YOUNGSTOWN — Parody shows, by design, appeal to a specific audience.

“Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical,” which is being staged by Millennial Theatre Company at Youngstown Playhouse through Nov. 23, is no different.

Familiarity with the Netflix series “Stranger Things” certainly adds to the enjoyment of this spoof, but that streaming series isn’t the only target for comedy. Jonathan Hogue’s script and songs have nearly as many jokes and homages to musical theater as they do to the Duffer brothers’ creation.

For fans of both “Stranger Things” and musical theater, MTC’s production is likely to leave them aching from laughing so much.

After seeing it, I think musical theater fandom might be more important than “Stranger Things” fanaticism. As the musical points out more than once, originality isn’t the greatest strength of the source material. The series stitches together elements from countless pop culture touchstones of the ’80s. Those who’ve never seen a Demogorgon but have seen “E.T.,” “Goonies” and the films of Winona Ryder will get the gist of what’s happening.

What makes MTC’s production shine is the caliber of the cast on those vocal numbers. Most of these songs still would work comedically regardless of the quality of the voice singing them, but music director Cari Auth has the cast excelling as if they’re singing Sondheim.

Any time Joshua Fleming sings as Chief of Police Jim Hopper, it elevates the material. Jackie Collins is comedic gold as the chain-smoking Joyce, the mother of the missing child Will at the center of season one who is played by Ryder, but she also delivers vocally on “Crazy,” one of the funniest numbers as Joyce is joined by some of Ryder’s more famous costars.

The biggest ovation of the night went to Caitlin Overton as Barb, the under-appreciated best friend of Nancy who only appeared in a few season one episodes but became a fan favorite.

Her big song, “Barb’s Turn,” is an obvious nod to “Mama’s Turn” from the musical “Gypsy,” one of the biggest, showiest Broadway numbers of the 20th century. Overton does an impressive job vocally while simultaneously wringing every laugh from the piece with her facial expressions and her execution of Danielle Mentzer’s choreography.

Director Joe Asente keeps the pacing brisk, and it’s astounding how smoothly the show flows, considering one of the gimmicks is that some actors play multiple prominent roles. Natalina Kazimir plays both Nancy and Eleven, the telekinetic girl who helps Will’s friends rescue him from the upside down. Edward Bazzell plays both of Nancy’s crushes, handsome jerk Steve Harrington and Will’s brooding older brother Jonathan. Both actors bounce back and forth so seamlessly between the two roles that it’s easy to underestimate just how frantic the action must be backstage to pull off those costume switches. Bazzell did lose his Steve Harrington wig during the finale, which got such a big laugh opening night that Asente should consider leaving it in (assuming it wasn’t planned already).

There isn’t a weak link in the cast, which includes Ben Doss, Ryan Stewart and Gesse Matlock as Will’s friends, Jaye Mills as a balletic Dr. Brenner and ensemble members Kali-Davies Anderson, Trudi Herrholtz, Michelle Jalbert and Xaine Stenberg, who fill multiple needs.

The costume design by Daniel Chiaberta and Ty Hanes made the characters instantly recognizable to fans of the series, and Hanes got big laughs without uttering a word as a Demogorgon, breaking out some Michael Jackson steps as part of his manic moves.

Asente’s lighting design helps create the show’s shifting moods and settings, and the use of a few integral pieces (such as a portal and a diving board) in his scenic design make the small Moyer Room stage a multi-purpose space.

I enjoyed the first couple seasons of “Stranger Things” but bailed after the third season and have no plans to watch the marathon-length episodes that will wrap the series starting Nov. 26.

But whether you’re a fanatic or a “Stranger Things” newbie (as opposed to “Stranger Things” Bob Newby), there’s plenty in “Stranger Sings” to entertain.

If you go …

WHAT: Millennial Theatre Company — “Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 23

WHERE: Moyer Room, Youngstown Playhouse, 600 Playhouse Lane, Youngstown

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $27 and are available online at experienceyourarts.org and by calling 330-259-9651.