Further casting has been revealed for the upcoming Broadway premiere of “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.” The previously announced play will begin previews on March 28, 2025 and open on April 22 at the Marquis Theatre. Director Stephen Daldry and co-director Justin Martin will reprise their duties from the West End mounting of “Stranger Things.”
Joining the previously announced Louis McCartney in the role of Henry Creel will be Emmy Award nominees T.R. Knight and Gabrielle Nevaeh as Victor Creel and Patty Newby, respectively, as well as Alex Breaux as Dr. Brenner, Rosie Benton as Virginia Creel, Nicky Eldridge as Bob Newby, Andrew Hovelson as Principal Newby, Alison Jaye as Joyce Maldonado and Burke Swanson as James Hopper, Jr.
An Emmy nominee for his performance on “Grey’s Anatomy,” Knight has appeared on Broadway in “Noises Off,” “Tartuffe,” “A Life in the Theatre” and “It’s Only a Play.” He is currently featured in the Off-Broadway mounting of “The Merchant of Venice” at Classic Stage Company.
Nevaeh is known for her starring role as Sadie Alexander on Nickelodeon’s “That Girl Lay Lay.” She received a 2022 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Non-Fiction Program for co-producing a segment on “Nick News.” “Stranger Things” will mark her Broadway debut.
No stranger to the world of “Stranger Things,” Breaux will appear as a series regular in the upcoming fifth season of the Netflix series. Breaux was seen on Broadway in the 2014 revival of “The Real Thing” and Off-Broadway in the 2016 Shakespeare in the Park mounting of “Troilus and Cressida.”
“Stranger Things” will mark the third West End transfer for Benton, having performed on Broadway in “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and “Patriots.”
“Stranger Things” will mark the Broadway debut of Eldridge, who has appeared in “Heathers” at the Ritz Theatre Company in New Jersey.
Hovelson’s Broadway credits include 2016’s “The Father,” 2013’s “Lucky Guy” and the 2012 revival of “An Enemy of the People.”
Jaye appeared on Broadway as Louise in the 2008 revival of “Sunday in the Park with George” and replaced as Jane Banks in “Mary Poppins.” Jaye’s additional credits include the film “Call Jane” and television’s “High Potential.”
Swanson made his Broadway debut in the 2019 revival of “The Rose Tattoo” and is currently featured as George McFly in the national tour of “Back to the Future.”
Written by Kate Trefry and based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Trefry, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” serves as a prequel to the events of Netflix’s science fiction series. The play follows the young inhabitants of the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, as the arrival of new student Henry Creel turns their world upside down. The play will feature original music by D.J. Walde.
Additional casting, by Jim Carnahan, will be announced in January 2025.
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is being produced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions. The Duffer Brothers will serve as creative producers, while 21 Laps Entertainment will serve as associate producer.
