5 Reasons to See Paranormal Activity on Broadway (If You Dare)

Scary movie lovers and live theater fans share an understanding. We feed off the same energy, delighting in the brief but powerful communal experience. Think about how much more fun it is to watch a horror flick in theaters than it is to stream it alone at home. That sense of camaraderie between strangers in the dark reaches a whole new level in Paranormal Activity on Broadway. Now haunting the August Wilson Theatre, the horror play is leaving its ghostly handprint on the Great White Way. We’ve summoned five hair-raising, heart-pounding reasons to see it. Aren't you dying to find out?

1. It's a new story (live on Broadway!)
Fans of the Paranormal Activity film franchise are in for a treat, not a repeat. Rather than adapting the original movie for the stage, the Blumhouse-backed production brings fresh fear to Broadway with an original script. While the plot begins in a familiar way—an American couple in their 30s move into a new home that may or may not be haunted by a malevolent entity—Levi Holloway's play sets aside a found-footage format better suited to the screen. Technology has come a long and terrifying way since 2007; modern horrors including Alexa, work Zoom meetings and boomers on FaceTime are used to both humorous and eerie effect.

2. The illusions are unreal.
Reminiscent of an open-front dollhouse, the split-level set makes voyeurs of the audience. From the (perhaps still too close for) comfort of your seat, you'll peer into the home's shadowy corners and wait with bated breath to find out who's at the door. Because, yes, of course they're going to open the door. Illusion designer Chris Fisher, who was honored with a Special Tony Award for Stranger Things: The First Shadow and made the magic happen in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, has engineered scares so seamless that you'll stop screaming in fear only to wonder, "How did they do that?" Even if being spooked isn't usually your thing, the marvelous special effects guarantee a good time.

3. Expect thrills and chills.
We stand by this: the show is legitimately scary. Paranormal Activity is helmed by Felix Barrett, Punchdrunk artistic director and the mastermind behind the immersive long-runner Sleep No More. While audience members are solely observers this time, the production pulses with a pervasive sense of dread. The goosebumps intensify in an explosive second half, culminating in a climactic reveal that will leave you breathless. As with any good horror work, the story employs more than one plot twist. For maximum shock value, avoid sharing spoilers when recommending the show to your adrenaline junkie friends.

4. Stars Cher Álvarez and Travis A. Knight make scary good Broadway debuts.
Cher Álvarez plays Lou and Travis A. Knight plays James; the couple at the center of the story have been married for less than a year and just moved from Chicago to London. Ostensibly, it's because James got a new job, but as quickly becomes clear, there's a darker motive behind this fresh start. Making their respective Broadway debuts in the roles, the pair are a convincing millennial couple as they banter, bicker and flirt. From James' relatable observations about the peculiarities of the U.K. ("the outlets, obviously") to Lou's annoyance at her husband for not closing the door while he pees, there's a charm to their early interactions that lures the viewer into a false sense of security. In true horror fashion, there's much more than meets the eye.

5. You'll laugh in between the screams.
Holloway's dialogue cuts the tension with comic relief, making the buildup to each satisfying jump scare even more effective. James deliver such standout lines as "My shivers are fully timbered." His mother, Carolanne (played to perfection by Shannon Cochran), is overly involved in their marriage; Lou is obsessed with paranormal podcaster Dr. Etheline Cotgrave (Eva Kaminsky). Lou and James' shared quirks are endearing; their teasing relatable. One could almost believe they're a normal couple starting over in a new place. By the time the secrets begin to come out, it's far too late—for them and for you.

Get tickets to Paranormal Activity: A New Story Live on Broadway!