'Stranger Things: The First Shadow' to close on Broadway in January

The award-winning stage prequel to Netflix's Stranger Things TV series will also conclude its world-premiere run in London's West End later this year.

Summary

• Stranger Things: The First Shadow will close on Broadway in January 2027
• The show tells the villain origin story of Henry Creel 30 years before the Stranger Things TV series
• The play won four Tony Awards for its stagecraft

The gate to the Upside Down is closing for good soon: Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway has extended for a final time, and will play its last performance at the Marquis Theatre on January 3, 2027.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow takes place 30 years before the events of the award-winning Netflix series, depicting the villain origin story of Henry Creel and expanding on events referenced in season 5 of the TV show.

The Broadway production opened in 2025 and became the most Tony Award-winning play of that year, taking home prizes for its set, lighting, and sound design and special effects, which New York Theatre Guide's critic praised as an "astonishing stage spectacle."

The show is directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, with a script by Kate Trefry from an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne, and Trefry.

The current Stranger Things Broadway cast includes Victor de Paula Rocha as Henry Creel, Ayana Cymone as Patty Newby, Shea Grant as Joyce Maldonado, Juan Carlos as Bob Newby, Rosie Benton as Virginia Creel, Dora Dolphin as Karen Childress, Andrew Hovelson as Principal Newby, Ted Koch as Chief Hopper, Robert T. Cunningham as Charles Sinclair, Lia Christina and Francesca Yhlen alternating as Alice Creel, Matthew Erick White as James Hopper, Jr., Ben Ashcraft as Alan Munson, John Patrick Collins as Lonnie Byers, Jennie Harney-Fleming as Patty’s Mom, Thatcher Jacobs as Walter Henderson, Quinn Nehr as Ted Wheeler, Nick Rehberger as Victor Creel, Zoe Sage as Sue Anderson, Afra Sophia Tully as Claudia Yount, and John Zdrojeski as Dr. Brenner.

Additionally, one week before the play closes on Broadway, the world-premiere production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow in London's West End will also end its run on December 27, 2026. Learn more about Stranger Things: The First Shadow in London.

Matt and Ross Duffer, creative producers and creators of the Netflix series, said in a statement, “When the legendary Stephen Daldry first came to us with the idea of making a Stranger Things play, we were stunned — both by the fact that Stephen wanted to do this, and that he believed it could work. And boy, did it work.

“We remain awed by what Stephen, Kate Trefry, Justin Martin, and all the brilliant behind-the scenes wizards were able to pull off: cinematic theater unlike anything else out there. Their incredible work drew audiences from all over — a majority of whom had never even been to a Broadway show before.

“We’d also like to give a standing ovation to the incredibly gifted actors who stepped into these roles — including the Tony-nominated Louis McCartney — and to the fans, who made each and every performance so memorable.”

Get Stranger Things: The First Shadow Broadway tickets now.

Photo credit: Stranger Things: The First Shadow. (Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)