What happens when one of the biggest TV shows in the world makes the leap to Broadway? Alison Jaye takes us behind the scenes of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, where she steps into the role of Joyce Maldonado in a production unlike anything Broadway has ever seen. With audiences made up largely of first-time theatergoers, Alison describes what it feels like when the show plays like a full-on rollercoaster one night and like a hushed movie the next. She also opens up about the collaboration that shaped her character, the three-year journey from top-secret workshops to opening night, and why she calls Broadway the “Olympics of theater.”

In this candid conversation, Alison talks about sustaining the physical, vocal, and mental energy needed for such a demanding role, and how she keeps curiosity and honesty at the center of her artistry. From discovering the surprises hidden within this massive production to finding joy in the unpredictability of live audiences, Alison brings humor, humility, and insight to a show that continues to expand the Stranger Things universe in thrilling new ways.

Alison Jaye made her Broadway debut as a child in Sunday in the Park with George and later returned in Mary Poppins. She has built a wide-ranging career across stage, screen, and voice acting, including her BAFTA-nominated work in Horizon Forbidden West, and a featured role in Call Jane alongside Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Banks. She now stars as Joyce Maldonado in Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway.

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