Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo traded the spooky surroundings of Hawkins, Indiana, for the spotlight of Broadway this week, and two of his co-stars from the hit Netflix series were there to cheer him on.
The actor made his debut on Tuesday in the smash musical Dear Evan Hansen as the best friend of the title character, Jared Kleinman. His premiere audience included Maya Hawke and Sadie Sink, who stars alongside him in Stranger Things.
While backstage visits to Broadway theaters are still banned under ongoing COVID-19 protocols, Hawke and Sink congratulated their pal from the front row of New York’s Music Box Theater after the show.
The trio also happily posed for photos together.
Maya Hawke (left) and Sadie Sink (right) visit their Stranger Things co-star Gaten Matarazzo after his performance in Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen.Bruce Glikas via Getty Images
According to People, Tuesday night’s audience included many “Stranger Things” fans, who greeted Matarazzo with “huge applause” as he took the stage.
As for Hawke and Sink, both women “loved the show.”
Hawke (left) and Sink “loved the show,” according to People.Bruce Glikas via Getty Images
Dear Evan Hansen premiered on Broadway in 2016, won six Tony Awards and catapulted Ben Platt, who created the title role, to stardom. The musical follows a shy, socially anxious teenager who finds viral fame after the death of a classmate.
Prior to Stranger Things, Matarazzo was an established young actor in New York theater circles. At the age of 9 he made his Broadway debut in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. He also appeared as Gavroche in a 2014 production of Les Misérables.
“I’m sure there are going to be people who don’t necessarily like this character, but I think that’s the point in a weird way,” Matarazzo said.Bruce Glikas via Getty Images
“I’m so thrilled to be back, especially on a show I love so much,” he told Playbill in a video interview this week. “It’s quite a challenge but I hope getting back into it is a reminder of how much I need this experience and love it so much.”
“I’m sure there are going to be people who don’t necessarily like this character, but I think in a weird way, that’s the point,” he continued. “It’s funny to have a character that gets laughed at so much who’s obviously not making good decisions right now and is particularly aware of it.”