The Stranger Things universe continues to expand beyond the screen, earning critical acclaim on Broadway with Stranger Things: The First Shadow. The stage prequel to Netflix’s hit sci-fi series made a powerful impression at the 2025 Tony Awards, taking home four prestigious honors, including Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, and Best Sound Design of a Play. It also received a special Tony Award for Outstanding Illusions and Technical Effects, recognizing its innovative stagecraft.
Designed by acclaimed scenic designer Miriam Buether, the production has been praised for its chilling and immersive visuals. “We love scaring people,” Buether remarked, reflecting the creative team’s enthusiasm for bringing the Upside Down to life on stage.
Directed by Stephen Daldry, the Broadway play was nominated for a total of five awards, including Best Lead Actor in a Play for Louis McCartney, who portrays a young Henry Creel. Though it didn’t take home the acting award, the play’s technical mastery stood out in a competitive field.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a gripping prequel set in 1959 Hawkins, Indiana, exploring the teenage lives of familiar characters Jim Hopper and Joyce Maldonado, long before the events of the Netflix series. The story centers around the mysterious arrival of new student Henry Creel, whose presence sets off a chain of dark and supernatural events.
The Broadway cast features Burke Swanson as Hopper, Alison Jaye as Joyce, and McCartney as the enigmatic Henry. The play officially opened at the Marquis Theatre in New York in March 2025, following its successful world premiere in London’s West End at the Phoenix Theatre in 2023.
Created by the Duffer Brothers, the Stranger Things franchise shows no signs of slowing down. With merchandise, games, and cosplay spin-offs already flourishing, the original Netflix series is gearing up for its fifth and final season, scheduled to begin airing in three parts starting November 26, 2025.
As fans eagerly await the TV finale, the success of The First Shadow on Broadway proves the enduring popularity and cultural impact of the Stranger Things universe—both on screen and on stage.
