Joe Keery is proving that life after Stranger Things does not have to mean slowing down. The actor, best known for playing Steve Harrington in the hit Netflix series, is stepping into a new chapter of his career with his Broadway debut in Other Desert Cities, while continuing to build his music career under the name Djo. Apparently, escaping supernatural monsters in Hawkins was not enough work for one man, so Keery has decided to add live theatre and music touring to his already packed schedule.
The actor is appearing in the Broadway revival of Jon Robin Baitz’s family drama, which officially opens at New York’s Hudson Theatre on October 18, 2026. Keery plays Trip Wyeth, a television producer caught in the middle of a family dispute involving a sister whose upcoming memoir threatens to expose painful secrets. Rather than fighting creatures from another dimension, he must now navigate family tensions, emotional revelations and the dangerous business of keeping relatives from tearing one another apart.
Joe Keery has also revealed that returning to the stage was something he had wanted to do for some time. But fitting rehearsals into a schedule that already includes music tours and acting projects proved challenging. With his Stranger Things chapter behind him, the performer is showing that his next move is not about choosing between acting and music but finding a way to pursue both.
Joe Keery Trades the Upside Down for Broadway’s Family Drama
Joe Keery’s Broadway debut comes alongside an impressive cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Allison Janney, Ed Harris and Lily Rabe. The play follows the wealthy Wyeth family during a Christmas reunion that threatens to expose long-buried family secrets. When Brooke, played by Rabe, returns home with a controversial memoir, Trip finds himself trying to hold the family together as disagreements intensify.
For Joe Keery, the opportunity to work with such an experienced ensemble made the decision to join the production an easy one. He has described his character as someone who wants to keep his family together, joking that his mission throughout the show’s run is to save Christmas. After surviving the chaos of Hawkins, perhaps preventing a holiday gathering from collapsing is the kind of challenge Steve Harrington’s alter ego needs.
However, Broadway comes with its own demands. Unlike television, where scenes can be filmed repeatedly, live theatre requires performers to deliver their lines and emotions consistently in front of an audience. Keery has spoken about the process of learning his dialogue and then realising that memorising the words was only the beginning. He also had to understand the character deeply enough to make the performance feel natural night after night.
The actor’s theatre experience from his younger years has helped prepare him for the challenge. His move to Broadway is also part of a wider trend among performers associated with major television franchises who are exploring live theatre and new creative opportunities. For Keery, it is a chance to stretch himself beyond the character that made him a household name.
Djo’s Music Career Keeps Growing as Joe Keery Expands His Acting Portfolio
Away from the stage, Keery continues to pursue music as Djo. His song End of Beginning became a major viral hit, introducing his musical work to audiences who may initially have known him only as Steve Harrington. The success of the track has helped establish Djo as more than a side project, giving Keery another creative identity beyond acting.
His musical commitments have made the Broadway transition especially demanding. Reports about his schedule describe a quick changeover from touring to theatre rehearsals, with Joe Keery finishing a UK tour before travelling to begin work on the play. The turnaround left little room for a leisurely adjustment, forcing him to move from performing music onstage to preparing for a demanding theatrical production almost immediately.
Balancing the two careers means managing different creative rhythms. Music allows Keery to develop his own sound and perform songs for audiences, while acting requires him to inhabit characters created by other writers. Rather than treating these pursuits as competitors, he continues to explore opportunities in both fields.
His post-Stranger Things plans also appear focused on finding interesting projects rather than chasing a particular type of role. Keery has suggested that he trusts his instincts when deciding what to do next, looking for work that feels fresh and challenging. That approach could allow him to move between independent films, major productions, theatre and music without being tied to a single professional identity.
As Other Desert Cities opens on Broadway, Joe Keery is entering a new phase that combines stage performance with an increasingly successful music career. The Hawkins chapter may have ended, but his working calendar is clearly not ready for a supernatural-style shutdown. Buzz Legit FC will continue following Keery’s Broadway journey, Djo’s musical progress and the next career moves of the stars who are building lives beyond Stranger Things.
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