Full casting has been revealed for London's upcoming world premiere of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Based on the Netflix series, the new work by Kate Trefry will begin performances at the Phoenix Theatre November 17 ahead of a December 14 opening night. Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin are co-directing.
Broadway vets Patrick Vaill (Oklahoma!) and Lauren Ward (Matilda The Musical) will star as Dr. Brenner and Virginia Creel, respectively, alongside Ella Karuna Williams as Patty Newby, Louis McCartney as Henry Creel, Oscar Lloyd as James Hopper, Jr., Isabella Pappas as Joyce Maldonado, Christopher Buckley as Bob Newby, Michael Jibson as Victor Creel, Shane Attwooll as Chief Hopper, Kemi Awoderu as Sue Anderson, Chase Brown as Lonnie Byers, Ammar Duffus as Charles Sinclair, GillesGeary as Ted Wheeler, Florence Guy as Karen Childress, Max Harwood as Allen Munson, Matthew Pidgeon as Father Newby, Calum Ross as Walter Henderson, and MaisieNorma Seaton as Claudia Henderson.
Rounding out the company will be Tricia Adele-Turner, Lauren Arney, Reya-Nyomi Brown, Patricia Castro, Lydia Fraser, Isaac Gryn, Mark Hammersley, Tom Peters, Kingdom Sibanda, TianaSimone, Danny Sykes, and Meesha Turner.
The new tale keeps things in Hawkins, Indiana, but explores what happened before the 1980s setting of the streaming series. The year is 1959 and centers around Jim Hopper, Bob Newby, Joyce Maldonado, and the arrival of a new student, Henry Creel.
"The cast of Stranger Things: The First Shadow is nothing short of phenomenal," says Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer, who serve as creative producers for the forthcoming work. "These actors brilliantly explore the early days of many fan favorites—including Hopper, Joyce, Bob, Henry and Dr. Brenner—while also bringing new characters to vivid life. We couldn’t be more thrilled and can’t wait for you to meet them all live on stage. See you in London, nerds!"
The play will not be the first time the Netflix series has come to the stage, though it is the first official stage adaptation. Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical played Off-Broadway earlier this year and even streamed a performance after premiering with a 2018 concert at 54 Below.
The upcoming production will feature set design by Miriam Buether, costume design by Brigitte Reiffenstuel, lighting design by Jon Clark, sound design by Paul Arditti, illusion design by Jamie Harrison and Chris Fisher, video design and visual effects by 59 Productions, original music and arrangements by D.J. Walde, choreography by Coral Messam, movement direction by Lynne Page, wigs, hair, and make-up design by Campbell Young Associates, and technical direction by Gary Beestone for Gary Beestone Associates. Casting is by Jessica Ronane Casting with additional casting by Charlotte Sutton and international casting consultancy by Jim Carnahan.
Netflix is co-producing with Sonia Friedman Productions (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), with the Duffer Brothers serving as creative producers. 21 Laps will be associate producer.
Visit StrangerThingsOnStage.com.
