“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” opened on April 22 after an incredibly popular run on the West End. The “Stranger Things” prequel was praised during its performances in London, winning two Olivier Awards in 2024, one for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play. Since coming to the Big Apple, the play has only garnered more critical acclaim, winning three Tony Awards last Sunday.
The play transports audiences to a time before Eleven ate Eggo waffles and Will Byers went missing, walking the audience through how anxious teenager Henry Creel (Louis McCartney) became the villain, Vecna, in the iconic Netflix series. The show has shocking special effects, with characters floating in the air, spiders flooding the stage and a visually stunning opening scene where a shipwreck happens onstage.
The show is a theatrical feat, unlike anything else happening on Broadway. It’s no wonder the production was awarded a Special Tony Award for its illusions and special effects. But there is more to this production than impressive lighting, sound and sets — its cast is filled with skilled theatre performers who give the show heart and humanity.
Juan Carlos is one of these actors, making his Broadway debut playing nerdy genius Bob Newby. In the Netflix series, Bob is a successful business manager dating his high school crush, Joyce Byers. In the play, however, audiences get a chance to see Bob when he is an insecure teenager at Hawkins High School.
Carlos told The Knockturnal that he was a fan of “Stranger Things” long before he landed his role, and was ecstatic to learn more about Bob’s backstory when he read the script for the first time.
“I’m a big Bob fan,” Carlos said. “Seeing Bob before he was a mature guy who had already had [Joyce] was delightful.”
But this great opportunity came with great pressure — Carlos admitted that the cast was anxious about how “Stranger Things” fans would react to the production’s interpretations of such beloved characters. Carlos told The Knockturnal that these anxieties were quickly eased when the cast saw the fandom’s love and support for the production.
“The ‘Stranger Things’ fandom is so welcoming to us,” Carlos said. “My favorite part of every night is getting to meet the fans [at stage door] and hear their perspective [on the show].”
With all the excitement and anxiety, Carlos told The Knockturnal that he still hasn’t been able to fully process the fact that he’s making his Broadway debut. He added that sometimes he does experience “Broadway moments” that remind him of how far he’s come, like when he took his family backstage on opening night.
“I grew up with a single mother on food stamps in Florida — this field is unheard of where I come from,” Carlos said. “[Being on Broadway] has been the most beautiful experience.”
Even though it’s his Broadway debut, Carlos is no stranger to the medium of theatre. He shifted from live theatre to film and television acting after college, booking roles in popular shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Sex Lives of College Girls.” Carlos told The Knockturnal that although he still loves performing for the silver screen, he’s so happy to return to the theatre, which he described as his “first love.”
“Theater is truly an actor’s medium, because once we’re out of rehearsal … we’re the ones on stage, going out there every night and then seeing what works,” Carlos said. “It’s amazing. There’s nothing in the world like it.”
Buy tickets to “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” here.
