With the exciting release of “Stranger Things: Season 5,” fans have been dominating social media and the entertainment industry as a whole. With new twists, themes, and emotional turmoil, it is clear the Duffer Brothers know how to end a series – one that has dominated Netflix for nearly ten years.
However, “Stranger Things: the First Shadow” has had less press and media attention, despite its enthralling storyline and nostalgic characters.
In 2020, the Duffer Brothers began the process of putting their masterpiece onstage, first starting production in the West End. The play, which tells the story of Henry Creel, premiered at the Phoenix Theatre on December 14, 2023.
It was brought to the Marquis Theatre on Broadway two years later, opening on April 22, 2025, with previews starting March 8, 2025. At the annual Tony Awards in the same year, “Stranger Things: the First Shadow” won six awards, including a special Tony Award for a lifetime achievement in theatre.
For context, the plot covers the unfortunate happenings of Hawkins, 1959, about 25 years before Will goes missing. Henry Creel, also known as 001 and Vecna later in the television series, is shipped off to high school in the small town, equipped with his staticky radio.
He meets Patty Newby, daughter of the principal of the school and sister of beloved Bob Newby, who is introduced in Season 2. The two become great friends and rely on each other throughout the play, soon falling into spells of romantic tension.
As the plot progresses and Henry becomes more and more isolated and neglected by his family, he is unable to control the extent of the darkness inside him and is eventually caught and experimented on by Doctor Brenner.
Since its opening, people have been raving over the technical design and elements of the production, often left speechless, unable to grapple with the profound emotion after seeing it.
And after seeing it live, I can definitely say it is a once-in-a–lifetime experience, especially with the added excitement over the Season 5 drop.
From nosebleeds to spiders to “Vecna’s Curse,” every single technician on this production deserves a standing ovation. The lighting alone was stunning, with bright flashes and dark patches aiding in the pure magic of the storyline.
The sets were perfect, drawing the audience into this distorted dystopian era, copying designs from Hawkins High and Brenner’s Lab. Just the amount of deception, from redirection to distraction, was breathtaking. The audience needed to be fully captivated, fascinated by so many elements, in order for the majority of illusions to work.
While watching, I was so amazed by the technical design, adrenaline pumping out of my ears, I was nauseous.
The acting was also incredible, from Henry’s erratic breakdowns to Patty’s hopeful wonder, and it was amazing to see so many adored characters develop throughout the play. From Joyce to Hopper to Ted Wheeler, so many adult characters in the television show were brought to the stage, now as teenagers, facing conflicts that parallel those experienced by Eleven and Mike on the screen.
There are not enough words to even explain how sublime this production is.
I was able to interview two students who also had the privilege to see this play.
Sophomore Kate Thorton said, “Stranger Things on Broadway was one of the best shows I have ever seen… If you love Stranger Things, you’ll love this play… The visuals and lighting and sound were amazing and made me feel like I was in Hawkins itself… This show was absolutely phenomenal, and I think everyone has to see it at some point in their lifetime.”
She also commented on the acting in the show, which she claimed was “the most surprising” to her.
It is obvious the play fascinates most of its audience, leaving people of all ages and backgrounds with the same emotional impression.
“It was how they made the characters of Joyce, Bob, and Hopper so real. They all came together and solved the mystery, and it was like I was watching a real episode,” said Freshman Thomas Vandegrift. The producers of the play definitely had one foot still in Hollywood, and it made the entire show so powerful and authentic.
Given the scare elements of the plotline, in both the play and the television show, audiences are also left sunk in their seat, hiding behind shaking hands, caught mid-gasp by intermission. And given the complexity of the plot and the emotional nostalgia, they are exhausted by the curtain call.
“Stranger Things: the First Shadow” is more than a spin-off series to earn money. It is a labour of love and draws audiences in from the first flicker of light to the final bow.