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Broadway Welcomes Stranger Things: The First Shadow with Star-Studded Opening

New York’s Marquis Theatre became the latest hotspot on April 22 as Stranger Things: The First Shadow made its Broadway debut. The anticipation for the production was palpable, and while many stars from the original Netflix series were present to show their support, Millie Bobby Brown, the beloved Eleven, was notably absent.

Brown, now 21, is currently engaged in filming for the upcoming Enola Holmes 3, focusing on her role as Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister. Her commitment to this film marks another exciting chapter in her career.

The opening night was a celebration dominated by veteran cast members from the Stranger Things series, including Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Jamie Campbell Bower, Cara Buono, Matthew Modine, Brett Gelman, and Priah Ferguson, all of whom gathered to support the production.

Interestingly, Sadie Sink, another notable figure from the original series, was also absent from the main event. However, she did manage to attend a preview of the play the day before, taking advantage of her day off from her current project, John Proctor Is the Villain, staged at the nearby Booth Theatre.

Brown is no stranger to the limelight, having played Enola in Netflix’s Enola Holmes adaptations, including the 2020 release and its sequel in 2022. She has also been busy with various other Netflix productions, like the recent Damsel and The Electric State.

In Enola Holmes 3, fans can look forward to the return of notable cast members such as Henry Cavill reprising his role as Sherlock, Helena Bonham Carter as their mother Eudoria Holmes, and others like Himesh Patel and Louis Partridge. Philip Barantini, known for his prior collaboration with Jack Thorne on Adolescence, takes the reins as director for this sequel.

The official synopsis teases an exciting adventure for Enola, who finds herself in Malta, where her personal aspirations overlap with a complex case that promises to be her most challenging yet.

Behind the scenes of The First Shadow, the creative team, including Thorne and the Duffer Brothers, is passionate about connecting the play to the established universe of Stranger Things. Directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, the story, penned by Kate Trefry—who has been integral to the show since its second season—serves as a prequel set in 1959 Hawkins, Indiana. It explores the origins of key characters like Jim Hopper and Joyce Maldonado, shedding light on their backstories.

Trefry expressed her enthusiasm for the creative freedom she experienced while writing the play, emphasizing the need to align it with existing narratives while also paving the way for insights into season 5, which is currently in the works and anticipated to premiere in 2025.

As excitement continues to build around the production, fans can now purchase tickets for Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Source
people.com