Stage Version of 'Paranormal Activity' Brings Fresh Scares to Harman Hall

Washington audiences can brace themselves for a true theatrical adrenaline rush when “Paranormal Activity” comes to Harman Hall for a strictly limited engagement January 28 – February 7, 2026. This isn’t a “stage version” that simply replays the movie—it's an original story that drops you into the unsettling world of the iconic film franchise and dares you to sit in the dark long enough to see what follows.

Paranormal Activity at Harman Hall

While inspired by the hit film franchise, Holloway has crafted an entirely new narrative about a young married couple who relocate from Chicago to London in a desperate attempt to escape their demons—only to discover that the past, and something far more sinister, has followed them across the ocean.

What sets this production apart is its masterful fusion of old-school theatrical craft with cutting-edge stagecraft. Under Barrett's direction, audiences experience supernatural terror without the safety net of a movie screen. The production creates an atmosphere of sustained dread through what one viewer described as "analog" horror—no CGI or digital trickery, just doors that hide things, rooms with secrets, and realistic props that take on lives of their own. The two-story house setting, designed by Fly Davis, feels so authentic that it becomes a character unto itself, every corner a potential hiding place for the malevolent forces that lurk within.

The show's technical wizardry has left audiences gasping in their seats. Illusionist Chris Fisher, who also worked on the Harry Potter stage show, has created effects that feel even more immediate and visceral than CGI, making the impossible suddenly, terrifyingly real in three dimensions. The production uses strategic blackouts to heighten tension, and the house lights themselves become part of the immersive experience, blurring the line between the stage and the auditorium. Sound designer Gareth Fry's work has been singled out for creating an audio landscape that gets under your skin and chills you to the bone.

Unlike typical horror productions that rely on cheap startles from lighting and sound cues unconnected to the story, this Paranormal Activity keeps all its scares firmly rooted in the narrative world. The frights build organically from the characters' situation, making each supernatural occurrence feel earned rather than arbitrary. The restrained pacing in the first act establishes the domestic reality of the couple's lives before the terror truly begins, and when it does, the production delivers a variety of scares—from subtle, creeping dread to full-throttle shocks that have sent waves of screams through packed houses.

The cast brings genuine humanity to what could easily become one-dimensional horror archetypes. Cher Álvarez portrays Lou with a nervous energy that transforms into something far more disturbing as the story unfolds, while Patrick Heusinger plays her husband James with the confidence of someone utterly convinced there's nothing to fear—until the reality becomes undeniable. Theatre veterans Shannon Cochran and Kate Fry round out the cast, with Fry delivering a standout turn as a paranormal expert who quickly realizes she's in over her head.

What makes the production particularly effective is how it respects the intelligence of horror fans while remaining accessible to newcomers. The narrative incorporates familiar elements from the Paranormal Activity films in surprising ways, but the story stands entirely on its own. Holloway has crafted a taut thriller that explores themes of belief, past sins, and the impossibility of outrunning one's demons—both literal and figurative—all while delivering the genuine scares that audiences expect from the franchise.

The communal experience of watching live horror has proven to be one of the production's greatest strengths. Audiences don't just watch the show; they become part of it, with collective gasps, nervous laughter, and the occasional warning shouted at the stage. The shared experience of being frightened together creates an electric atmosphere that simply can't be replicated at home. It's theatre at its most visceral and immediate, where every creak of the floorboards and every flicker of light sends a jolt through the entire house.

After successful runs in Chicago and Los Angeles, with future stops planned for San Francisco, the production has established itself as a landmark achievement in horror theatre. It proves that the genre can translate brilliantly to the stage when approached with sophistication, technical excellence, and respect for what makes audiences truly scared. For Washington, D.C. theatergoers looking for something genuinely different this winter, Paranormal Activity offers a thrilling alternative to traditional fare—a night of theatre that will linger in your imagination long after you've left the theater and turned on all the lights at home.