The Broadway rumours were true! This week it was confirmed that big-budget West End blockbuster Stranger Things: The First Shadow is going to transfer to New York.
The Broadway production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow will start performances on 28 March 2025 at the Marquis Theatre in New York.
The Netflix and Sonia Friedman production was widely tipped to be heading to an ATG venue (Friedman has a deal with ATG), although it seems that availability for one of their 7 Broadway theatres was just too tight, and the Nederlander Organization won out for their Marquis Theatre.
The show’s creative team remains intact from London, including direction by Stephen Daldry and co-direction by Justin Martin, 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 & visual effects by Jamie Harrison & Chris Fisher, video design & visual effects by 59, choreography by Coral Messam, movement direction by Lynne Page, wigs, hair and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates, technical director is Gary Beestone for Gary Beestone Associates, and casting by Jim Carnahan.
And it’s casting that has become the big question. Namely, will rising star and Stephen Daldry protege Louis McCartney, who currently stars as central character Henry Creel in the West End production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, move over to the Broadway production in the spring?
Video: Stranger Things The First Shadow – Broadway teaser trailer
Sonia Friedman launched a casting call way back in April 2024 looking for a new actor to play the pivotal role of Henry Creel in the London production.
Daldy, Friedman and the creative team originally held an open casting call to find their first Henry Creel and the other leads, and then held a long series of workshops, before picking the cast, including Belfast-born Louis McCartney in the role of Henry.
Presumably they have been doing the same again since April, but possibly to recast the London team?
A casting call poster in April to find a new cast for Stranger Things on stage
Alongside Louis McCartney (Game of Thrones) as Henry Creel, the Stranger Things: The First Shadow principle cast in London also includes Isabella Pappas (Finding Alice) as Joyce Maldonaldo; Oscar Lloyd (The 47th) as James Hopper Jnr; Christopher Buckley (David Copperfield) as Bob Newby; Ella Karuna Williams (The Equalizer) as Patty Newby; Shane Attwooll (Wonder Woman 1984) as Chief Hopper; Christopher Buckley (David Copperfield) as Bob Newby; Michael Jibson (The Essex Serpent; Hamilton) as Victor Creel; Patrick Vaill (Oklahoma!) as Dr Brenner; Alex Young (Follies) as Virginia Creel; and Max Harwood (Allen Munson).
The producers have said that Broadway casting is to be announced. It will be interesting to see whether a number of the key London cast will transfer with the show.
Until Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Louis McCartney had never even set foot in a theatre before.
Director Stephen Daldry told Deadline last year that he considers McCartney “a proper theatre animal”, and that he has a performative ability of ”knowing how to respond and excite an audience”. Daldry went on to say, “he’s a proper star with proper star power.”
McCartney recently spoke to 1883 Magazine about his experience of performing in the play: “The more I do the play, the more I actually learn to really have gratitude. I’m really thankful for the position I’m in because it’s all a whirlwind at the start, but seven or eight months on and it’s in my bones. There’s no more publicity to do anymore, it’s just you and the work. It’s this character and you and you have another 4 or 5 months with them.”
Stranger Things: The First Shadow continues to extend at the Phoenix Theatre in London, and is now booking to 16 February 2025.
The production scored an Olivier Award win for Best for Entertainment at the 2024 Olivier Awards, and fantastic reviews from the London theatre critics, with four and five stars across the board from all the major critics.
Based on the Netflix series Stranger Things created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things: The First Shadow is written by Kate Trefry (Netflix’s Stranger Things), and has an original story by the Duffer Brothers, award-winning writer Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed, The Motive and the Cue), and Kate Trefry.
Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Jack Thorne is set for a busy Spring 2025 in New York, what with Stranger Things opening on Broadway, and his acclaimed National Theatre play The Motive and the Cue heading to Broadway at the same time.
Book tickets to Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Phoenix Theatre London
Phoenix Theatre, London
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