Live theater has never been scarier
Artists both behind the scenes and on stage walk us through how they make the vampires, monsters, and ghosts that make up the current theatrical landscape all feel real.
The Lost Boys, a Tony-awarded new musical, has seen a surge in fan attendance who dress up as characters from the 1987 vampire movie. This trend began during New York Comic-Con and intensified as Halloween approached. The show's horror theme is far from unique, as theater is embracing more horror content than ever in 2026-27 Broadway season.
Other horror-related productions include Paranormal Activity, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, and 2:22: A Ghost Story. The success of these plays can be attributed to illusions designer Chris Fisher, who creates convincing and timely scares for audiences. Fisher emphasizes the importance of integrating illusions with acting, set design, lighting, and sound to enhance the overall experience.
He believes that the current success of horror shows is due to audiences craving thrilling and scary performances, which can be gauged by their reactions. The production process involves constant tweaking during tech rehearsals based on audience feedback.
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