Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka Take Over Broadway for an Epic Vampire-Themed Family Halloween Reveal

Neil Patrick Harris and husband David Burtka have officially upped the ante for celebrity spooky season, transforming their family into iconic cinematic bloodsuckers directly on the Broadway stage of The Lost Boys. Posing alongside their 16-year-old twins, Harper and Gideon, the powerhouse theatrical duo staged an elaborate photo shoot honoring classic horror cinema.

The high-concept shoot brought together decades of supernatural lore inside the historic Palace Theatre in New York City. The production was made possible by Harris’s behind-the-scenes role as a co-producer of the stage adaptation, giving the family backstage access to one of Broadway’s most atmospheric sets.

David Burtka, Neil Patrick Harris, Harper, and Gideon in vampire Halloween costumes.

A Multi-Generational Tribute to Horror Cinema

Rather than picking a single film, the Burtka-Harris household spanned more than a century of vampire pop culture across four distinct roles. Each family member tackled a legendary figure from film and television history:

• Neil Patrick Harris transformed into Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Count Dracula from the 1992 film Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
• David Burtka channeled cinema history by recreating the eerie silhouette of Count Orlok from the 1922 silent classic Nosferatu.
• Gideon Burtka-Harris took to the air as David, the charismatic leather-jacketed bloodsucker played by Kiefer Sutherland in the 1987 film The Lost Boys.
• Harper Burtka-Harris provided the ultimate foil to the trio, suiting up as Buffy Summers, the slayer portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The family shared the finished portrait to social media with a deadpan, single-word caption: “. . . slay.” They followed up by writing that they were “raising the stakes and craving a Halloween that doesn’t suck.”

“This is one of our favorite family traditions. We are so grateful that our kids still want to play,” wrote Burtka in a behind-the-scenes update.

The Broadway Connection Behind the Scene

The choice of venue was far from coincidental. Harris serves as a co-producer for Broadway’s The Lost Boys musical, which provided the ideal backdrop for their teenage son’s character tribute.

“When looking at iconic vampires through the ages, it made complete sense to include David from The Lost Boys,” Harris explained. “He’s iconic and thankfully represented in a brilliant Broadway Show right now. I must say, it made acquiring an ideal location for the photo easier than in previous years…”

Cast members LJ Benet, Ali Louis Bourzgui, Brian Flores, Dean Maupin, and Sean Grandillo in The Lost Boys.

Inside the Broadway Production

The musical adaptation of The Lost Boys is directed by Tony winner Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending, Parade). Featuring a book by David Hornsby and Chris Hoch, the production showcases original music and lyrics by the indie rock band The Rescues.

Staged at the Palace Theatre, the production follows two brothers who relocate to a California coastal community only to cross paths with local youths hiding a deadly secret. The show earned 12 Tony Award nominations, securing four wins—including performance trophies for Shoshana Bean (Lucy Emerson) and Ali Louis Bourzgui (David).

More Than a Decade of Costume Mastery

While many celebrity families coordinate costumes, the Burtka-Harris family has turned their annual unveilings into an internet phenomenon spanning more than fifteen years. What began when the twins were toddlers has evolved into complex, studio-grade set pieces.

David Burtka, Neil Patrick Harris, Harper, and Gideon in vampire Halloween costumes.

Burtka made sure to thank the Palace Theatre crew for hosting their shoot, describing the home of The Lost Boys as “to die for” while urging theatergoers to see the musical in person.

✨ Few family traditions in entertainment hold the internet’s attention quite like this annual Broadway-caliber reveal.

📱 From silent film legends to 1980s cult classics, the group managed to unite four distinct eras of vampire storytelling in a single frame.

💬 Which look from the Burtka-Harris family archive is your absolute favorite? Let us know in the comments below!