Booked & Scene

Playbill Preview

Before it heads to Broadway, Paranormal Activity is haunting the Emerson Colonial Theatre. Written by Levi Holloway and directed by Felix Barrett, this stage adaptation follows a young couple settling into a new home, only to realize they may not be the only ones living there. Inspired by the horror movie franchise of the same name, this production trades movie magic for live theatrical illusions and still manages to make an entire audience jump.

Spotlight Moments: A Cast Committed to the Paranormal

Every single one of the five actors commits to this production with impressive intensity. Cher Álvarez as Lou and Travis A. Knight as James anchor the show, and their chemistry with each other, and the increasingly unsettling forces around them, keeps the story grounded even as things spiral.

What impressed me most was knowing this may have been the audience’s first time experiencing these scares, but for the cast it’s show number who-knows-what. Yet every scream, every moment of panic, every ounce of terror felt completely genuine. And that’s no easy feat eight times a week.

Shannon Cochran as Carolanne brings much-needed comic relief throughout the evening, balancing some of the show’s funniest moments with some of its creepiest. And Eva Kaminsky, who was on as Ethylene Cotgrave, absolutely knocked it out of the park. At this point, I expect nothing less whenever I see her perform.

Spotlight Moments: The Real Stars Might Be Behind the Scenes

This production, I truly believe, succeeds because of the people you never see.

The scenic design by Fly Davis is absolutely phenomenal. The fully realized two-story home feels real, complete with running water, a layout that makes sense and details that make it feel less like a set and more like your actual home.

Then there’s the lighting. Anna Watson deserves a massive round of applause for creating an environment that constantly keeps you on edge. From passing headlights outside to the glow of the refrigerator and perfectly timed blackouts, every cue works overtime to build tension before the next scare lands.

And speaking of scares, Chris Fisher’s illusion design is honestly kind of mind-blowing. I won’t spoil anything because discovering it for yourself is half the fun, but there were multiple moments where my jaw genuinely dropped as I tried to figure out how they pulled something off.

More than anything, this felt less like sitting through a traditional play and more like experiencing live horror. The story itself follows a fairly familiar paranormal formula, but the way every design element works together to create genuine fear feels incredibly innovative. Making an entire theater gasp, scream and nervous laugh at themselves afterward is a pretty remarkable accomplishment.

A Few Quick Notes

I completely understood what the sound design was going for, and conceptually I actually thought it was really smart. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite work for me. The sound isn’t just loud during jump scares. There are extended stretches where it’s so overpowering that dialogue becomes difficult to hear. I found myself reaching for my concert earplugs more than once, and I noticed plenty of people around me covering their ears as well.

The storyline also isn’t particularly groundbreaking, and the pacing occasionally drags. But that’s not really what makes this production memorable. What’s revolutionary is how effectively this creative team figured out how to make live theater genuinely terrifying.

Final Cue

Paranormal Activity is haunting, surprisingly funny, packed with jump scares and delivers an ending that feels satisfying without overstaying its welcome. If you’re a fan of horror, theatrical illusions or just want to experience an entire audience collectively losing their minds, this is absolutely worth seeing.

Just bring someone who won’t mind when you grab their arm. Paranormal Activity runs at Emerson Colonial Theatre through July 30.

📸: Matthew Murphy