Harry Potter on Broadway NYC: what you need to know about tickets, prices and schedules

Ever since its premiere in 2018, it’s been the talk of the town. Fans of the most famous series of all time finally have the chance to see the stars of Harry Potter on stage. On none other than Broadway! After taking London’s theatres by storm, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child looks set to do the same in New York, becoming one of Broadway’s top musicals.

Don’t miss out on this year’s chance to see the Harry Potter musical on Broadway. Tickets are already on sale, so you can immerse yourself in the mystery of Hogwarts School as you delve into a story brimming with adventure from start to finish. Naturally, there’ll be no shortage of spells or, of course, magic.

Although this musical was originally conceived in two parts, it’s currently performed as a single show. So, the whole intense experience is condensed into a single performance.

I’d recommend not waiting until the last minute to buy your tickets. As you know, the internet makes this sort of thing much easier; for musicals like this, getting tickets at the box office for an early date is practically impossible. You simply need to choose your preferred date and complete the booking process, which is usually very straightforward.

Buying tickets for Harry Potter in advance has several advantages. For example, you can sometimes get a lower price and you can also choose a seat with a good view.

You’ve already sorted your flights and hotel, and you know what to do in New York. All that’s missing is the icing on the cake: seeing the musical Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. For a hugely successful show like this, planning ahead is particularly important. And that means just one thing: buying tickets for the Harry Potter musical well in advance, even months before the date you want to see it.

The price of tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway varies depending on the date, the seating area at the Lyric Theatre and how far in advance you book. As a guide, you can find tickets from around €70–100 for performances with greater availability, although the best-located seats or dates in high demand usually range from €120 to €200, and can even exceed that figure. That said, buying tickets for Harry Potter on Broadway well in advance can help you find better prices and more seating options.

A comparison of the different sections of the Lyric Theatre for the Harry Potter musical

Ticket prices can vary considerably depending on the seat’s location. The Lyric Theatre, where Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is performed on Broadway, is mainly divided into three sections: Orchestra, Dress Circle and Balcony.

• Orchestra: this is the main floor area and offers a highly immersive experience, particularly in the central seats. It’s a good option if you want to be close to the stage and get a better view of the actors’ details and the effects.
• Dress Circle: this is usually one of the best options for this production, particularly in the front central rows, as it offers a better view of the stage as a whole, the visual effects and the most spectacular aspects of the production.
• Balcony: this is the highest and furthest section, so tickets are usually more affordable. Visibility can be good from central seats, although you lose the sense of proximity to the stage, and it’s best to avoid seats too far to the sides.

An important thing to note about the Harry Potter musical is that it isn’t a stage adaptation of any of the films. This means it’s an original play created specifically to be performed on stage.

The staging is marvellous. It perfectly combines quiet scenes with action-packed ones. The emotional impact stays with you throughout the performance, but you’ll also be blown away by the special effects. I’m still wondering how they managed to pull off certain magic tricks!

The Harry Potter musical seems to have been tailor-made for its most loyal fans. What’s more, it has won a whopping six Tony Awards, including Best Play. Leading American newspapers and magazines have also described it as thrilling, fast-paced and amazing. So many people can’t be wrong!

The plot

The musical takes the audience 19 years after Harry, Ron and Hermione saved the world. Now Harry Potter is an adult; he is married and has children. His life revolves around his family and his job at the Ministry of Magic. Adventures and mysteries seem to be a thing of the past – or do they? This is the starting point for a production that will keep you glued to your seat, barely able to blink.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is performed at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway as a single-act play, unlike the original London production, which for years was split into two parts. The play lasts approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes, with an interval, so it’s worth bearing this in mind if you want to combine it with other plans in Times Square or Midtown.

There are usually performances from Tuesday to Sunday, with evening performances on weekdays and matinees on some days. These are the most common showtimes you’ll find:

• Monday: closed
• Tuesday: 7.00 pm
• Wednesday: 1.00 pm and 7.00 pm
• Thursday: 7.00 pm
• Friday: 7.00 pm
• Saturday: 2.00 pm and 8.00 pm
• Sunday: 3.00 pm

However, showtimes may vary depending on the season, public holidays or special weeks, so always check the exact time of your performance before booking tickets.

The Harry Potter musical lasts approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes. In addition, each performance includes an interval of a few minutes so you can go to the toilet or buy a drink.

Previously, the musical was divided into two separate parts, so the audience had to attend the theatre twice. Now the entire show is condensed into a single performance.

Since its 2018 Broadway premiere, the musical Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been performed at the Lyric Theatre. This was built in 1998 on the site of a former theatre of the same name, although it should not be confused with that one. The exact address is 214 West 43rd Street.

Just a few years ago, it underwent a major refurbishment. It currently has a capacity of over 1,600, making it one of the 10 largest theatres on Broadway.

How to get to the Lyric Theatre

You can’t go wrong when heading to the Lyric Theatre. The nearest New York Underground station is Times Square – 42nd Street, just a couple of minutes’ walk away. It is also situated very close to the iconic One Times Square skyscraper, famous for its illuminated advertising signs. Directly opposite the Lyric Theatre is the Consulate of the Dominican Republic in New York.

Seeing the Harry Potter play is one of the things to do in New York with children. That said, ideally they should be over 8 years old. The musical’s producers state that children under 4 are not permitted, most likely due to the special effects and other theatrical elements that may not be suitable for this age group.

All audience members, regardless of age, must hold a ticket to enter the theatre. It is also worth noting that children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Otherwise, entry may be refused. From this age onwards, children may attend unaccompanied.

Interestingly, the recommended age for watching the Harry Potter films is 11, although the creators of this musical have seen fit to adapt it for even younger children. This makes it a great outing for the whole family.

The great thing about musicals is that, as they’re so visual, you don’t need to be bilingual to follow the plot. That said, I won’t lie to you – if you’re not used to the American accent, you might feel a bit lost during the dialogue. If you’re already familiar with the Harry Potter universe and have read the books or seen the films, you’ll have no trouble following the play.

At this point, I’ve got a tip for you. Even if you don’t understand everything, you’ll have just as much fun! But if you still don’t want to feel lost and want to make sure you don’t miss a single word, some people use mobile apps like GalaPro.

Available for iPhone and Android, this app generates real-time subtitles for whatever play is being performed. You’ve got to admit, that’s a brilliant idea!

The big day is approaching and you’re not sure what to wear? The first thing I need to tell you is that there’s no specific dress code for attending a Broadway musical. If you take a look around, you’ll see that every audience member dresses as they please. Whilst some feel perfectly comfortable in jeans and a quirky jumper, others take the opportunity to dress up a bit more. After all, it’s a unique occasion!

With this in mind, there are a couple of things to bear in mind when choosing your outfit. Firstly, which performance you’re going to. A matinee performance allows for a more casual look, whilst for evening or late-night performances, people tend to dress up a bit more. Bear in mind, for example, that you might fancy heading to a smart restaurant or having a drink after the play.

Generally speaking, it’s not advisable to dress too casually (save the trainers for another occasion). If you’re travelling to New York in summer, make sure you pack an extra layer so the air conditioning doesn’t catch you off guard.

If New York is the city that never sleeps, just imagine Broadway! It’s hard to imagine this glittering district ever switching off its lights. Here, life moves at a frenetic pace and there are always people rushing about. Given that the last performance of the Harry Potter musical is at 7.00 pm and lasts over 2 hours and 30 minutes, you’ll have plenty of time to have dinner once the show’s over.

Remember that you’re right in the heart of Manhattan, so all sorts of dining options are within easy reach. If you don’t want to go too far, you can always have dinner at any of the restaurants in the area. Most of them are well-known chains and fast-food outlets. Directly opposite is the Hard Rock Café, and there’s also a Mexican restaurant called Los Tacos.

Fancy some Italian food? Not far away you’ll find Tony’s di Napoli
and Carmine’s Italian Restaurant. And if you’re after a proper American restaurant, you could check out Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery or the Brooklyn Diner. You could even consider having dinner near the Top of the Rock or check out this guide on where to eat in New York. You’ll certainly be spoilt for choice!

The musical Harry Potter and the Cursed Child isn’t just playing in New York, but also in other cities such as London, San Francisco, Melbourne and Hamburg. It’ll be coming to many more venues soon. There’s no doubt that this is a full-blown global phenomenon. Do you really want to miss it?

If it’s been a while since you read any of the Harry Potter books or watched one of the films, you’ll love reliving his epic adventures, spells and battles. The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child musical on Broadway is an original and innovative story, so you’ll only find it on stage – not in cinemas.

Broadway is where dreams come true – or at least where we bring them to life. A visit to New York without seeing a musical would be incomplete. There’s plenty to choose from. When it comes to global phenomena, we immediately think of some of Broadway’s greatest musicals, such as The Lion King, which has been running for over 14 years.

Another of the great hits on the famous ‘Theatre District’ is The Phantom of the Opera. The spectacular nature of this musical has ensured it has been running in New York for over 30 years. Don’t miss Cats or Moulin Rouge either.