Let’s face it, there are plenty of shows to see on Broadway, but some just stand out. Here, eight reasons you must see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
It’s Great for Kids and Adults: It’s tough to find a Broadway play that appeals to both kids and adults, but this by far hits the mark. Based on the massive success of the seven books and eight movies, it’s clear that the Harry Potter series is appealing to kids, tweens, teens, young adults, baby boomers and seniors. The play is appealing to an equally diverse age demographic—in the audience there were many multi-generational families as well as groups of friends. This is a great way to get in some special family time—a great way to celebrate birthdays, graduations and other special occasions—for both those well-versed in the Harry Potter world and also to newbies.
It’s Won Just About Every Award: Many Broadway shows have won an award or two, but Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has gone well beyond that winning an astonishing 25 U.S. awards, with six Tony Awards—including the crème de la crème, the Best Play. In the U.K. it won 24 major awards, including Best New Play. But it’s not only getting critical acclaim via all the awards, but it has won the hearts and minds of both American and British audiences.
It’s a Success All Over the World: In addition to the fact that it’s playing at the Lyric Theatre in New York, the Palace Theatre in London and the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, it’s slated to open in San Francisco at the Curran, the Mehr Theatre in Hamburg, Germany and the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto, Canada.
It’s a Reason to Reread the Books: If you’re like most people, you read the first Harry Potter book twenty some years ago when it came out. This play is based on the eighth story in the Harry Potter series—Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. For many people, it’s their favorite book. This is the first story to make it to Broadway, but we’re hoping it’s not the last.
It’s Two Parts, so Double the Entertainment: It’s a daring endeavor to make a play into two parts, but there’s so much to cover, that one part clearly does not do it justice. Part one leaves you hungry for more and part two makes you want to see the whole production again (which many people do).
It’s at the Newly Renovated Lyric Theatre: Located in the heart of Time’s Square, the Lyric Theatre, at 214 West 43rd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenue, has been completely renovated. The theater is one of the biggest spaces in Broadway—with the most seats—which was a must for a show like this. The seats are super comfortable—which of course is a must for a two-part show, especially if seen on the same day. Aesthetically, the theater was transformed to include vaulted ceilings, the floors and the walls were redone and they even moved the entrance from the bustling 42nd street to the less crowded 43rd Street (and therefore easier to get into and out of). The result is a beautiful theater that people want to spend five and half hours in.
The Cast: The play is directed by John Tiffany; it features movement by Steven Hoggett, set by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison, music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe and an amazing cast of actors. In fact, there were lines outside the doors to get autographs and photos, because the audience loved the cast so much.
It’s Near the Perfect Dinner Spot: The View Restaurant and Lounge located one block away from the Harry Potter Broadway show is the perfect spot for dinner. Most people see the show on a Saturday afternoon (2 p.m. start) and then have a dinner around 5pm before heading back to the theater for the 7:30 p.m. second half. The View restaurant is the perfect complement to a Broadway show as it’s a New York City icon. It’s Manhattan’s only revolving rooftop restaurant and it makes a complete 360° rotation in an hour. You’ll be whisked via express elevators up to the 48 floor of the New York Marriott Marquis, to get the best view of the city’s skyscrapers and unparalleled views of the Hudson River below. Competing with the views is the high-quality meal. The prix-fixe dinner menu has a variety of dishes including fillet mignon, salmon, crab cakes, salads, pasta and a variety of scrumptious desserts. It’s the perfect spot to combine with such an award-winning play!
