‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ promises spectacular effects and an eerie new story

How would you describe your character in three words?

Devoted. Malleable. Explosive.

What do you have in common with your character?

He’s someone I’ve really begun to love, which is hard because he’s duplicitous. You’d hope you’re not like him; who wants to be Vecna? But he’s nice and sweet. He cares a lot about social situations, which I guess I do too. But he really cares. Maybe I’d walk out of a room thinking, "Oh, I hope I did well," but he has to do well because his mom told him to and if he doesn’t…he’ll kill.

What’s one thing audiences should keep an eye on in this play?

I’m a nerd for Stranger Things, and Henry’s a nerd for [the radio, TV and comic adventure franchise] Captain Midnight. Keep an eye on the mythology. Henry’s Captain Midnight thing with the clock and the radio—maybe it’s all connected, maybe not. Keep your ears peeled.

When you’re not performing, where are you most likely to be in New York?

Patrick Vaill [who played Dr. Brenner in the West End] made me a Google Doc of places in New York to see. I really like this Chinese spot called Ollie’s. And I’m a fan of Little Beet; the salmon there is good. I try to eat good. Most of the time I fail.

Complete this sentence: My stranger thing is __________.

I’ve had heart surgery. I was premature, but I’m using my height—it makes me be able to play young—so it’s a fuck-you to everyone who bullied me. I’m also double-jointed in like five places.

How would you describe your character in three words?

Ambitious. Precise. Visionary.

What do you have in common with your character?

I am definitely ambitious and live my life with a sense of urgency. But I leave more room for fun in my life than he does.

What’s one thing audiences should keep an eye on in this play?

I would encourage the audience not to blink. Louis McCartney’s performance as Henry is mega. His physical transformation and stamina are inspiring. He is the ballast of the show.

When you’re not performing, where are you most likely to be in New York?

Running in Central Park. You get to see the seasons change. That’s my sanctuary, my backyard. As someone said: Without Central Park, New York City would be Gotham.

Complete this sentence: My stranger thing is __________.

Frozen Peanut M&Ms. If you like chocolate and adore crunch, you’re welcome.

How would you describe your character in three words?

Tenacious. Genuine. Grounded.

What do you have in common with your character?

In this show, we follow Joyce’s journey of needing to get out of Hawkins and look for a better life outside the confines of this small town. She’s such a dreamer, always carving her own individual path. I feel similarly. I am open to hearing many perspectives, but I won’t compromise my opinion for anybody. It’s a guttural, “What do I hear? Where am I going?” 

What’s one thing audiences should keep an eye on in this play?

This show is an example of watch out for everything. It’s the trip of a lifetime. There are so many people to watch on stage. There are so many nuggets of reveals for Season Five that could pass you by if you’re not listening closely. But look at the whole picture: There’s so much going on in the back that is completely different from what’s happening at the front. If you saw the show multiple times, you’d be able to see multiple shows.

When you’re not performing, where are you most likely to be in New York?

I just moved back from L.A., but I was born and raised here, so it’s kind of a homecoming. I feel like I’m newly discovering the city as an adult. Because of the work my radius is quite small, but I’m starting to get flickers of time in the parks and the picnics and the dinners. We’re so inside right now, but my motto is be where your feet are: You’re right here, this is the only place you need to be. 

Complete this sentence: My stranger thing is __________.

I am thoroughly entertained by watching people all day and doing nothing else. I don’t need an activity. It’s not that strange but it’s an obsession with people—the overstimulation of watching people coexist. Even when I was growing up, my parents were like, “Stop staring!”

How would you describe your character in three words?

Scared. Arrogant. Boy. 

What do you have in common with your character?

He cares so much. I think that is where we are most similar. When we see him in the TV show, he’s the first one to raise his hand, the first one to step up. The main difference is he’s a bit more ornery, more combative. He’s more action-oriented, and I’m more mediator-oriented. He’s seeking confrontation whereas I’m more about good vibes. 

What’s one thing audiences should keep an eye on in this play?

The costume design on the TV show has a beautiful way of talking about the community from a socioeconomic standpoint. In the play, I would urge audiences to pay attention to each character and how their costume colors and textures begin to interact with others in the show. 

When you’re not performing, where are you most likely to be in New York?

I’m a big wanderer; I like taking long walks. I lived in Brooklyn, and Prospect Park and Greenwood Cemetery are great places to do that. Even just walking along the river. Being able to see more than five feet in front of you is so helpful.

Complete this sentence: My stranger thing is __________.

The mouth trumpet. [He uses his mouth to imitate a trumpet tooting to the tune of “76 Trombones”.] I could not whistle, so I had to learn to do something else.

How would you describe your character in three words?

Warrior. Resilient. Noble.

What do you have in common with your character?

I’m similar to Patty because I don’t give up. Something I admire about Patty is her resilience and ambition—she fights for what she believes in. But I have a very happy family and friends, whereas Patty doesn’t. She’s still trying to find where she belongs.

What’s one thing audiences should keep an eye on in this play?

Keep an eye on all of the illusions. Every scene has something. I’m a huge scaredy-cat—I’m scared of the dark, I’m scared of spiders—so that has been the hardest challenge for me to overcome. Because Patty encounters lots of the dark, and spiders, and lots and lots of blood.

When you’re not performing, where are you most likely to be in New York?

The Olive Garden in Times Square. When I was younger I was a really picky eater, so my parents knew where every single Olive Garden was because that’s all I would eat. So now we have a joke: For every celebration, we go to the Olive Garden in Times Square and chow down on the breadsticks.

Complete this sentence: My stranger thing is __________.

I’m a slow walker. I’m from Los Angeles, and that’s my one little ode to the city—my slow walking.

How would you describe your character in three words?

Earnest. Optimistic. Tragic.

What do you have in common with your character?

Bob is smart, but he doesn’t fully understand the rules of the world. He’s perceived as a happy-go-lucky guy, and I think people view me similarly—and I work hard to make people think that about me, because of hardships I had growing up. My mom became a single mother when I was 15 and I had to work to help provide for the family. I feel Bob is quite similar; he has this single father, he and his sister are both bullied, but he chooses to see the world as a better place than it is.

What’s one thing audiences should keep an eye on in this play?

It feels like two episodes of Stranger Things happening right in front of you, but behind the spectacle there’s an amazing story that leads to questions of whether monsters are made or are born that way. You see that with Henry/Vecna but also with every character who could become a monster, but actively chooses not to.

When you’re not performing, where are you most likely to be in New York?

Margon on 46th Street. That is the most authentic Cuban food; it reminds me of the place I grew up. It’s not just the food, it’s the love you feel there, which is also part of the Cuban culture.

Complete this sentence: My stranger thing is __________.

I’m still getting used to the subway here. I got into this packed subway, and some guy just let one rip. Everyone smelled it. And I was like, This is the strangest thing about New York. It was one stop, but it felt like 30 minutes.