The Broadway production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow is now in rehearsals, and Playbill is peeling back to the curtain to bring you in on all of the action. The upcoming Broadway transfer of the Olivier-winning play will begin performances begin March 28 at the Marquis Theatre, ahead of an April 22 opening.
Based on the an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Kate Trefry, and set in the world of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, the play is penned by Trefry, directed by Stephen Daldry, and co-directed by Justin Martin.
The play explores when Henry Creel first moves to Hawkings, Indiana, in 1959, following how he becomes the eventual ruler of the Upside Down. The play also features high school versions of Stranger Things characters Jim Hopper, Bob Newby, and Joyce Maldonado. The work premiered at London's Phoenix Theatre since 2023, but official sources are protecting spoilers by keeping mum on further plot descriptions.
Louis McCartney will reprise his West End performance as Henry Creel, with Rosie Benton (Patriots) as Virginia Creel, Alex Breaux (Stranger Things) as Dr. Brenner, Andrew Hovelson (Lucky Guy) as Principal Newby, Alison Jaye (Shameless) as Joyce Maldonado, Emmy nominee T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy) as Victor Creel, Emmy nominee Gabrielle Nevaeh as Patty Newby, Juan Carlos as Bob Newby, and Burke Swanson (Back to the Future: The Musical) as James Hopper, Jr.
They will be supported by Janie Brookshire (The Philanthropist), Kelsey Anne Brown, Malcolm Callender, Ta'Rea Campbell (The Hills of California) as Patty’s Mom, Antoinette Comer (Mamma Mia!), Robert T. Cunningham as Charles Sinclair, Ayana Cymone as Sue Anderson, Tom D'Agustino (Dear Edward), Victor de Paula Rocha, Ian Dolley (The Holdovers) as Walter Henderson, Dora Dolphin as Karen Childress, Nya Garner, Logan Gould (The Corps) as Lonny Byers, Shea Grant as Claudia Yount, Rebecca Hurd, Ted Koch (To Kill a Mockingbird) as Chief Hopper, Timothy Lawrence, Jamie Martin Mann as Ted Wheeler, Patrick Scott McDermott (Flying Over Sunset), Stephen Wattrus (Take Me Out), Maya West, Eric Wiegand (Plaza Suite) as Alan Munson, and Graham Winton (The Ferryman).
The Broadway run will feature set design by Miriam Buether; costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel; lighting design by Jon Clark; sound design by Paul Arditti; original music composition, orchestration, arrangements, and supervision by D.J. Walde; illusions design and visual effects by Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher; video design and visual effects by 59; choreography by Coral Messam; movement direction by Lynne Page; and wigs, hair, and makeup design by Campbell Young Associates. The technical director is Gary Beestone for Gary Beestone Associates, casting is by Jim Carnahan, and U.K. casting is by Jessica Ronane.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow continues its run at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End. The U.K. production received two Olivier Awards, including Best Entertainment or Comedy Play and Best Set Design.
The play is produced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions. The Duffer Brothers act as creative producers, with 21 Laps Entertainment as associate producer.
Visit StrangerThingsBroadway.com.
