Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins performances on Broadway

J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World finally lands on the Great White Way.

Attention, muggles! The eagerly anticipated Broadway transfer of the West End smash hit Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts I & II begins previews at the Lyric Theatre tonight, ahead of an official opening on April 22.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series, set 19 years after the last Rowling novel "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and the first official stage production of Harry Potter.

Synopsis: "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 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 of the play's original London stars reprise their respective roles for the Broadway production including Olivier Award winner Jamie Parker (as Harry Potter), Olivier Award winner Noma Dumezweni (as Hermione Granger), Paul Thornley (as Ron Weasley), Poppy Miller (as Ginny Potter), Sam Clemmett (as Albus Potter), Alex Price (as Draco Malfoy) and Olivier Award winner Anthony Boyle (as Scorpius Malfoy).

They are joined by David Abeles, Brian Abraham, Shirine Babb, Jess Barbagallo, Stephen Bradbury, Lauren Nicole Cipoletti, Joshua De Jesus, Jessie Fisher, Richard Gallagher, Susan Heyward, Geraldine Hughes, Edward James Hyland, Byron Jennings, Katie Kreisler, Joey LaBrasca, Andrew Long, Kathryn Meisle, Angela Reed, Dave Register, Adeola Role, James Romney, Malika Samuel, Alanna Saunders, David St. Louis, Stuart Ward, Madeline Weinstein, Alex Weisman and Benjamin Wheelwright.

Under the direction of John Tiffany, the creative team behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child features music & arrangements by Imogen Heap, music supervision & arrangements by Martin Lowe, movement by Steven Hoggett, scenic design by Christine Jones, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Neil Austin, sound design by Gareth Fry, and illusions & magic by Jamie Harrison.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child officially opened at London's Palace Theatre to excellent reviews on July 30, 2016, following previews from June 7. The play is performed in two parts with the option for audience members to attend either both parts in the same day or on seperate days.

In April 2017, the London world premiere production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child made Olivier Awards history, scooping a record-breaking nine awards including "Best New Play."

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is produced on Broadway by Sonia Friedman, Colin Callender and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

^{(Photo by Manuel Harlan)}