‘Stranger Things’ stars reunite for Broadway prequel show’s opening

The stars of Stranger Things traveled all the way from Hawkins to the Big Apple to show their support for the series’ new prequel play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, on its Broadway opening night.  

Cast members Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Noah Schnapp, Jamie Campbell Bower, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Cara Buono, and Matthew Modine all posed for photographs outside the Marquis Theatre in New York City before the curtain went up Tuesday evening. Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer and executive producer and director Shawn Levy joined them in several snapshots.

Their attendance comes just days after costar Sadie Sink, who is currently performing across the street in the new play John Proctor Is the Villain, also made a visit to the production. 

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In fact, several of the series’ stars got the chance to meet their Broadway counterparts while backstage at the event. Modine, who plays Dr. Brenner, posed for photographs with stage actor (and future season 5 star) Alex Breaux, while Bower and stage actor Louis McCartney exchanged hugs during their own Creel family reunion.

Directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, Stranger Things: The First Shadow tells the origin story of the young Henry Creel. As the troubled teen wrestles with his fledgling powers, he encounters several beloved characters from the Netflix hit like Joyce, Hopper, and Bob. 

Schnapp, who plays Will Byers on the show, posted a photo of the series cast and stage actors at the event on his Instagram Story, writing, “Welcome to the ST universe.” 

In a separate Instagram post, the 20-year-old actor called the play a “must-watch” for Stranger Things stans. “This cast is incredibly talented and hard-working. Every detail — the special effects, music, costumes, writing — is all top-tier,” he wrote. “Everyone who is a Stranger Things fan cannot miss [The First Shadow].”

Entertainment Weekly expressed similar praise for the production in its review, calling it a “frightening, immersive, nonstop thrill ride of a play that successfully transports audiences into the television series with its stunning illusions, masterfully crafted sets, and moving performances.”

If that weren’t enough to get you fully onboard, the Duffer Brothers explained to Entertainment Weekly in late 2023 that the production “definitely gives fans some not-so-subtle teases and hints as to where certain storylines are heading in season 5,” adding that “it touches on several themes and ideas that we will continue to explore in the show.”

At the time, writer Kate Trefry said The First Shadow pulls back the curtain on some of the series’ burning questions. “Why Hawkins? Why is this happening here? Why is Hawkins Lab there? Why is Brenner there?” she said. “It was important to me to give the town an original sin that it would then be punished for in these events that play out over the course of many decades. It could be any town, which is to say every town has a shadow.”

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is playing now at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre.