Displaying items by tag: HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

While I’ve read the books and seen the movies, I’ve always stood on the outside of the world of Harry Potter. And honestly, I’ve always been a little bit envious of that world—and those who have embraced it and understand it and love it. There were plenty of those folks in attendance at the James Nederlander Theatre on Thursday night for the opening of the Broadway in Chicago production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but there were also plenty of folks like me—outsiders to the world of wizarding and whatnot.

But this show was made to be enjoyed and appreciated by all—the hardcore fans and those of us who just enjoy a good story, good theater, and a really great production.

What began as two productions, in the days before the pandemic, was “shortened” into one play (yes, this is a play, not a musical) after live theater returned. It’s lengthy—three hours, with a twenty-minute intermission between its two acts—but it does what the books and movies did, immersing and losing its audience into its world so time seems to stand still.

The world we find ourselves in is 19 years past end of the final Harry Potter book. Written by Jack Thorne—based on a story by Thorne, director John Tiffany, and J.K. Rowling—this is an original story, featuring the books’ and films’ beloved characters—and new characters, too, as well as stage versions of the Hogwarts world.

John Tiffany, whose 2016 London production of the play began its run, directs this production, as well, and it is magic. Like, actual magic. There are sparks and flames and levitation and disappearances—all of the magic that your mind could conjure while reading a novel or your eyes could be tricked into believing by Hollywood’s CGI. But seeing these illusions happen in person, onstage, in real life is the true draw of this show. I’ve seen a lot of theater, but some of the stuff I saw from the James M. Nederlander’s dress circle seats blew my mind. Tiffany—along with Set Designer Christine Jones and Jamie Harrison, credited with “Illusion & Magic”—is a wizard who left us muggles in attendance asking “How’d they do that?”

The cast that Tiffany directs also helps build this magical world. Local talent Matt Mueller, last enjoyed by this reviewer when he starred as Gerry Goffin in the Marriott’s Beautiful, here co-stars as Ron Weasley. Chicago legend, Larry Yando plays multiple roles, all of them important, but his elderly Amos Diggory was a favorite of mine. Julia Nightingale delights as Delphi Diggory, and Mackenzie Lesser-Roy steals her scene as frolicking phantom Moaning Myrtle. Of course, John Skelley as Harry Potter and Ebony Blake as Hermione Granger also nicely bring the series’ big names into the action.

Again, it’s the sets and the action that really left me bewitched. I sit here writing this review still puzzling over how I saw some of the things I actually saw. And that is the draw of this show, which runs until February 1, 2025, at the James Nederlander Theatre downtown—you come for this world that’s been imagined into existence and into being beloved by millions, and not only do you get to meet these characters who populate and make this world so special, you get to be as amazed as they are by the magic and tragedy and human (or wizard) drama that makes it a world.

Brought to life on the big stage, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a triumphant return to Wizarding World!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is being performed at the James M. Nederlander Theatre through February 1^st. For tickets and/or more show information, click HERE.

Broadway In Chicago is pleased to announce the Golden Snitch Digital Lottery for the upcoming engagement of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD.

For the Tuesday, September 10 performance, Golden Snitch Digital Lottery will open at 9:00 a.m. CT on Thursday, September 5 and close on Monday, September 9 at 5:00 p.m. CT.

For subsequent performances, Golden Snitch Digital Lottery will open at 9:00 a.m. CT and close at 5:00 p.m. CT the day prior to the desired performance.

Each winner is allowed to purchase up to two (2) tickets at $40 each. Those who would like to enter the lottery, can do so, here.

HOW TO ENTER

• A minimum of ten (10) tickets for every performance will be available for purchase at $40 each.
• Winner and non-winner notifications will be sent by email within one (1) hour of the closing of the lottery at 5:00 p.m. local time the day prior to the desired performance date. Winners will have one (1) hour to claim and pay for the number of tickets included in their winner notification.
• No purchase or payment is necessary to enter nor does a purchase increase the chance of winning.
• Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received for the Digital Lottery.
• Only one (1) entry per person. Repeat entries and disposable email addresses will be discarded.
• $40 Tickets must be picked up at will call beginning two (2) hours prior to the performance with a valid photo ID.
• $40 Tickets are void if resold.

ADDITIONAL RULES

Patrons must be 18 years or older who, when entering the Digital Lottery from outside Illinois, are making the entry from a state that permits the running of a Digital Lottery, and must have a valid, non-expired photo ID that matches the name used to enter. $40 tickets are non-transferable. $40 ticket limits and prices displayed are at the sole discretion of the show and are subject to change without notice.

$40 ticket prices are not valid on prior purchases. $40 ticket offer cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. All $40 ticket sales final – no refunds or exchanges will be permitted.

A $5.00 handling fee will be added to the price of each ticket at the time of checkout.

The Digital Lottery may be revoked or modified at any time without notice.

The Digital Lottery is conducted in accordance with the Illinois Prizes and Gifts Act, 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. 525/1 et seq., and is void where otherwise prohibited by law, or where the Digital Lottery's sponsor would be required to register or be restricted in any other way, or where the Digital Lottery's sponsor may not have yet complied with registration or other requirements.  Participation in the Digital Lottery constitutes the entrant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these rules and the full Digital Lottery terms and conditions available here.

Previews begin for the six-time Tony® Award-winning production, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, on September 10 at Broadway In Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre. The official opening will be Thursday, September 26. The final performance of the 21-week engagement will be Saturday, February 1, 2025. 

The touring production is based on the acclaimed Broadway production, currently playing at the Lyric Theatre, New York. It picks up right where the last Harry Potter film left off: Nineteen years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world, they're back on a most extraordinary new adventure – this time, joined by a brave new generation that has only just arrived at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When Harry Potter's head-strong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all—with the power to change the past and future forever.  

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage and the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, has sold over 10 million tickets worldwide since its world premiere in London in July 2016 and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best Play. The international phenomenon has cast its spell worldwide with productions currently running in London, New York, Hamburg, and Tokyo, and has completed runs in Melbourne, Toronto, and San Francisco. The original two-part production in London's West End recently celebrated its 7th anniversary, while the reimagined Broadway production celebrated its 6th anniversary. 

The most successful non-musical play in Broadway history, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD has the unique distinction of being named by the Guinness World Records as the highest-grossing non-musical play in Broadway history with over $270 million total sales and over 2.5 million tickets sold.

To stay up to date with the latest information, go to tour.harrypottertheplay.com.

ABOUT HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is a play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany. 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD 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. US Casting by Jim Carnahan, CSA. 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions. 

Instagram: @CursedChildUS ● Twitter: @CursedChildTour ● Facebook: @CursedChildUS ● TikTok: @CursedChildOfficial

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 24 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago's Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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