"The Lost Boys" on Broadway goes for special-effects dazzle
Chicago Tribune • • entertainment
Key Points:
- "The Lost Boys" musical, opening at the Palace Theatre for the 2025-26 Broadway season, is a stylish and expansive production featuring flying vampire characters and a pounding original rock score by The Rescues.
- Directed by Michael Arden with notable design work by Dane Laffrey and lighting by Jen Schriever, the show uses innovative staging and vertical space to create a visually striking experience reminiscent of "Stranger Things" on Broadway.
- The musical closely follows the 1987 Joel Schumacher film's plot about a vampire-afflicted teen and his family’s efforts to save him, with vampires reimagined as a rock band, appealing primarily to young female audiences.
- While the production impresses with special effects and energetic performances, critics note the melodramatic book and repetitive score lack subtlety, with only a few standout songs and limited vocal opportunities for the lead actors.
- Overall, "The Lost Boys" offers an epic, sensory escape for mainstream audiences, surpassing previous vampire-themed Broadway shows, though purists seeking nuance may find it overwhelming.
