There’s nothing quite like a villain origin story — especially when the villain in question is “Stranger Things”’ Vecna. The stage adaptation of the Duffer Brothers’ hit Netflix series, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” is a prequel to the TV show and shows how a young boy named Henry Creel becomes a monster.
Louis McCartney originated the role of Henry Creel in the premiere production of “The First Shadow” in London’s West End. Now, he's on Broadway and has earned a 2025 Tony Award nomination for his performance.
Host Ruthie Fierberg, executive editor of Broadway News, sat down with McCartney to get the scoop on his wildly physical, vocally taxing and psychologically complex performance.
Want to be the first to hear these chats? Subscribe to broadwaynews.com today, starting at only $1 per month, and get early access to these episodes and many more exclusive interviews and breaking news stories on Broadway and the Tony Awards.
Photo credit: Louis McCartney as Henry Creel in “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” on Broadway; photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
