Felix Barrett spent a decade making New York walk through the dark at Sleep No More; here he turns that instinct on a proscenium house and a franchise built on grainy bedroom cameras. Levi Holloway's script follows James and Lou to a London house where the wrongness creeps in slowly, and it ran hot enough on the West End to extend twice. If you want to see a show before the reviews land and everyone has an opinion, this is the preview to catch.
What to expect
A full horror play staged with the kind of environmental sound, blackout and light design Barrett is known for, in a 1,200-seat Broadway house rather than a warehouse. Expect long stretches of quiet tension broken by sharp jolts, a small cast carrying the whole story, and a room that gasps together.
Good to know
- The August Wilson is on West 52nd Street; take the C or E to 50th Street or the N, R or W to 49th Street.
- The show is in previews, so material can still shift between performances before the official opening.
- It is a horror piece with startling sound and light effects, not recommended for young children or the very jumpy.
- This is billed as a strictly limited engagement, so seats thin out faster than at an open-run musical.
- Sit closer than you normally would; the design rewards seeing faces in low light.
Common questions
Do I need to have seen the films?
No. It is a new story by Levi Holloway rather than a restaging of any single film, so the premise is explained from scratch. Fans of the movies will catch the formal nods.
Is it actually scary or is it a comedy send-up?
It is played straight as horror. Felix Barrett directs and the production came to Broadway after sold-out runs in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and a West End engagement that extended twice.
Is there an age limit?
There is no hard cutoff posted, but the production is built around sustained dread and sudden shocks and is not suitable for young children.
