The Paranormal Activity franchise has officially made the leap to live theater, and it’s breaking the rules of what a stage show can do. Now playing at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway, this 90-minute production takes the found-footage style of the 2009 film and translates it through a massive two-story cutaway dollhouse set. Audiences watch the couple James and Lou navigate a haunted London flat, with the entire house visible at once, creating a voyeuristic tension that has people gasping and shouting at the actors.
The creative team behind this is no joke. Playwright Levi Holloway and director Felix Barrett, the founder of the immersive theater company Punchdrunk, have stripped the franchise back to its roots. No elaborate ghost effects or CGI. Just lighting, sound, and a set designed by Fly Davis that does the heavy lifting. The result is a shared experience of fear and delight, where the audience’s reaction becomes part of the show itself. It’s a cultural talking point that connects horror fans, theater buffs, and anyone who loves a good collective scream.
This show is part of a bigger trend of Broadway adapting popular films, but it stands out because it understands what made the original scary. It’s not just a nostalgia trip. It’s a reinvention that works because of its limitations, not in spite of them. If you’re planning a trip to New York or just want to know what everyone is talking about, this is the story to follow. Would you brave a Broadway horror show, or is a movie theater scarier?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.