'The Lost Boys' Broadway Review: A Film-to-Stage Adaptation That Defies the Vampire Musical Curse

'The Lost Boys' Broadway Review: A Film-to-Stage Adaptation That Defies the Vampire Musical Curse

The long-troubled history of vampire musicals on Broadway may finally be coming to an end. Director Michael Arden's stage adaptation of the 1987 cult film about teenage vampires premiered tonight at the Palace Theatre, delivering an unexpectedly entertaining theatrical experience that breaks free from the genre's notorious track record of failure.

The production arrives with considerable momentum, as memories of previous vampire musical disasters—including the troubled runs of Lestat, Dracula the Musical, and Dance of the Vampires—quickly fade into obscurity. The show makes a powerful first impression when one of the titular creatures descends from the theater's rafters in a daring aerial sequence, snatching away a security guard who had been attempting to evict a group of young troublemakers occupying an abandoned steelworks facility.

This opening moment sets the tone for what proves to be an energetic and engaging evening of theater, suggesting that Arden's creative vision has successfully translated the beloved film's campy charm and dark humor to the Broadway stage.