Stranger Things: The First Shadow has made its debut on Broadway, inviting theatergoers to dive deeper into the mysterious and thrilling universe of Netflixs acclaimed series. This exciting spin-off play takes audiences back to the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, circa 1959, where it intricately explores the origins of Henry Creel, a character who ultimately transforms into the menacing Vecna, famously portrayed as the antagonist in the Duffer Brothers' hit series.

In a recent episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, members of the creative team behind both the television show and the theatrical production shared insights into the evolution of the play, highlighting how, much like its central character, it underwent significant transformations as they wrapped up production on the final season of Stranger Things.

Ross Duffer, one of the creators of the series, mentioned that they envisioned the play as a crucial bridge connecting the fourth and upcoming fifth seasons. It is in communication a lot with season four and its setting up five in a way, Duffer explained. He added, I think it informs five if youve seen the play and then watch season five. But at the same time, if youre seeing the play after youve seen season five, itll probably play a little bit differently.

The creators face a delicate balancing act in their storytelling. Duffer noted the ongoing discussion about how much information to include in the play without spoiling the highly anticipated fifth season for viewers who might not yet have the chance to see it. We dont want to ruin the season five experience for anyone and we dont want people to feel left out that are unable to get to New York or to London, he emphasized. But at the same time, we want the play to be meaningful and to play a role, he added, expressing satisfaction with the final product after navigating this complex creative process.

Kate Trefry, who is not only a writer for the Stranger Things series but also the playwright for The First Shadow, shared her perspective on the interconnectedness of the two projects. She revealed that she was simultaneously working on the play and the final season, making it challenging to create distinct narratives. To me, theyre just two pieces of a whole and theyre inextricable from each other, Trefry explained. I think that the experience of consuming both together is going to be really fun and satisfying to see how connected they are.

However, Duffer acknowledged that the finale of season five had a direct impact on the on-stage production. I think part of the challenge was that what youre seeing in that play is, like, we [and] Kate [were] doing [season] five, he recounted. Trefry was actively engaged with the play while the show's final episodes were still being filmed, leading to real-time adjustments. This constant evolution of the script introduced challenges as they realized that certain story points would need to be modified to align with the changes happening in both the series and the stage production. Things just keptit was very close, because the timing was like a few weeks before the play opened, Duffer stated, highlighting the intense and dynamic nature of the creative process.

For fans eager to learn more about the production and the creative minds behind this theatrical endeavor, a documentary titled Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things The First Shadow is currently available for streaming on Netflix. The documentary offers a glimpse into the making of the play and the intricate connections between the stage and screen narratives.