Netflix is bringing its hit Broadway show home. The streamer is filming the stage production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow this week for a future release on its platform. To allow for the shoot, all public performances at New York’s Marquis Theatre are canceled from February 10 through February 14. The show will reopen to live audiences on February 15. The move captures the original Broadway cast, led by Tony nominee Louis McCartney, before this group concludes their run on March 29.
What ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ Is About
The play is a direct prequel to the Netflix series, created to be a vital part of the show’s story. Written by Kate Trefry, a writer from the Stranger Things series, the story is set in Hawkins, Indiana, in 1959. This is decades before the events of the television show. The plot follows teenager Henry Creel as his family moves to Hawkins hoping for a new beginning. Strange events begin to happen in the town, and Henry starts to suspect he might be connected to the emerging darkness. The story shows how a young boy transforms into the terrifying villain known as Vecna.
The play also features the teenage versions of characters fans know well. The story includes young Joyce Maldonado, Bob Newby, and James Hopper Jr. as they get tangled in the mystery surrounding Henry. Dr. Martin Brenner also appears, showing his early interest in Henry’s unique abilities. The writer, Kate Trefry, has said the play is completely connected to the TV series.
“It’s totally canon. It’s totally tied into the series with seasons one through four, but also reaching into the future with season five. It had to be this missing puzzle piece that connects all of these different things,” Trefry said in a past interview.
Filming Details and Cast Information
Netflix, which is a producer of the Broadway show alongside Sonia Friedman Productions, is filming the stage production inside the Marquis Theatre. A key reason for filming now is to record the original Broadway cast before they leave the production. The current cast, led by Louis McCartney as Henry Creel, will play their final performance together on March 29.
Starting in late March, a new group of actors will take over the main roles. Victor de Paula Rocha will step into the role of Henry Creel. He will be joined by Ayana Cymone as Patty Newby, Shea Grant as Joyce Maldonado, Juan Carlos continuing as Bob Newby, and Matthew Erick White as James Hopper Jr.. The rest of the current principal cast includes Rosie Benton as Virginia Creel, Emmy nominee T.R. Knight as Victor Creel, and Alex Breaux as Dr. Brenner.
The Play’s Journey From London to Broadway
Stranger Things: The First Shadow first opened in London’s West End in December 2023. The London production was a major success, winning two Olivier Awards, including one for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play. The show’s Broadway run began at the Marquis Theatre on April 22, 2025. It was nominated for five Tony Awards and won four, including awards for its scenic design, lighting, and sound. It also received a special Tony Award for its outstanding special effects.
Interest in the Broadway show grew significantly after Netflix released the fifth and final season of the Stranger Things television series. The play has become one of the highest-grossing shows on Broadway. For the week ending February 8, 2026, it was the fifth top-earning production, bringing in about $1.4 million. The play continues to run in London’s West End at the Phoenix Theatre.
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Release Info and What Fans Can Expect
Netflix has not announced a specific release date or window for the filmed version of the play. The company also has not detailed whether it will be released as a special event or as part of its regular streaming library. This will not be Netflix’s first behind-the-scenes look at the stage production. In April 2025, the streamer released a documentary titled Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which covered the making of the play.
The stage production is known for its large-scale theatrical effects and illusions. The creative team includes director Stephen Daldry and co-director Justin Martin. The show uses extensive stagecraft that blends practical effects with video design to create its version of the Upside Down on stage. The filmed version is expected to give a global audience a front-row view of these theatrical moments that were previously only available to theatergoers in New York or London.
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