Photo Flash: The Magic Begins! HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD Starts Rehearsals

It's finally time! The company has hopped on their brooms and grabbed their portkeys to hop the pond and start rehearsals for the Broadway premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Preview performances begin on March 16, 2018 and the official opening is April 22, 2018 at the fully renovated Lyric Theatre (214 West 43rd Street, New York, NY).

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Jack Thorne, directed by John Tiffany. The production is one play presented in two parts. Both parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening) or on two consecutive evenings, or each part can be seen separately.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in July 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London where it continues to play to sold out houses.

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and the father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

Seven members of the award-winning Original West End Company will reunite on stage for the Broadway premiere: Jamie Parker (Harry Potter), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione Granger) and Paul Thornley (Ron Weasley) with Poppy Miller (Ginny Potter), Sam Clemmett (Albus Potter), Alex Price (Draco Malfoy) and Anthony Boyle (Scorpius Malfoy). They will be joined by David Abeles, Brian Abraham, Shirine Babb, Jess Barbagallo, Olivia Bond, Stephen Bradbury, Lauren Nicole Cipoletti, Will Coombs, Joshua De Jesus, Jessie Fisher, Richard Gallagher, Susan Heyward, Geraldine Hughes, Edward James Hyland, Byron Jennings, Katie Kreisler, Joey LaBrasca, Andrew Long, Landon Maas, Kathryn Meisle, Angela Reed, Dave Register, Adeola Role, James Romney, Malika Samuel, Alanna Saunders, Brooklyn Shuck, David St. Louis, Stuart Ward, Madeline Weinstein, Alex Weisman and Benjamin Wheelwright playing a variety of characters.

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. UK Casting by Julia Horan, CDG.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

Visit www.HarryPotterThePlay.com for more information and sign up for the mailing list to stay up to date with future ticket releases and the latest news and updates.

Missed the first round of tickets? On February 7, 2018 beginning at 11:00 AM ET, tickets at all price points for performances from March 16, 2018 to March 9, 2019 will be made available in a pre-sale via Ticketmaster Verified Fan®, a process that seeks to verify that ticket buyers are not bots or scalpers. Further tickets will be released as and when available from February 8, 2018 through the official website www.HarryPotterThePlay.com and Ticketmaster.com.

The Verified Fan® registration period for the pre-sale will be announced soon. Those who completed the registration process for the first ticket release in October will need to register again in order to be eligible to receive an Access Code.

Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan

The cast for the Broadway premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

The cast in rehearsal

Director John Tiffany and Producer Sonia Friedman

Producer Colin Callender in conversation with actors Jamie Parker, Alex Price and Noma Dumezweni

Actors Paul Thornley, Poppy Miller, Jamie Parker and Sam Clemmett in conversation with John Tiffany (back to photo)

Actors Jamie Parker, Sam Clemmett and Anthony Boyle

John Tiffany

Actors Noma Dumezweni and Jamie Parker in conversation with John Tiffany

Actors Jamie Parker, Alex Price and Jessie Fisher

Actors Jessie Fisher, Kathryn Meisle and Byron Jennings

Actors Geraldine Hughes, Brian Abraham and James Romney