THE HANGOVER REPORT – The stage version of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY seriously attempts to bring horror to Broadway, and it largely succeeds

Travis A. Knight and Cher Álvarez in “Paranormal Activity” at the August Wilson Theatre (photo by Matthew Murphy).

And just like that, we’ve officially commenced the 2026-2027 Broadway theater season with the opening of Paranormal Activity at the August Wilson Theatre. The production is the latest entry in the popular horror franchise – and the first one specifically created for the stage – that has spawned numerous films (the first one was released in 2007). Before arriving on the Great White Way, the production has made the rounds, having been seen in a number of major cities, including London (the West End), Chicago (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), and Washington, DC (Shakespeare Theatre Company). In short, the play tells the story of a young couple who moves from Chicago to London to run away from a distressed past and start afresh. To their horror, their troubles re-manifest themselves in the seemingly haunted house they move into.

Paranormal Activity is a serious attempt at conveying horror onstage, without resorting to overt camp, whether intentionally or unintentionally (in a bold decision, the show’s producer’s have chosen to open the show in the same theater where the 1980s musical adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie notoriously flopped). I’m happy to report that, by and large, it achieves its goal. Thanks to an original, relatively straightforward script by Levi Holloway (who also penned the more laborious Grey House, Broadway’s previous foray into the horror genre) – which was written specifically for this stage iteration – the focus has instead been placed on creating mood and tension onstage, which is accomplished through intentional pacing, as well as subtle placements and shifts in lighting and sound. Indeed, the secret weapon to the success of the production at the August Wilson is director Felix Barrett – Punchdrunk founder and the mastermind behind the legendary Sleep No More – and his crack design team. What the writing lacks in depth, it makes up for in breathtakingly convincing stage illusions (courtesy of Chris Fisher, whose impressive credits include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), careful attention to detail, and a keen sense of immersion. The end result is a theatrical experience that expertly treads the line between psychological thriller and jump-out-of-your-seat frights and thrills.

For the most part, the performances by the show’s quartet of actors have been crafted to serve Barrett’s stealthily calibrated build-up in terror anxiety. That isn’t to say that the acting isn’t up to snuff. The performances smartly lean in on the gothic underpinnings of Holloway’s premise and pointed situations, landing just on this side of camp (especially the delicious turns by Shannon Cochran and Eve Kaminsky in the play’s two supporting roles). As the aforementioned couple, Travis A. Knight and Cher Álvarez ground the production with performances that convey convincing states of emotional crisis. That they make you feel for these largely two-dimensional characters and emotionally invest in the trauma they must endure is a testament to the craft of their acting.

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PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
Broadway, Play
August Wilson Theatre
2 hours, 10 minutes (with one intermission)
Open run

Categories: Broadway, Theater

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