"My wife and I have been watching Stranger Things with our boys (then 5 & 7) since season 1. We all came to the show on 24 Apr 2025. The boys are now 13 & 15. As the show started, I realized how long our family has been involved with Stranger Things. This show is a great way to bring a prequel to the fans of the TV series. If you are not familiar with the Stranger Things TV series, you can still appreciate this exciting show. However, you'll appreciate it much more if you have seen the TV series. Amazing stage effects. Very well written and performed. I hope a recorded version will eventually be available on Netflix for those around the country that cannot make it to NYC to see the show will be able to enjoy this fantastic production and essential events that complete the Stranger Things story."
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Dean D from Elsmere on Apr 25, 2025
Great acting and special effects
"It is an amazing prequel to the series."
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 21, 2025
Incredible
"Keep you on the edge of your seat! Loved every moment!!!"
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Toni C from Brandon on Apr 19, 2025
Do Not Miss!
"Without giving away anything, all I can say is this play blew my mind!! All I kept saying to my husband and 18 year old son who were there as well was "I can't get over the sets and effects!"
We were engulfed in the excitement from the opening scene and there were never any dull moments. The cast were incredible....so many "Broadway debuts", but you would never know because the acting, movement and physicality of what they all did were just incredible. The first act is long (about 90 minutes)....but we didn't mind it was THAT exciting!
I did say "yes" to 'would I recommend this to children'....but in reality only if they know the show/series and not younger than 10 I would say.
Fantastic show all around!!!"
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 17, 2025
Amazing special effects!
"I enjoyed the show. I had no background with Stranger Things so I was lost some of the time, especially in the first act. At half time, my daughter brought me up to speed on some of the Stranger Things show. That helped in the second act. The special effects were amazing!"
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Broadway.com Customer on Nov 21, 2025
Go see it!
"I brought my teenage granddaughter who is a fan of the Netflix show. I went in not knowing the story. I found it interesting and the scenery was spectacular along with all the performances"
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Broadway.com Customer on Nov 16, 2025
Very Stranger Things!!
"If you like Stranger Things you will like this play. Lots of exciting moments with great acting. Very cool stage theatrics that make the play seem like a movie at times. "
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Timothy T from Waterford on Oct 27, 2025
Fantastic Journey into the World of Hawkins!
"If you are a fan of the Netflix show, I can’t recommend this more. Incredible special effects, a compelling storyline, and tons of jaw-dropping moments. I wouldn’t recommend for children under 13, due to some darker elements and loud noises. If you are sensitive to noise, consider a different show. Staff and facilities are excellent!"
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Broadway.com Customer on Oct 17, 2025
Great Show
"I thought the show, production and cast were all great! I’m excited for Season 5 of Stranger Things after seeing this show. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Sep 28, 2025
Excellent!!
"Such great actors, such amazing sets! Whole show was captivating and so well done. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Aug 31, 2025
So creative
"Not having watched the tv show, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this take on the story. I found the show creative, exciting, and well performed. Special effects and staging were excellent. A bit too long, but that was ok. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Aug 11, 2025
This is mainly for fans of the series.
"This was a very entertaining show for people who are big fans of the series. If you’re not, you may be a bit lost on the plot. The cast and crew were amazing and I was very entertained. The first act is just a tad slow but the second act is where the best sequences are. To sum up, if you’re a big fan of the series don’t wait, this is a hit. If not, you may want to skip this one. "
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Anthony F from Oldsmar on Aug 4, 2025
Great production
"Well done! Effects and stage production was amazing. I am very familiar with the story overall and not sure someone who does not know the franchise would fully understand."
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Broadway.com Customer on Jul 20, 2025
Insane special effects and great prequel for show watchers
"The performance was amazing! Elements of surprise and excellent acting for the storyline presented. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Jul 6, 2025
Unusual Play
"Fantastic sets, effects and acting. A little too chaotic and choppy and loud for me. "
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Broadway.com Customer on May 19, 2025
Loved it!
"If you are a stranger things fan, you must see! My 9 and 11 year old loved it and was sad when it was over. From the them song, to the back and forth from the upside down, the special effects and amazing characters. It was truly magnificent and I can't wait for season 5."
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Broadway.com Customer on May 5, 2025
Absolutely delightful
"I love seeing new work and this show did not disappoint! An absolute feast for the eyes! To seamlessly pull off supernatural elements on stage with practical effects was incredibly impressive. I absolutely loved the consistently choreographed movements, which kept the actors and stage in constant movement, the theater felt literally alive which kept me on the edge of my seat. The anxiety and tension on stage were palpable. There wasn't a dull moment.
This ensemble cast had some of the best chemistry I have seen on stage in a while, you could tell the actors had real trust in each other and were having a blast sharing this journey and story. When the actors are having the time of their lives on stage, the audience feels it, and we too have the time of our life. Big shout out to Dora Dolphin as Karen, she was incredibly charming and had excellent comedic timing. During the group scenes, my eyes gravitated to her each time.
I only watched the first season of the Netflix show, and honestly, it wasn't really my thing, but I would recommend this stage show to any adult. It was absolutely delightful from start to finish. I am so glad I came. "
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Briana L from Minneapolis on Apr 16, 2025
It was good not as expected
"The beginning was great. The end was great. The Middle dragged on about a play within the high school, which just had no bearing on the actual play title or the series and was irrelevant. that part actually made me fall asleep."
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Broadway.com Customer on Nov 25, 2025
Fun
"Loved the special effects they were great, but hated how unnecessarily loud they were to the point where you felt you needed earplugs, also the main character spoke too low and you couldn’t make out what he was saying most of the time, especially when the effects were competing with him talking."
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Broadway.com Customer on Nov 16, 2025
True review
"The props and special effects were the highlight of the play. I felt that the introduction (beginning of the play) was lagging and I lost interest, it was okay but should be shorter and it would have been more pleasing. The second half was what was good and kept my interest."
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Broadway.com Customer on Aug 17, 2025
Incredible staging
"The show is an theatrical experience that is remarkable in its blend of artistry and technology.The play itself isn’t of the same calibre but it works and the performances are all strong "
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Stephen G from New York on Apr 27, 2025
The Great, the Good, and the Ugly.
"The special effects were fantastic. Lead actors carried the show. Scenes involving special effects, the upside down, and lead actors kept the show alive. There was an abundance of cursing that was not needed. I don't mind cursing when it shows emphases to a story but consistent use of GD was a turn off for me and wasn't relative to the story. It was good but could have been better with a better storyline running parallel with the main story. "
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Jeremiah M from Gallatin on Nov 24, 2025
For Fans of the TV Series
"This is a hyperactive, action-packed story with lots of laughs, noise, and amazing special effects. By amazing, I mean I’ve seen nothing like it on stage. Impressive stuff.
Overall impression: this is sci-fi/fantasy with a plot that wanders; not a dialog gold mine and is best for fans the tv series. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Nov 24, 2025
This show was not for me
"I like the special effects. I did not like theme. This show was definitely not for me."
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Broadway.com Customer on Oct 20, 2025
Stranger things Newbee
"Loud, chaotic and a bit hard to follow. Too much screaming and not enough story. Great production values. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Jul 14, 2025
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About
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Before the world turned upside down. Hawkins, 1959: a regular town with regular worries. Young Jim Hopper’s car won’t start, Bob Newby’s sister won’t take his radio show seriously and Joyce Maldonado just wants to graduate and get the hell out of town. When new student Henry Creel arrives, his family finds that a fresh start isn’t so easy...and the shadows of the past have a very long reach.
From Netflix and the multi-award-winning Broadway producer Sonia Friedman Productions comes Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Winner of two Olivier Awards including Best Entertainment, this landmark production is brought to life by an award-winning creative team including director Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Billy Elliot, The Inheritance, The Hours, The Reader) and co-director Justin Martin (Prima Facie, The Inheritance). With stunning special effects, extraordinary performances, and a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this gripping, stand-alone adventure will take you right back to the beginnings of the Stranger Things story.
