Broadway shows for the 2025-2026 school year closed strong with a trip to “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.” 

Other trips this school year included two musicals: the emotional “Maybe Happy Ending” and the charming “The 25th Putnam County Annual Spelling Bee.” For the spring term, students voted for the show of their choice. I appreciate this approach since it created much additional excitement among the classes. 

The play follows beloved characters and the antagonist from the television series “Stranger Things” during their high school years. It serves as a live prequel to the television series, which concluded on December 31 of last year, therefore no prior knowledge of the series is needed to enjoy the play.

The play was engrossing throughout its nearly three-hour performance. Every aspect of the show, from the impressive staging to the compelling plot, left me on the edge of my seat. Students enjoyed cast members walking through the aisles, as well as the show’s musical elements. The set was incredibly detailed with many moving parts, and the jumpscares startled a lot of students. Unique elements such as the portrayal of another foggy, mirrored dimension called Upside Down made this show an experience like no other. The illusion of “tears” from that dimension to ours was especially striking. 

The 1959 setting of Hawkins, Indiana, was also a distinctive aspect of the show. The music, dark attic and vintage radio set the scene. The stage shifted through many settings, including a ship at sea, an attic, a school, a Las Vegas show, a grassy area and a doctor’s office.

During its now year-long Broadway run, “The First Shadow” has been highly successful, winning three Tony Awards and six total nominations. 

Peddie students, myself included, are extremely grateful for the opportunity to see world-class Broadway productions through the school at no personal cost. “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” at the Marquis Theatre was a truly unique experience. This kind of shared experience helps contribute to the strong sense of community we see at Peddie.