J.K. Rowling managed to take a break from her Twitter hiatus to give a teaser of what was set to be announced regarding
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Thursday, which did not say much.
Rumors were abound all of Thursday that movies or TV shows or something similar would finally be greenlit for
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but the reveal in the evening proved quite the opposite - Cursed Child is here and will remain, at least for the foreseeable future, as a play.
On hand for the ceremony in Times Square was actress and Harry Potter fan Sarah Jessica Parker, who helped unveil the big surprise.
The simple explanation for the announcement is this: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will: 1) remain as a play only for the foreseeable future and there are no current plans at all to adapt it; and 2) the play has been rebranded to be part of the rest of the series - more 'canon' than it was already - with the new logo resembling Mary Grandpre's original art from the American book series, which is also used for the film series.
As part of the announcement, 934 free tickets for all of the productions of
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - New York, London, Hamberg, San Francisco, Melbourne, and Toronto - will be given out to lucky fans. Simply head to
harrypotteronstage.com starting at noon EST on Friday and follow the instructions.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, universally acclaimed for its breathtaking magic and stage wizardry, last night welcomed fans “Back to Hogwarts” with the launch of a new worldwide campaign in the heart of Times Square.
To mark the global milestone, the show hosted the largest-ever Times Square takeover, with award-winning actress and Harry Potter fan, Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as Wizarding World fans and influencers. Fans witnessed a jaw-dropping takeover of nearly all the Times Square screens, which revealed the never-before-seen Harry Potter and the Cursed Child campaign, in celebration of its global expansion.
With more than two million tickets sold worldwide, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been spreading its magic and thrilling audiences across the globe in London, New York and Melbourne, with more productions opening soon in San Francisco, Hamburg and Toronto.
“We are very proud that J.K. Rowling chose to tell her eighth story on stage. Just as she created a generation of lifelong readers with the Harry Potter book series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is now doing the same for theatre, with over half of our audiences worldwide being first time theatre-goers of all ages,” said Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender, producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. “Three years in and over 2 million tickets sold thus far, it is so exciting to watch audiences all over the world be transported ‘Back to Hogwarts’ to revisit their beloved characters. There is nothing like the experience of being in a theatre with a community of others, seeing and experiencing in real-time as the magic unfolds live before your eyes. The Boy Who Lived, lives on, and the story continues on stage across the world because, as J.K. Rowling herself said: “‘Sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.’”
As a special thank you to Harry Potter fans, and as a nod to the famous platform nine and three-quarters at King’s Cross Station, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is announcing that 934 lucky people around the world will get the chance to watch the show as complimentary guests. But fans have to act fast. To find out how you might become one of them, go to www.harrypotteronstage.com now and select your chosen location.
“Harry Potter has such a special place in my heart and seeing the characters from the stories come to life on stage was true magic for me,” said actress Sarah Jessica Parker. “From the astounding stagecraft, to the magic and illusions, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child brings true storytelling to life that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Being part of the whole experience tonight was one that I’ll never forget.”