The Lost Boys: Why Turning this movie into a musical reeked of anything but desperation

Hi guys! If you’re new here, my name is Miren. I’m a teenager born and raised in Manhattan who absolutely loves Broadway. Here on Encore By Miren, I share my unfiltered takes on the latest shows, interview people from the industry (starting NEXT WEEK!!), and give you a look at Broadway from the perspective of an NYC teen.

Next up is my review of The Lost Boys! I’ve now seen this show four times (and counting!), and it’s easily one of my favorite new musicals of the season. It completely captures that ultimate ’80s summer fever dream vibe—think Stranger Things Season 3 meets Back to the Future!

Background

The show is based on the classic 1987 movie and takes place in the fictional California beach town of Santa Carla. The story follows Lucy and her two sons, Michael and Sam, who move there for a fresh start after escaping an abusive father back in Arizona.

Once they arrive, the brothers each discover that the town is completely crawling with vampires. Sam teams up with the Frog Brothers to try to save Santa Carla, while Michael slowly starts turning into a vampire after drinking vampire blood while trying to impress his love interest, Star.

One thing I really love about this adaptation is that it gives Sam and Lucy so much more depth than they have in the movie. Sam, who was bullied in Arizona, discovers that helping other people is his real superpower. The writers also added a really sweet subplot that wasn’t in the original movie, where Sam realizes it’s okay to be queer during his song “Superpower.” I thought that was such a great addition, and it made his character feel more real and vulnerable.

The Vibes, Music & Set Design

Every time I see this show, I feel like I’ve been dropped right onto the Santa Carla boardwalk.

The score is completely original, which can be hard to pull off in musical theater today, but these songs are so catchy that they already feel like classics. They sound exactly like songs that could have come straight out of the ‘80s, and they’re performed with so much energy.

The sets and costumes are honestly some of my favorite parts of the show. One of the main locations is the Emerson house as it and the boardwalk really capture the feeling of 1980’s California. Since I’ve seen the show from the front row orchestra, middle orchestra, and the mezzanine, I’ve gotten to appreciate all the different details and perspectives. The transitions and the very cool special effects are seamless, especially when the vampires fly through the air and jump into an abyss in an iconic scene they replicate from

the movie and when the house transforms into the colorful Santa Carla boardwalk filled with vintage shops, food stands, and carnival lights.

The Cast

The cast is fantastic from top to bottom. Everyone brings so much energy to the stage, and the vocals are consistently amazing.

One performer I especially have to mention is Ben P

ajak, who is only 15 years old and performs eight Broadway shows every week. That’s honestly so impressive. School is stressful enough for me, so I definit

ely won’t be signing up for that anytime soon! LJ Benet, Maria Wirries, Shoshana Bean, and, (of course) Ali Louis Bourzgui are also so SO amazing and never fail to impress me every time.

The entire company makes you feel like you’re living inside the world of Santa Carla, whether you’re in the Emerson house or walking along the boardwalk.

My Critiques

If I had one critique, it’s actually something that comes from the original story more than this production.

I wish the vampires had a little more depth. Since vampires used to be human, I think it would make the story even more interesting if w

e learned more about who they were before they became vampires. David, the head vampire, briefly mentions having an abusive father, but the show never really explores that any further. I would have loved to see flashbacks or learn more about how he became who he is.

I also thought Michael could have been developed a little more. Since so much of the story revolves around him, I wanted a deeper understanding of what he was thinking as he slowly changed.

Broadway Fan Culture & Drama

Can we talk about the internet discourse around this show for a second?

I keep seeing The Sweaty Oracle on TikTok criticizing this musical, and honestly… I just don’t get it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I genuinely don’t understand why he dislikes it so much.

On the other hand, this show has one of the most dedicated fan communities I’ve ever seen. One of my good friends is a huge

superfan, and she’s told me some crazy stories. People literally camp out overnight outside the Palace Theatre just to be first in the rush line the next morning. That’s some serious dedication!

Overall…

Ignore the Sweaty Oracle and go see this show for yourself.

The Lost Boys takes a classic movie and turns it into a fun, exciting musical with great songs, incredible performances, amazing costumes, and a summer atmosphere that makes you want to stay in Santa Carla forever.

Rating: 8.5/10