'Paranormal Activity' Makes Its Broadway Debut

Broadway audiences are screaming for Paranormal Activity.

The new stage production has officially opened at the August Wilson Theatre following sold-out, standing-room-only previews. Playing a strictly limited 20-week engagement through January 3, 2027, the show brings Paramount Pictures’ blockbuster horror franchise to Broadway through an original story written specifically for the stage.

Inside the New Ghost Story

Paranormal Activity follows James and Lou, a couple who move from Chicago to London hoping to escape their past. They soon discover that places are not haunted – people are.

Written by Levi Holloway (Grey House) and directed by Felix Barrett (Sleep No More), the production uses the intimacy and immediacy of live theater to place audiences inside the couple’s increasingly unsettling experience.

The cast features Cher Álvarez as Lou, Travis A. Knight as James, Shannon Cochran as Carolanne and Eva Kaminsky as Etheline Cotgrave. This production marks the Broadway debuts for Álvarez, Knight and Cochran who are reprising their roles from earlier North American productions.

The creative team brings together artists working across theater, illusion and technology. Tony Award® nominee Fly Davis designed the sets and costumes, Tony Award® winner Chris Fisher created the illusions, Anna Watson designed the lighting, Tony Award® winner Gareth Fry developed the sound design and Drama Desk Award winner Luke Halls created the video and projections.

Critics have praised how those elements combine to create a distinctly theatrical experience. “Watching Paranormal Activity with a crowd feels like watching a magic show on a roller coaster. We scream, then we laugh because we screamed, then we scream again,” wrote Helen Shaw of The New York Times. Entertainment Weekly’s Emlyn Travis called it “a jaw-dropping, hair-raising, heart-pounding production that will haunt you long after you leave the theater,” while Variety’s Frank Rizzo said it “delivers more thrills, chills, and screams than Broadway has seen in years.”

Expanding the Paranormal Activity Universe

First written and directed by Oren Peli and brought to the screen by Blumhouse and Solana Films, the original Paranormal Activity reimagined the found-footage genre. Released by Paramount Pictures in 2009, the film earned nearly $200 million worldwide and launched a franchise spanning seven feature films.

The Broadway production expands that universe without adapting any one film, giving audiences a new story conceived for a shared theatrical experience.

“Paranormal Activity on Broadway embodies Paramount Products & Experiences’ commitment to understanding what audiences love about a property and finding new and unexpected ways to deepen that connection. Being a creative partner to Simon Friend and the team on the show has been an important part of ensuring that this new chapter feels fresh and original while remaining true to the essence of the franchise. We’re recreating that unforgettable feeling of being scared together through an entirely new story conceived specifically for live theater. We're thrilled to see Paranormal Activity brought to life through this spectacular production,” said Josh Silverman, President, Global Products & Experiences.

The Road to Broadway

The production arrives in New York following sold-out engagements in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Toronto, as well as a pre-Broadway run in Boston.

Paranormal Activity originated at Leeds Playhouse in the U.K. before transferring to London’s West End, where it received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play. The West End production is currently playing at the Ambassadors Theatre through November 7, 2026.

Tickets for the Broadway engagement are available at paranormalbroadway.com and the August Wilson Theatre box office.