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Stranger Things: The First Shadow star Louis McCartney tells us the biggest audience reactions from every Broadway performance (Heads up, it's a pretty huge spoiler)
The live theater chapter of Stranger Things (currently on Broadway) features a young Jim Hopper and Joyce Maldonado on stage, but it's neither of them that get the crowd riled up

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Major spoilers for Stranger Things: The First Shadow follow. (No, really; it's a big spoiler.)
Louis McCartney has been with Stranger Things: The First Shadow, since its very first opening night. The actor, who plays Henry Creel right now on Broadway, has been the face behind the boy who will be Vecna since the play opened in London's West End in 2023. As you can imagine, McCartney has seen quite a few audiences from his place on stage, and according to a recent quote, there's one moment above all that moves them.
But as I shouldn't even have to tell you at this point, discussing that moment means McCartney is spoiling a pretty huge moment in the Broadway play - so if you haven't seen it yet and don't want it ruined, go no further.
Still here? Great.
Speaking to Buzzfeed in an interview published May 20, McCartney said that one consistent audience reaction he's seen comes from the introduction of a well-known character into the plot of Stranger Things: The First Shadow - that is, Eleven, the series' main protagonist played by Millie Bobbie Brown.
"A rolling wave goes over the audience," McCartney says of the scene, "It just passes from one person to the other. It's really funny and interesting. And sometimes we get a clap there. Sometimes we don't, but it is cool to see their reactions to us setting up Season 1."
But is that the biggest reaction from audience members? Not quite. According to McCartney, it's not the hero of Stranger Things that gets crowds on their feet - it's the villain.
"The biggest reaction is the Mind Flayer," McCartney reveals, "Which is great for me on stage, because I'm already losing my mind and completely out of it. [...] When the audience gives that scream and that gasp, they start being terrified of the situation of the scene, that's when I really, really believe it."
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is playing at the Marquis Theater on Broadway now. Season 5 of the Netflix series is expected later this year.
As we all collectively wait for Stranger Things season 5, here's the keys to getting ready:
- How to watch Stranger Things in chronological or release order
- Getting to know the Stranger Things season 5 cast
- There needs to be more death in Stranger Things, says co-star Gaten Matarazzo
- The Stranger Things time jump between season 4 and 5 has been confirmed by Netflix - and it raises some serious questions
- "They land the plane," David Harbour describes the Stranger Things finale, which he calls its "best episode"
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