User:RainGuest/sandbox/Harry

Production
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a two-part play, was written by British playwright Jack Thorne based on an original story by Thorne, John Tiffany and Rowling. Some websites were listing all three as authors of the script but by July 26, 2016, the official web site for the play and many others (including the BBC) were listing Thorne as the sole script writer.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is directed by John Tiffany with choreography by Steven Hoggett, set design by Christine Jones, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Neil Austin, music by Imogen Heap, and sound design by Gareth Fry. In addition, special effects were created by Jeremy Chernick, with illusions by Jamie Harrison, and musical supervision by Martin Lowe.

West End
Previews at the West End Palace Theatre, London began on June 7, 2016, with the official opening night for both parts on July 30, and originally booking until September 18, 2016. Tickets went on sale to pre-registered priority bookers on October 28, 2015, with a public sale scheduled to commence on 30 October. In just under 8 hours of priority booking 175,000 tickets were sold for the world premiere production, with the play's booking period extended to January 2017. On commencement of the public sale booking was extended until April 30, 2017, with a further extension issued the same day to May 27, 2017. At opening tickets were priced from £30 up to £130 for a ticket for both parts, although ticket resale agencies were selling seats for up to £3,000. Ticket resale has been banned by the producers, with tickets no longer valid if sold on. In mid-July 2016, the theatre began holding a ticket lottery at 1pm each Friday, releasing 40 for sale on their website for 'some of the best seats' in the theatre for the lowest price, advertised at £20 per part. For example, the "Friday Forty" tickets sold on July 29, 2016 were for performances on August 3, 5, 6, and 7. On December 20, 2015, initial casting was announced with Jamie Parker playing Harry Potter, Noma Dumezweni playing Hermione Granger and Paul Thornley playing Ron Weasley. The casting of the dark-skinned Noma Dumezweni as Hermione sparked fervent discussion, to which Rowling responded that Hermione's skin was never specified as white. Further notable casting includes Poppy Miller as Ginny Potter and Sam Clemmett as Albus Severus Potter. The production features an overall cast of 42.

Broadway
The production will open at the Lyric Theatre on April 22nd, 2018 with previews beginning March 16th. Clemmett, Boyle, Dumezweni, Parker, Thornley and Miller will reprise their roles. The theatre removed 400 seats from the auditorium, and moved the entrance from to 43rd Street. The production is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions. The initial ticket block went on sale through Ticketmaster Verified Fan on October 18th 2017 for performances from March 16th through to November 18, 2018.

Melbourne
On the 24th October 2017, the Michael Cassel Group announced that it will producing the Australian premier of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The production will begin performances early 2019 in Melbourne's Princess Theatre, currently home to the Australian premier of The Book of Mormon. No casting or ticketing information was announced.