Louis McCartney on his first Tony Award nomination for 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow'

The young actor made his stage debut in the play's London premiere, and he now makes his Broadway debut reprising the role of troubled, supernatural teen Henry Creel.

“I've got endless words and no words at all. I keep stumbling over them,” an exuberant Louis McCartney said about his Tony nomination for Stranger Things: The First Shadow, in which he shoulders the main role of Henry Creel in his Broadway debut. “I'm so so thankful. I'm honestly so ecstatic. To be in New York celebrating this is absolutely insane.”

The Irish actor reprises the role of Henry, a youth who struggles to understand his psychokinetic powers, from the play’s London run that marked his stage debut. The onstage tale is a prequel to supernatural events in the Netflix horror/sci-fi series Stranger Things. New York Theatre Guide's critic described McCartney’s Broadway star turn as “spellbinding.”

Excited about the Tony nod, McCartney acknowledged the support of co-directors Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin. “They were always there by my side, and they always had my back,” he said. “They saw something, and they were extremely kind and gracious and let me have the time to work on this.”

McCartney's tenure with the play has been a source of ever-increasing joy. “I've been with Henry Creel for over two years now,” he said. “Every day I love the character more and more.”

Another source of delight comes from the darker and, well, shadowy, elements of the play. He’s particularly fond of the moment when a malevolent monster called the Mind Flayer appears. “I love the very first moments that we introduced the monsters into the play,” said McCartney. “It changes the play’s dynamic entirely. It’s horrifying.”

McCartney also loves the audience’s reaction to the unsettling effects. “They’re honestly like, 'What the hell is his play? The jump scares and frights are part of the show. “Come watch,” said McCartney. “You’re in for a treat.”

Another very special treat comes on June 8 when the Tony Awards air live from Radio City Music Hall. That’s when McCartney faces off with five talented actors: George Clooney (Good Night, and Good Luck), Cole Escola, (Oh, Mary!), Jon Michael Hill (Purpose), Daniel Dae Kim (Yellow Face), and Harry Lennix (Purpose). Could the young actor pull off a win? Stranger things have happened.

Get Stranger Things: The First Shadow tickets now.

Photo credit: Louis McCartney (center) in Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway. (Photo by Matthew Murphy)