STRANGER THINGS STAR JAMIE CAMPBELL BOWER MAKES BROADWAY DEBUT IN “THE FIRST SHADOW”
Surprise, Broadway fans! On Friday, December 19, Jamie Campbell Bower made a memorable appearance during a sold-out performance of Stranger Things: The First Shadow at The Marquis Theatre, reprising his role as Henry Creel, the chilling origin of Vecna, in the Netflix hit series. Stepping onto the stage for the final scene, Campbell Bower joined the production’s cast, including his younger counterpart, Louis McCartney, to greet fans at the stage door after the performance.
“I’m honored to have been asked to do it,” Campbell Bower told Tudum.com. “I’ve been so fortunate to see First Shadow twice, both in London and here. It’s a very bizarre and also beautiful experience to see it, so to wrap up my journey with Stranger Things by doing this, it’s really cool.”
The actor expressed admiration for Louis McCartney, who plays the younger Henry Creel in the Broadway production. “I remember seeing that first preview in London and being so blown away. He’s definitely taken certain things I did with Henry and brought them into his portrayal, but also created something uniquely his own, which is beautiful,” he said.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow delves into the origin story of Henry Creel, a.k.a. Vecna, exploring the dark, mysterious events that shaped one of Hawkins’ most notorious villains. With Season 5 of Stranger Things launching, demand for both the Broadway and West End productions of The First Shadow skyrocketed, with tickets selling rapidly through the holiday season and well into 2026.
The production, which officially opened April 22, 2025, at The Marquis Theatre, has already earned critical acclaim, winning four Tony Awards—including Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting, and Best Sound Design—plus a Special Tony for illusions and technical effects. Produced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions, the play is written by Kate Trefry and directed by Stephen Daldry, with co-direction by Justin Martin.
“The story is thrilling,” Campbell Bower noted, “and seeing it live, with all the effects, music, and the cast bringing it to life, it’s just incredible. Henry’s journey is dark but so fascinating, and watching Louis interpret that story adds another layer I didn’t expect but absolutely love.”
Fans of the series can catch Jamie Campbell Bower in the final episodes of Stranger Things Season 5, with Volume 1 already streaming on Netflix, Volume 2 premiering Christmas Day, and the Finale dropping on New Year’s Eve. Across three volumes, the season promises the ultimate showdown in Hawkins, with the full party uniting against Vecna one last time.
With a cast including Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Priah Ferguson, and of course Campbell Bower, Stranger Things continues to captivate audiences on-screen and now, spectacularly, on stage.
Tickets for Stranger Things: The First Shadow are available at StrangerThingsBroadway.com, starting at $59.75.
