Review | Stranger Things: The First Shadow
I saw Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on June 7 at 7:00 P.M., and I can honestly say I was completely blown away. This is not just a stage adaptation, it’s a theatrical event. The special effects are unlike anything I’ve ever seen in a Broadway house. From the moment the show begins, the production pulls you into Hawkins with such precision that it stops feeling like a stage at all. Things float, vanish, explode, and twist before your eyes. Fog creeps in with purpose. The lighting, projections, and sound work in perfect sync to bring the Upside Down to life in a way that feels both cinematic and immediate.
But the spectacle never comes at the expense of performance. The cast is phenomenal across the board. Louis McCartney as young Henry Creel gives a layered and haunting performance that holds the emotional center of the show. Ella Karuna Williams as Patty and Isabella Pappas as Joyce Byers bring warmth and sharp timing, grounding the supernatural in something that still feels real. Christopher Buckley, as a young Hopper Jr., is another standout, his take on the character adds heart, humor, and just the right amount of grit. The chemistry among the young cast creates a believable core group, making the emotional turns land with surprising impact. Even in a world full of creatures and chaos, the human element stays strong.
The creative team deserves just as much praise. The direction by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin is sharp and confident, balancing intimacy with scale. Every transition feels purposeful, and the pacing never drags. Even quieter scenes hold a tension that builds steadily toward the show’s darker turns. This is a production that understands how to make your skin crawl one moment and then hit you with real emotion the next.
I went in expecting a clever extension of the Stranger Things universe, but what I got was a technically flawless, fully realized production that left me grinning through most of it and gasping at the rest. It’s a rare thing to see Broadway lean into effects-driven storytelling with this much finesse and heart. I was thrilled by the entire experience and would absolutely see it again. This is theater pushing its own boundaries, and doing it with style.
I bought the magnet, and even posed for another rare picture of myself.
