The Lost Boys musical has taken Broadway by storm in 2026, earning rave reviews, sold-out houses, and now Tony Award glory. Based on the beloved 1987 cult classic horror-comedy film, this electrifying rock musical has proven that vampires truly never go out of style — especially when they’re stalking the stage at New York’s iconic Palace Theatre.
What Is The Lost Boys Musical?
The Lost Boys: A New Musical is a Broadway production adapted from the 1987 Warner Bros. Pictures film directed by Joel Schumacher, which originally starred Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Corey Haim, and Dianne Wiest. The stage adaptation brings this legendary vampire story roaring back to life with a pulsating pop-rock score, spectacular staging, and emotionally resonant performances.
The show officially opened on Broadway on April 26, 2026, at the Palace Theatre, located at 160 West 47th Street in New York City. With a running time of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including one intermission, the production has quickly become one of the hottest tickets on the Great White Way.
The Story: Welcome to Santa Carla
The musical follows the Emerson family — single mother Lucy and her teenage sons Michael and Sam — as they relocate to the sun-drenched but deeply dangerous coastal town of Santa Carla, California. What appears to be a fresh start soon turns sinister when Michael falls under the spell of a charismatic local rock band whose members harbor a dark secret: they are vampires. As Michael inches closer to the edge of no return, young Sam teams up with a pair of self-proclaimed vampire hunters to save his brother — and their family — before it’s too late.
The story uses vampirism as a metaphor for the physical transformation, sexual awakening, and identity experimentation that define the teenage experience, giving the show emotional depth alongside its thrilling spectacle.
Creative Team Behind the Musical
The Lost Boys musical boasts an impressive creative team that has helped shape it into one of Broadway’s most acclaimed productions in years.
Direction: Two-time Tony Award winner Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending, Parade) helms the production with a bold, visceral vision that critics have praised for its theatricality and heart.
Book: Written by David Hornsby (best known for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and Chris Hoch, the book skillfully translates the film’s blend of horror, dark humor, and family drama to the stage.
Music and Lyrics: The Los Angeles-based indie pop-rock band The Rescues — comprised of Kyler England, AG (Adrianne Gonzalez), and Gabriel Mann — composed an original score that pulses with ’80s-inspired energy. Standout tracks include “Belong to Someone” and “Have to Have You.”
Choreography: Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant (Parade) bring dynamic movement to the vampire ensemble and their nocturnal world.
Music Supervision: Tony nominee Ethan Popp (Tina) handles music supervision, with orchestrations and arrangements crafted by Popp and The Rescues together.
Producers: The production is produced by James Carpinello, Marcus Chait, and Patrick Wilson.
The Lost Boys Musical Cast
The show features a powerhouse ensemble led by some of Broadway’s most talented performers.
- LJ Benet as Michael Emerson
- Shoshana Bean as Lucy Emerson
- Benjamin Pajak as Sam Emerson
- Ali Louis Bourzgui as David (lead vampire)
- Maria Wirries as Star
- Paul Alexander Nolan as Max
- Jennifer Duka as Alan Frog
- Miguel Gil as Edgar Frog
- Brian Flores as Marko
- Sean Grandillo as Dwayne
- Dean Maupin as Paul
The ensemble is rounded out by a large supporting cast who bring the dangerous, sun-soaked world of Santa Carla vividly to life.
Shoshana Bean Wins First Tony Award for The Lost Boys
The biggest headline from the 79th Annual Tony Awards, held on June 7, 2026, at Radio City Music Hall, belongs to Shoshana Bean. After more than two decades of extraordinary work on Broadway, Bean finally took home her first Tony Award, winning Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her portrayal of Lucy Emerson in The Lost Boys.
This victory marked Bean’s third career Tony nomination and her most emotionally charged night yet. Her previous nominations came for Mr. Saturday Night (2022), opposite Billy Crystal, and Hell’s Kitchen (2024).
In a visibly emotional acceptance speech, Bean dedicated her award to the women who have supported and uplifted her throughout her career. She urged audiences: “This is for every woman who ever felt like she was too much or not enough. I beg you not to wait for permission to be all of who you are. Take up space, make your own path, make mistakes, make messes, make new things, be free, be loud, be brave.”
Bean has long been a celebrated force on Broadway. She made history as the first replacement Elphaba in Wicked and has also starred as Jenna in Waitress and Shelly in Hairspray. Beyond the stage, she is an accomplished independent recording artist whose albums and EPs have topped the iTunes and Billboard charts, including a #1 spot on the Billboard Jazz Chart.
12 Tony Nominations: The Most of Any Musical in 2026
The Lost Boys entered the 79th Tony Awards as the most nominated new musical of the season, earning a staggering 12 nominations — tying with Schmigadoon! for the most nods of the year. The show’s nominations included the coveted Best Musical category, along with recognition across performance, direction, design, and more.
Notable Tony nominations for The Lost Boys include:
- Best Musical
- Best Direction of a Musical — Michael Arden
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical — Shoshana Bean ✅ (Winner)
- Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical — Ali Louis Bourzgui
The show’s expansive Tony haul signaled immediate validation for a production that had already been selling out the Palace Theatre since its previews began in late March 2026.
Critical Reception: What the Critics Are Saying
The Lost Boys has earned rapturous reviews from top critics across the country.
- The New York Times called it “the finest spectacle this season.”
- People magazine described it as a “thrilling, blockbuster event.”
- New York Post declared it “a breathtaking adventure unlike any musical seen before.”
- The Washington Post named it “the best new musical of the season.”
The production’s combination of high-octane rock energy, emotionally grounded storytelling, and stunning stagecraft has resonated with both longtime fans of the original film and newcomers discovering the story for the first time.
Tickets and Extended Run Through 2027
Such has been the demand for The Lost Boys that the production announced in May 2026 that tickets are now on sale through early 2027, extending its Broadway run well beyond its original booking period. For those looking to experience Broadway’s most talked-about musical, tickets are available through the Palace Theatre box office and official ticketing partners.
Palace Theatre 160 West 47th Street, New York, NY 10036
The theatre features full accessibility, including wheelchair-accessible seating in the orchestra, rear mezzanine, and balcony, elevator access, and complimentary sound augmentation headsets.
The Lost Boys Musical vs. The Original 1987 Film
For fans of Joel Schumacher’s original film, the musical offers a faithful yet freshly reimagined experience. The core plot — a family relocating to Santa Carla and encountering a band of teenage vampires — remains intact, with the stage version deepening the emotional arcs of Lucy and her sons. The soundtrack replaces the film’s synth-heavy ’80s score with The Rescues’ modern pop-rock compositions, while the production design channels the film’s gothic California aesthetic into spectacular theatrical visuals.
The show arrives 39 years after the original film’s release, proving that The Lost Boys remains as culturally resonant as ever.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is The Lost Boys musical based on? The Lost Boys musical is based on the 1987 Warner Bros. Pictures film of the same name, directed by Joel Schumacher.
Where is The Lost Boys musical playing? The show is currently playing at the Palace Theatre, 160 West 47th Street, New York City.
Who won the Tony Award for The Lost Boys? Shoshana Bean won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for her role as Lucy Emerson in The Lost Boys.
How many Tony nominations did The Lost Boys receive? The Lost Boys received 12 Tony Award nominations at the 79th Annual Tony Awards in 2026, including Best Musical.
How long is The Lost Boys musical? The running time is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission.
Who directed The Lost Boys musical? Two-time Tony Award winner Michael Arden directed the Broadway production.
Is The Lost Boys musical still running? Yes, tickets are on sale through early 2027, confirming an extended Broadway run.
Who wrote the music for The Lost Boys musical? The music and lyrics were written by The Rescues, an L.A.-based indie pop-rock band comprising Kyler England, AG (Adrianne Gonzalez), and Gabriel Mann.
Have you seen The Lost Boys musical on Broadway? Drop your thoughts in the comments below — and keep checking back for the latest updates on this Tony Award-winning sensation!