Douglas Anderson Graduates Bring “Paranormal Activity” to the World Stage
Playwright Levi Holloway
Feb. 24, 2026 — Jacksonville, Fla. — Levi Holloway and Patrick Heusinger, both graduates of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, are making headlines across the international theatre community. The class of 1999 alumni are two of the creative forces behind the successful debut of “Paranormal Activity,” a stage adaptation of the popular horror film franchise.
The new play, written by Holloway, draws inspiration from the series while introducing a new set of characters. The story follows James, played by Heusinger, and his wife Lou as they move from Chicago to London to escape their past — only to discover that places aren’t haunted, people are.
The production recently opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in London, with shows scheduled through April 25. A U.S. run this winter is also underway, including stops at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. (Jan. 28-Feb. 7) and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco (Feb. 19-March 15).
Since “Paranormal Activity” debuted at Leeds Playhouse in England, it has been staged at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. The show quickly gained acclaim as a must-see for horror fans and newcomers alike. The Chicago Sun-Times said it “turns up the intensity on horror theater” and the Los Angeles Times asserted it “may be the year’s best staged production.”
“I count DASOTA as a critical part of my artistic upbringing. Without that school, those classmates and those teachers, I have no doubt: I would not be where I am today,” said Holloway. “The work I saw by other kids in my class I still measure as some of the most profound I’ve ever seen, all these years later. DA finds you at such a formative time. I think if you let it, it can be your foundation, your bedrock. As an artist, it offered rigor, compassion and honesty — traits I pursue in all my writing. Simone Aden-Reid was wonderful and introduced me to the works of our great playwrights. Dr. Lee Beger was a sturdy, wildly inspiring teacher; I think of her all the time. Jan Wikstrom, my acting teacher in ’98 and ’99, remains one of my dearest friends and mentors. I’m lucky to have attended such a school at such a time.”
In a 2017 interview with The Florida Times-Union, Heusinger described Douglas Anderson School of the Arts as “the first place I fit in.” Michael Higgins, a former theatre teacher and director at DA, remembers Heusinger as one of his brightest and most gifted students.
“As an actor, he had an emotional depth and ability to share that with an audience that was way beyond his teenage years,” said Higgins. “I knew he was bound for great things the moment I cast him in our production of ‘Orphans.’”
During their time at DA, Holloway and Heusinger participated in programs funded by the Developing Artists (DA) Foundation to enhance their skills beyond the classroom.
“From their days as theatre majors at DA, Levi and Patrick have inspired audiences with their talent and creativity. The tremendous praise for Levi’s writing and Patrick’s performance in ‘Paranormal Activity’ shows just how valuable a strong artistic foundation can be for a future career in the arts. We’re proud to provide opportunities for tomorrow’s creative storytellers to follow in Levi and Patrick’s footsteps by developing their skills, right here in Jacksonville,” said Jackie Cornelius, Executive Director of the DA Foundation.
To learn more about the Developing Artists Foundation and its work supporting Jacksonville’s next generation of artists, visit developingartistsfoundation.org.
