Before he became Vecna, Henry was simply misunderstood. “He just wants to feel like he’s in control of himself,” says de Paula Rocha. “Throughout our play, you see he’s so tormented by these intrusive, violent thoughts and feelings.” According to the actor, Henry struggles not to give into his inner darkness and initially leans on his connection with Patty Newby as an escape. Once he meets Dr. Brenner, however, he begins to embrace his powers. “It’s super exciting to see that journey. And very tragic, of course.”

In his portrayal of this complex character, de Paula Rocha calls Jamie Campbell Bower, who played Henry and Vecna in the series, his “north star.” “He gave me his blessing to explore and make it my own. However, I do often find myself going back to the TV show and hyperfocusing on his mannerisms.” De Paula Rocha also looks to his predecessor in the Broadway role, Louis McCartney, for inspiration. “He laid the blueprint for Henry in The First Shadow,” he shares. “I’m also very much in awe of him. There are a lot of ways I tip my hat to Louis in my performance.”

De Paula Rocha was a member of the ensemble in the first Broadway run of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, where he also understudied as Henry Creel, and previously made his off-Broadway debut in the 2023 revival of I Can Get It for You Wholesale.

As a1950s housewife, Virginia Creel is “trying so hard to be a good mother, but she doesn’t have — or wasn’t given — the tools to succeed,” according to Benton. The actor says Virginia cares deeply about status, but only because she believes that the approval of others will keep her family safe. “I believe Virginia’s love for children is her motivation for all she does. She wants to protect them at all costs.”
 

Even after inhabiting the role for a year, Benton says her performance is evolving. “Stranger Things is its own unique genre,” she shares. “The immediacy of the action and emotion has been continually challenging and therefore inspiring.”

Benton played this role in a previous run of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Her previous stage credits include Patriots and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, in addition to her screen credit in Law & Order: SVU.

Victor Creel is Henry’s father, a military veteran who has what we would now call PTSD. “Victor is dealing not only with Henry’s unusual behavior but with his own terrible secrets, trauma, and alcoholism,” says Rehberger. 

For his portrayal of Victor, the actor built on what’s been shown in the series. “There is a framework built by Kevin L. Johnson and Robert Englund in Season 4,” he explains. “I try to make sure that you can see the Victor in the play turning into Robert Englund’s Victor in the series, but much of what we explore onstage is new and exciting territory.”

Like Benton, Rehberger believes his character wants to be a good parent, but doesn’t know how. “He’s a bit single-minded about this and perhaps not fully equipped to do it, but I think his heart is in the right place.”

Rehberger has appeared on Broadway in The Glass Menagerie and Fiddler on the Roof and was most recently in the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Hamlet.

Before her life revolved around being the most supportive mom to Will and Jonathan Byers, Joyce was a senior at Hawkins High who wanted nothing more than to graduate and leave her small Indiana town behind. Grant sees her as unafraid, unabashed, and exceptionally smart. 

“She’s got a big heart and tunnel vision on the things she wants,” says the actor. “I find her getting totally absorbed with the thing that rings most true and near for her in each moment.”

Grant originated the role of Claudia Yount in the first Broadway run of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Her screen credits include Anima, FBI, Law & Order: SVU

Patty is Bob’s adopted sister and a freshman at Hawkins High. “Like most teenagers, she’s trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs, and she really begins to find that sense of community through Henry,” says Cymone. “She finds someone in Hawkins who is just as weird and nerdy as she is, and that kind of understanding is rare for her. She really wants to hold onto that connection and protect it.”

A recent BFA graduate from Carnegie Mellon University, Cymone portrayed Sue Anderson in a previous run of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. She also starred in the Santa Cruz Shakespeare production of Troilus and Cressida and in the Dartboard Productions theatrical adaptation of Treasure Island at New York’s The Center at West Park theater.

In the production, Jim is an 18-year-old senior at Hawkins High who shares a sweet relationship with Bob reminiscent of the bond we see between Steve and Dustin in the ’80s timeline. He’s a loner who is learning to have community and recognize that love is an important part of life. 

“At his core, Hopper is driven by a need to prove himself — not just to his father or to Joyce, but to himself,” says White. “This story gives him his first real opportunity to step into that potential.”

Foreshadowing his character’s future arc in the television series, White explains: “There’s a natural leadership in him, even if he hasn’t fully realized it yet. What excites me most is getting to explore that early version of Hopper, the moments before he understands his own strength and the impact he’s capable of having.”

Matthew originated the role of James Hopper, Jr. in the production’s first workshop. His screen credits include The Blind, NCIS: Origins, Criminal Minds

Bob, also referred to by Jim as “Bob the Brain,” is a senior at Hawkins High. He’s trying to get his radio show off the ground, though his sister doesn’t take this endeavor seriously. “Everything he does, he does authentically and with a deep level of care,” says Carlos. “Bob’s always trying to find the solution — not be stuck in his problems.”

As a Stranger Things fan from the beginning, Carlos takes inspiration from Sean Astin’s portrayal of Bob. “There’s one scene in Season 2 I look back on most,” he explains. “He joins Joyce for her lunch break and they’re talking about Will’s bullies. Bob talks about his own high school bullies and says, ‘I don’t know why they do that.’ That’s the total essence of Bob. He genuinely can’t comprehend why someone would intentionally harm or belittle someone else. That’s a pure soul right there.”

Carlos made his Broadway debut as pre-superhero Bob Newby in a previous run of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. His screen credits include Grey’s Anatomy, The Better Sister, and The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Lucas and Erica’s mom was first known as Sue Anderson. Young calls the “bold, fierce” senior class president the “heartbeat” of her school. “Without Sue, the Hawkins High student body would most likely fall apart,” the actor explains. “She knows the power she has and uses it intentionally to get things done.”

Young recently earned her BFA from NYU Tisch and is now making her Broadway debut in Stranger Things: The First Shadow.

Meet Mike and Nancy’s mom before she married Ted Wheeler. Childress describes the young cheerleader as “positive, vivacious, and confident.” 

Dolphin made her Broadway debut as young Karen Wheeler in the previous run of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, after originating her role in its first workshop. Her regional theater credits include the world premiere of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical and Coco’s Diary. Onscreen credits include The Villains of Valley View and A Loud House Christmas.

Eddie’s dad wasn’t around in Stranger Things Season 4, but now you can see him as a student at Hawkins High. “He’s fun, outgoing, and always doing the most,” says Ashcraft. “I think there’s something to admire about that.”

Ashcraft recently earned his BFA from the University of Texas at Arlington. His regional theater credits include Cabaret and Trailer Park. This is his Broadway debut.

Dr. Brenner is first contacted by Henry’s mother, who’s afraid of Henry’s psychokinetic abilities. Once Henry lands in Dr. Brenner’s custody for treatment, he becomes the first test subject, known as One. “The fun part of being in this show is playing with people’s expectations,” says Zdrojeski. “This is not the Brenner with a bunch of kids already under his control. This is Brenner finding his way to becoming who he is in the series.”
 

Brenner works for the Department of Defense, and Zdrojeski says only one thing drives the character’s every action: “Power — acquiring it, keeping it, being in proximity to it.” Upon first reading the script, the actor was immediately struck by Brenner’s emotional intelligence, which he expertly uses to serve those ambitions.

In 2023, Zdrojeski made his Broadway debut in Good Night, Oscar. The following year, he originated the role of Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby on Broadway.

Principal Newby is Bob’s father. According to Hovelson, this character is more than just a straightforward antagonist for the kids to rally against. 

“I really believe that Principal Newby sees himself as a protector of Hawkins,” he says. “He was a major in the Army, directed the church children’s choir, and is a public school educator, so leadership, mentoring, order, and protection are second nature for him.” But, like many of the characters in the Stranger Things universe, Principal Newby has a “dark secret.” 

Hovelson played the role of Principal Newby in a previous run of Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway. On Broadway, he has appeared in Lucky Guy, The Father, and An Enemy of the People. You can also see him onscreen in FBI, Blue Bloods, The Good Wife, and Stranger in the Dunes.

Being the police chief of Hawkins runs in the family. Long before Hop was declaring that mornings are for “coffee and contemplation,” his dad was calling the shots. 

In addition to his role as Chief Hopper in this run, Koch is also portraying Dr. Brenner’s own papa. “I’m excited about playing the fathers of two such iconic characters and trying to fill in the blanks from the early parts of their lives,” he shares. “I think these men are truly of their time. They’re both coming out of the Depression and World War ll; they’ve seen a lot of hardship and have been hardened by it. They just want their families to have a better life.”

Koch played the role of Chief Hopper in a previous run of Stranger Things: The First Shadow. His other Broadway credits include To Kill a Mockingbird, Junk, and The Pillowman. Screen credits include Succession, Dear Edward, and New Amsterdam.