Broadway Welcomes a Shorter Version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child This November

A newly revised and shortened version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will debut on Broadway at the Lyric Theatre on November 12, 2024. The updated version of the Tony Award-winning play will have a running time of just under three hours, including intermission. This is a reduction from the current three-and-a-half-hour format, and a significant shift from the original two-part production.

The play, which is based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, initially premiered on Broadway in April 2018 as a two-part production with a total runtime of over five hours. However, following the pandemic shutdown, the producers, Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender, reintroduced the play in a shorter, one-part format in 2021. The decision to streamline the production was driven by logistical and commercial challenges, as well as reduced tourism in New York City.

“From the very beginning, we and the creative team have challenged ourselves to find new and innovative ways to bring the extraordinary storytelling and stagecraft of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to life. This innovative process has continued since the original production first opened in London in 2016,” shared Friedman and Callender in a statement. “We were delighted by the ecstatic reception of this new version of our spectacular show when we premiered it in Chicago last month, and we can’t wait to see our extraordinary new cast bring it to life on stage in New York starting in November.”

The updated version of the play had its world premiere in Chicago last month, where it received positive reception from audiences. It reunites the original creative team, including director John Tiffany and playwright Jack Thorne, who collaborated to streamline the show while preserving its core narrative and signature stagecraft.

Set 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Cursed Child follows Harry Potter’s son, Albus Severus Potter, as he embarks on his journey at Hogwarts and forges a friendship with Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Draco Malfoy. The play has been lauded for its special effects and stage design, elements that have become trademarks of the production.

The Broadway production has won six Tony Awards, including Best Play, and has been praised for its innovative stagecraft, earning a reputation as a must-see theatrical experience. Despite facing bumpy ticket sales since 2022, the production frequently approaches or surpasses $1 million in weekly grosses.

The creative team for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child includes movement by Steven Hoggett, set design by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Gareth Fry, and illusions and magic by Jamie Harrison. Music supervision and additional arrangements are provided by Martin Lowe.

Fans can look forward to experiencing this streamlined version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child when it returns to Broadway this November at the Lyric Theatre.