Paranormal Activity Ready to Spook Broadway — Page 2
Posted: 5/12/26 at 1:00pm
If you think the August Wilson is ugly now, you should have seen it before the 90's renovation. No ornamentation of any kind. Looked like a high school auditorium.
Posted: 5/12/26 at 1:02pm
I thought it was just ok. If you are not looking at the right spot at the right time, you miss some of the scares. Then when you hear half the audience screaming- you are looking around but it's too late. Unlike a movie where they can zoom in exactly where you need to look. Subtle creeps are not meant for the stage.
Posted: 5/12/26 at 1:21pm
I enjoyed this at Chicago Shakes. The script has some weird pacing and its attempts at being something deeper than a haunted house are a mixed bag, but it has some great spooks and is definitely a fun time. The word-of-mouth in Chicago was strong, so hopefully it experiences the same in its next runs.
Posted: 5/12/26 at 2:34pm
I loved this in both Chicago and DC. It's a lot of fun. Will return to see it on Broadway.
Posted: 5/12/26 at 7:13pm
Saw it in D.C. and had a blast. The script has quibbles, but it's so tightly directed and illusions so brisk and jaw dropping, I had fun (and the just-about sold out house was gasping, screaming, and laughing.) Really fun seeing it with a crowd.
That being said: the tour venues have been small to mid-size; the Wilson is certainly a scale up, but I saw that the pre-Broadway Boston run is at the larger Emerson Colonial which is 3-levels and 1,700 seats. So any scale-up design-wise for Boston should easily be able to move into the Wilson, but still...that's a huge house.
On the brighter side: They're taking advantage of the size of the Wilson and pricing quite a few seats in the Mid + Rear Mezz and Rear Orchestra at under $100 with fees, which is nice to see, word of mouth is gonna be even more critical than usual IMO.
Having been mid-Orchestra in DC, I would def say the best seats might be upstairs in the Front of Mid-Mezz, or mid / rear (but not too far under the Mezz overhang) center Orchestra. Too close or far back and you may miss some things that happen in the upper tiers of the set.
Curious if the Boston cast will come to NY or if they'll have different leads ---- someone alluded to awhile back that the Broadway run would have notable names starring in it. Since we're 8 weeks out from the July performances, I'd think we'll know soon.
Looking forward to seeing this again!
Updated On: 5/12/26 at 07:13 PM
Posted: 6/24/26 at 5:14pm
Let me say upfront - while I'm not affiliated with the show, I'm a big fan and hope it succeeds.
That being said - is there much precedent for a show moving it's opening night up so significantly (other than needing / hoping for some great reviews + press?)
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/PARANORMAL-ACTIVITY-Sets-New-Opening-Night-on-Broadway-20260624
The pre-Broadway run at the Emerson Colonial (again, WHY such a massive venue?) is barely sold / starts in two-ish weeks, and barely any tickets for the Wilson transfer have been sold.
This thing is gonna live or die on word of mouth IMO so I wish they came up with some deeply discounted preview pricing scheme or something similar that made some economic sense....
Posted: 6/24/26 at 5:31pm
I had been very interested in this, but I just realized that the playwright is the same one who wrote Grey House, which sucked balls. I’ll wait for the NY reviews.
Posted: 6/24/26 at 6:13pm
It's *very* different than Grey House - and the production + actors + illusions that actually furthered the plot / weren't just for 'ooooh look at me, how cool' sake made up for the spotty playscript (which is damning with faint praise on the writing end, I know....)
Keep an eye on the reviews + def look for rush or discounts that I imagine will be plentiful. It's so unique and different than what we've seen on Broadway that it's worth checking out (for a reasonable ticket price.) My $0.02 :-)
Posted: 6/24/26 at 10:40pm
Didn't realize it is the same Playwright that wrote "Grey House". Now I really want to see it. I LOVED "Grey House".
Posted: 6/24/26 at 10:49pm
this show needed some names in it and not a bunch of Chicago folks, no offense to them
Posted: 6/28/26 at 6:34pm
The pre Broadway run in Boston is not selling and it is surprising that ATG is not sending out discount codes
Posted: 6/28/26 at 7:17pm
Do I misremember Thoughts of a Colored Man pushing up their opening back in 2021 from previews?
Posted: 6/29/26 at 3:25am
Is it actually scary? The Lost Boys team wanted it to be "scary" and wasn't remotely scared once. I'm not sure how to take the intent of "scary" anymore.
Grey House was suspenseful / spooky - more so than Lost Boys remotely dreamed of being - and failed..
What's the feel of Paranormal Activity ?
Updated On: 6/29/26 at 03:25 AM
Posted: 6/29/26 at 9:19am
Posted: 6/29/26 at 12:52pm
Posted: 6/29/26 at 1:16pm
Rear center orchestra or close to the front of the mezz. I agree with the previous poster that you can see what you need up close but to be safe I'd recommend having having a full view of the dollhouse set to increase the tension. Negative space is used in a clever way. You want your eyes to be able to look around in anticipation/fear of what's next.
Posted: 6/29/26 at 1:21pm
If you don't sit right on the elevated centre,you miss a full room of the house. The staging and design is inept.
Updated On: 6/29/26 at 01:21 PM
Posted: 6/29/26 at 1:23pm
Is it actually scary? The Lost Boys team wanted it to be "scary" and wasn't remotely scared once. I'm not sure how to take the intent of "scary" anymore.
Grey House was suspenseful / spooky - more so than Lost Boys.
What's the feel of Paranormal Activity ?"
If you find pictures falling off the walls scary, then it's terrifying.
Posted: 6/29/26 at 1:55pm
If you don't sit right on the elevated centre,you miss a full room of the house. The staging and design is inept."
So, is the front mezzanine best for this?
Posted: 6/29/26 at 2:59pm
If you don't sit right on the elevated centre,you miss a full room of the house. The staging and design is inept."
So, is the front mezzanine best for this?"
I'd say Center Mid/Rear Orchestra (though avoid anything under the overhang) and any of the first rows of the Front/Mid Mezzanine.
Try to be as center as you can, though in DC we were the first 6 seats of the Left Aisle and were perfectly fine; too far side might not be ideal.
Nothing too close and if you're considering seeing at the Colonial, avoid that 3rd Balcony I think. I feel like it'll be too far and diminish some of the impact
Posted: 6/30/26 at 2:20pm
The Boston run showed up on www.LuckySeat.com yesterday, for $45/ticket.
Updated On: 6/30/26 at 02:20 PM
Posted: 6/30/26 at 8:34pm
blaxx said:
If you find pictures falling off the walls scary, then it's terrifying."
But you must have had at least a LITTLE bit of fun!
My favorite part of this show was the audience experience.
Posted: 6/30/26 at 11:40pm
inlovewithjerryherman said: "blaxx said:
If you find pictures falling off the walls scary, then it's terrifying."
But you must have had at least a LITTLE bit of fun!
My favorite part of this show was the audience experience."
I admit that knowing Felix Barrett was directing, my expectations of a highly artistic and innovative experience were high.
In their defense, it is at least not boring. The bar is quite low.
Posted: 6/30/26 at 11:43pm
gibsons2 said: "blaxx said: "VernonGersch said: "For those that have seen - where would you recommend to sit? I heard one doesn't want to be too close. "
If you don't sit right on the elevated centre,you miss a full room of the house. The staging and design is inept."
So, is the front mezzanine best for this?"
Yes but center center center or you'll feel cheated out of your money.
BroadwayWorld TV