Harry Potter and the Cursed Child returns to Broadway with shorter show

Now that live shows are beginning around the world again, that means the return of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which will finally begin to see performances in the U.S. again.

But this new U.S. opening comes with a catch, as Deadline reports. Once the play, which follows Harry’s Albus as he navigates his time at Hogwarts, hits Broadway, the show will be condensed from a two-part show to just a one-part show.

Before, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child had two halves, meaning audiences had to attend two separate performances to see the full play. The first part of the performance, for example, could be watched earlier in the day. And then the second part could be watched in the evening. Or audiences could break up their watch by seeing them on separate days. Altogether, the play was about five hours long. With the first part ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, you would have to catch a performance of Part II just to get the complete story.

That will all change when performances for the Harry Potter play begin on Broadway on November 12, with opening night on December 7. Playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany revealed that they spent their quarantines writing a new version of the script that works as just one part. “It has given us a unique opportunity to look at the play with fresh eyes and we have been inspired by the entire creative team every step of the way,” they said in a joint statement.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child returns

This one-part, condensed version of the play will also run in San Francisco, Toronto and Tokyo. But elsewhere around the world, including London, Hamburg and Melbourne, the play has returned in its two-part format. We’re not sure why some cities are going with the two part version and others the shorter take, which seems the more version during the pandemic.

The script for the book has been released for a few years now, so if you can’t see both parts, you can at least experience the full breadth of the play. And after some time, we expect all performances return to being two parts. (Unless the one-part play ends up having a lot of success.)

Editor’s note, 11/2/21: This story has been updated to reflect that opening performances will begin on November 12.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels