Paranormal Activity: A New Story Live on Broadway begins preview performances on August 14 at the August Wilson Theatre in Midtown Manhattan, bringing the Olivier Award-nominated horror play to New York for a strictly limited 20-week engagement after sold-out runs across five North American cities and London’s West End.
Key Takeaways
- Paranormal Activity starts Broadway previews on August 14 at the August Wilson Theatre, with official opening night set for August 25 and a closing date of January 3, 2027.
- The play is an entirely original story written by Levi Holloway and directed by Felix Barrett, the founder and artistic director of Punchdrunk, the company behind Sleep No More.
- The production earned an Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play during its London West End run at the Ambassadors Theatre.
- The Broadway cast includes Cher Álvarez, Travis A. Knight, Shannon Cochran, and Eva Kaminsky, with three of the four principal cast members making their Broadway debuts.
- The production is based on the Paranormal Activity film franchise (Blumhouse/Solana Films/Paramount) but tells an entirely new narrative for the stage.
A Stage Original, Not a Film Adaptation
The Broadway production is not a retelling of any individual Paranormal Activity film. Playwright Levi Holloway, a Chicago-based, Olivier-nominated writer and ensemble member at A Red Orchid Theatre, created a standalone narrative set within the world of the franchise. The story follows a young couple, James and Lou, who relocate from Chicago to London for a fresh start. As they settle into their new home, Lou becomes convinced that something in the house is wrong, and both characters are forced to confront a central premise: places are not haunted, but people are.
The play is produced by Melting Pot, the London-based company led by Simon Friend and Hanna Osmolska, with Seaview as executive producer. Paranormal Activity is presented by arrangement with Paramount Pictures, with involvement from Paramount Products & Experiences. The original Paranormal Activity films were written and directed by Oren Peli and produced by Blumhouse and Solana Films. The franchise, which launched in 2007, became a defining series in the found-footage horror genre and grossed hundreds of millions globally across multiple installments.
Felix Barrett Brings Punchdrunk’s Immersive Approach to a Broadway Stage
Director Felix Barrett is the founder and artistic director of Punchdrunk, the British theater company responsible for Sleep No More, which has operated continuously in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood since 2011 and became one of the most commercially successful immersive theater productions in the city’s history. Barrett’s broader body of work includes The Burnt City, The Drowned Man, and the BAFTA-nominated HBO series The Third Day, all of which center on audience immersion and environmental storytelling. Barrett described New York as his home away from home, referencing his 15-year relationship with the city that began with Sleep No More.
The creative team assembled for the Broadway production reflects a cross-section of London and New York theater. Scenic and costume designer Fly Davis brings Tony and Olivier nominations for Caroline, Or Change. Illusions designer Chris Fisher received a Special Tony Award in 2025 for his work on Stranger Things: The First Shadow and also serves as international illusions associate for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Sound designer Gareth Fry holds two Tony Awards, including recognition for The Encounter. Video and projections designer Luke Halls has collaborated on productions at the Metropolitan Opera, the National Theatre, and the Royal Opera House, in addition to designing visuals for concert tours by Adele, The Rolling Stones, and U2.
The Cast Arrives on Broadway After a Multi-City North American Tour
Three of the four principal cast members are making their Broadway debuts while reprising roles they originated on the North American tour. Cher Álvarez plays Lou, the young wife whose growing unease drives the play’s tension. Álvarez’s prior credits include television roles on Apple TV’s Sugar, CBS’s Matlock, and ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, along with stage work at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Travis A. Knight plays James, Lou’s husband. Knight is an ensemble member at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago with a Jeff Award nomination and motion capture credits in the Mortal Kombat and Call of Duty video game franchises.
Shannon Cochran, who plays Carolanne, holds an Obie Award for the U.S. premiere of Bug at Barrow Street Theatre and has appeared in national tours of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Cabaret, and August: Osage County. Eva Kaminsky, who plays Etheline Cotgrave, is the cast’s sole member with prior Broadway credits, having appeared in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and The Lyons. The ensemble also includes Bobby J. Howlett, a 2026 graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts, making her Broadway debut.
The Production’s Road to Broadway Spanned Two Continents and Six Cities
The play premiered at the Leeds Playhouse in the United Kingdom before transferring to the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End, where it earned its Olivier Award nomination. The North American tour launched at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in October 2025 and subsequently played the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, and the Emerson Colonial Theatre in Boston. At several stops, the production sold out its full run. Multiple productions of the play have operated simultaneously across continents, an uncommon scale for a non-musical new work.
The Broadway engagement at the August Wilson Theatre, located at 245 West 52nd Street, runs approximately two hours with one intermission. The production carries an age recommendation of 15 and older. Preview performances begin Friday, August 14 at 8:00 PM, with the first weekend schedule including Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM. The production is dark Monday through Thursday during preview week. Official opening night is August 25, and the engagement closes January 3, 2027.
FAQs
Is Paranormal Activity on Broadway a Retelling of the Movies?
No. The Broadway production is an entirely original story written by Levi Holloway. It is set within the world of the Paranormal Activity film franchise but does not adapt the plot of any specific film.
How Long Is the Broadway Run of Paranormal Activity?
The engagement is strictly limited to 20 weeks. Previews begin August 14, 2026, with official opening night on August 25. The final performance is January 3, 2027.
What Is the Age Recommendation for Paranormal Activity on Broadway?
The production carries an age guidance of 15 and older. The play is a horror drama that uses illusions, sound design, and atmospheric staging to create sustained tension throughout its two-hour runtime.
