and that’s the buzzy “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.” The prequel play officially opened on April 22nd at the Marquis Theater in Times Square, after four weeks of previews, and both critics and fans – including this writer – are loving it.
Critics Call it ‘Breathtaking Theatre’
The story of “The First Shadow” takes place in Hawkins, Indiana years before we meet Millie Bobby Brown‘s Eleven and the boys who lead the hit Netflix series. At its center is young Henry Creel, played with mesmerizing intensity by British actor Louis McCartney, who also played the role in the original West End production in late 2023. Henry moves to town in 1959 with his family, including Grey’s Anatomy star T.R. Knight as his father Victor, and disturbing things happen. Fans of the TV show know that Henry Creel eventually becomes terrifying supervillain Vecna, and the play doesn’t hold back showing the beginning of that dark transformation.
The Guardian had called the London production “breathtaking theatre,” and the same can be said for this Broadway transfer. Returning director Stephen Daldry and co-director Justin Martin have assembled top tier cast, crew, and effects to deliver a spectacle that truly raises the bar for live entertainment. Entertainment Weekly calls it “nothing short of a theatrical marvel,” and the New York Times asks what many in the audience wondered while watching with wide eyes: “How the hell did they do this?”
Other familiar characters in the play are high schooler Joyce Maldonado, who later becomes Joyce Byers, played by Winona Ryder in the TV series; young Jim Hopper long before he becomes the Chief of Police played by David Harbour; and the mysterious Dr. Brenner before he ages into white haired Matthew Modine. Plus, there is Joyce’s season two love interest Bob Newby in an important role, and Karen and Ted Wheeler in fun supporting roles before they’re married.
GettyNetflix Documentary About the Play Teases Season Five
In the new documentary “Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” fans get an inside look at how this play came to be – and what was cut from it for season five of the TV show. Playwright and TV writer Kate Trefry was told by creators Matt and Ross Duffer to “tone down” the stage show and save some reveals for this year’s episodes. “We’re gonna be able to do like 80% less. We’re gonna be able to tell very little of this story of [redacted],” she tells stage director Daldry in the special. Netflix not only bleeps these redacted season five spoilers, but also puts the word ‘spoiler’ over the creatives’ mouths. Now, anticipation for the new (and final) season is even bigger!
Getty“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is Netflix’s first theatre production, but most likely won’t be its last due to the high praise and high income. This “creature feature” is a “non-stop thrill ride” according to Deadline, and it would be a shock if it doesn’t receive recognition at the Tony nominations announcement this Thursday, May 1st.
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