Lights up — or should we say “lumos” — on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway! As the eighth installment in the Harry Potter series, this stage play continues the stories of familiar book characters and takes audiences through an all-new adventure in J. K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. A new generation of wizards collides with the classic Golden Trio of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.
The action revolves around Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, the respective sons of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, who become fast friends at Hogwarts and travel through time to prove their mettle as wizards. But in trying to reverse some past wrongs, they almost change the face of the Wizarding World entirely. Amid this new story, co-conceived by Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, are plenty of fan-favorite characters from the books and movies that pop up throughout the play.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has gone on quite the adventure of its own: after premiering as a two-part, five-hour-total show in London in 2016 and New York in 2018, the Broadway iteration has been condensed into a one-part theatrical experience. But all the enchanting thrills, special effects, and beloved characters remain. If you plan on going to the Lyric Theatre for the show — whether by subway, car, or Portkey — brush up on all things Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with this guide. Consider it your (Marauder’s) map to help you navigate the Wizarding World on Broadway.
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What is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child about?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child kicks off right where the final Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, ended: with Harry and Ginny Potter sending their second son, Albus Severus, to Hogwarts for the first time. Everyone thinks they’ll know what to expect from Albus — namely, a carbon copy of his father. But Albus ends up quite the opposite.
He makes fast friends with Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Harry’s longtime rival, Draco. And rather than joining the Gryffindor house at Hogwarts, he is sorted into Slytherin alongside Scorpius. Over the next few years, Albus is bullied because of his “failure” to emulate Harry’s greatness, and Albus becomes resentful. Harry struggles to support his son, and the two grow apart. Scorpius is also bullied due to untrue rumors that he’s the son of the slain Lord Voldemort.
One day, Harry is approached by Amos Diggory, the father of a boy that Voldemort killed during Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts. He asks Harry to use a device called a Time-Turner to go back and prevent his son’s death. Harry refuses. Overhearing, Albus and Scorpius agree to the mission; Albus hopes to prove himself to his father and peers, and Scorpius wants to disprove his evilness. But in messing around with time and changing the past, they witness alternate, darker outcomes for the fate of the Wizarding World that the boys, along with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, thought could never happen again.
Where is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playing?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently running on Broadway at the Lyric Theatre. The Lyric Theatre is located at 214 W 43rd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Previously, the Lyric Theatre was called the Foxwoods Theatre, and it was renamed in 2016. Between 2017 and 2018, the Lyric underwent a total renovation specifically to host Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, adding plenty of Harry Potter-themed decor.
How long is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?
The running time of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is 3 hours and 45 minutes with one intermission. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is Broadway’s longest play. The show was originally a two-part play, with Parts 1 and 2 being performed as two separate two-and-a-half-hour shows. Audiences would typically see the parts either on the same day (with a matinee and evening performance back to back) or on two nights in a row. However, when Harry Potter and the Cursed Child reopened after the pandemic, the play was shortened into one part.
What days is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playing?
On Broadway, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child typically plays eight performances a week at the Lyric Theatre. The shows typically run Tuesday to Sunday, with two performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and no performances on Mondays. For the most up-to-date weekly performance schedule, please visit the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child page.
Jenny Jules, David Abeles, Diane Davis, and James Snyder in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. (Photo by Matthew Murphy)
When did Harry Potter and the Cursed Child premiere?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened in London’s West End on July 30, 2016. (Preview performances began earlier, on June 7.) But the play had already been in the works for nearly four years at that point. Harry Potter fans, with no more books or films left to look forward to, were eager to see more of the story on stage.
Who wrote Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?
Jack Thorne wrote Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, based on an original story by Thorne, John Tiffany (who also directs), and J. K. Rowling. All three have sometimes been listed as authors, but Thorne is listed on the show’s official website as the sole playwright.
In addition, although Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not a musical, the show does have a composer. Two-time Grammy Award winner Imogen Heap composed and wrote the Grammy-nominated score, and the music is heard all throughout the production.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child characters
The main characters of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are brand-new and nearly so: Albus Potter, who was introduced at the very end of the last Harry Potter novel, and Scorpius Malfoy. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child also features plenty of characters that audiences know and love from J. K. Rowling’s book series. In addition to the major characters like Harry, Ron, and Hermione, plenty of other minor characters pop up in the play. Here are the main characters in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
The company of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. (Photo credit: Matthew Murphy)
What awards has Harry Potter and the Cursed Child won?
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was an awards darling and record-breaker all over the world. In London, Cursed Child set new records for both the number of nominations and wins a West End play has ever received. And in 2018, after winning six Tony Awards including Best Play, the New York production set a record for the highest ticket sales a Broadway play has ever had in a single week. Below are just some of the major awards Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has won worldwide.
Major productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Like the Harry Potter novels before it, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has found massive worldwide success. Since premiering in London’s West End, the show has moved to America, Australia, and more. Putting on a production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is no easy feat, since the sets and effects are intricate, but theatres around the world have made the magic happen. All of the below productions are still running as of this article’s publication, years after their premieres.
Fun facts about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
There’s always something new to discover about the Wizarding World — but don’t worry, none of the facts below will spoil any of the production’s magical secrets. Here’s some facts you should know about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
How to get Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets
Longtime Potterheads and casual Harry Potter fans alike will be spellbound by Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. As one of few fantasy shows on Broadway, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child offers a unique theatrical experience with special effects you won’t see anywhere else. People often talk about “theatrical magic,” and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child exemplifies that in its truest form. You don’t need to cast an “accio” spell to get tickets to come to you — you can get them right here.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets are available now. Get tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on New York Theatre Guide today.
