With a stunning story courtesy of Kate Trefry, The Duffer Brothers, and Jack Thorne, and thrilling direction thanks to Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, it’s easy to see why “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” has been so successful.
Despite having been on Broadway for just under a year, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is incredibly polished and genuinely delightful to watch. After seeing The First Shadow in late November of 2025, I can confirm that very few shows come close to doing what “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” does.
The First Shadow is one of the greatest feats on Broadway at the moment, both technically and artistically. With such a wide array of effects, something I was particularly impressed with was how seamlessly several of the characters were flown during The First Shadow. Flying actors during a show is remarkably difficult to do well, and most of the time it comes across as unrealistic. Luckily, the technicians behind the fly rail in Stranger Things: The First Shadow execute this Herculean task with flawless precision.
Fortunately for us, the spectacle doesn’t stop there. In a bold move by Illusions and Visual Effects directors Jamie Harrison & Chris Fisher, we are treated to a gargantuan animatronic Mind Flayer during Act II. Avid Stranger Things fans will remember when the Mind Flayer was introduced as the “big bad” of Stranger Things’ second season. Not only is this animatronic absolutely massive (in comparison, it’s probably about as tall as a single-story house), but it descends from the proscenium. Now, if you’ve ever been a part of a show where anything descends from the proscenium, you’ll appreciate how difficult this is. For those who haven’t, let me just say, it is very challenging to get something of that size to descend properly and on cue. Paired with all of the numerous lighting and audio cues that happen simultaneously, it is a truly magical (albeit frightening) moment.
As many “Stranger Things” fans know, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is centered around Henry Creel, a misunderstood and incredibly troubled teen who later becomes Vecna. Louis McCartney, who plays Creel in Stranger Things: The First Shadow, gave the most impressive performance I’ve ever seen.
McCartney, who originated the role of Creel on the West End, was thoroughly mesmerizing. Even knowing the monster Creel would become, I found myself sympathizing with him regardless. If that wasn’t enough, McCartney’s onstage chemistry with Alex Breaux was simply captivating. Watching them share the stage made the two and a half hour run time feel more like ten seconds.
In addition to diving deeper into Creel’s backstory, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” features beloved characters such as James Hopper, Jr., Joyce Maldonado, Bob Newby, and introduces a new character, Patty Newby.
With such a talented cast, it’s difficult to find space to praise each actor to the degree they deserve. That being said, I would be remiss not to mention two other standout actors. Alison Jaye (Joyce), perhaps through some kind of witchcraft that we mere mortals can only dream of, resembles young Winona Ryder to a T. Watching her, it’s difficult to believe that she is not, in fact, actually Winona Ryder. Her character’s boldness and unapologetic leadership shine through in every scene, and she is delightful to watch.
In a different (but equally talented) vein, Gabrielle Nevaeh’s (Patty) presence is nothing short of pure talent. The spiritedness and wit that Neveah exhibits as Patty is offset perfectly by McCartny’s portrayal of socially awkward outsider Henry Creel. Experiencing their chemistry was truly refreshing, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
If you have the chance to see this show, I highly recommend it. You won’t regret it.
