Harry Potter: The Exhibition – Philadelphia, PA, USA

Transcribed by Marissa Osman

Katie Aiani: Hi! Thank you for inviting us all here to the grand opening. What would you say was the hardest part of this exhibit to bring to life?

Tom Zaller: We’re so fortunate to work with such an incredible brand and with so many assets, from the movie props to drawings and designs to the costumes. So it wasn’t that hard because... I mean, of course, it’s hard. It’s all hard, but this is what we do for a living. We were able to have access to such incredible stuff. It made it easier. So I would say the hardest part was probably the last week of getting it all together, but that’s always the end. Working with Warner Bros. and their partners made it possible. We have recreated the Great Hall. It’s amazing.

Katie: Yes, it’s incredible! I feel like I’m there.

Tom: You’re standing in Herbology or Potions next to costumes that are worn by the stars in the show. It’s great. It’s, of course, easier to make something great when it’s already something great. The brand is so powerful and so strong. People love it, and I think we give them a place to share that love.

Katie: Absolutely. What’s your favorite part?

Tom: That’s hard. I mean, it’s like [picking a] favorite child. I will say, I was really excited about a Great Hall experience because it’s something new. You won’t get this anywhere else in the world. You’re going to go to Universal, and it’s awesome; you go Leavesden, and it’s awesome; you go to New York to the store, and it’s awesome; you go see Cursed Child, [and] it’s awesome. It’s all great, but we are our own unique thing. I think that we were able to do things that people haven’t done, which I think is super fun. But I do love the Great Hall experience. I love the Marauder’s Map in the beginning with the castle. That projection was really good.

Katie: Oh, yeah! It’s so pretty.

Tom: Did you tap the thing?

Katie: I did! It’s so cool. Your name is coming up.

Tom: Yeah, it’s fun. Your name comes up, isn’t that fun?

Katie: How long did it take to construct all of this?

Tom: We started the project two years ago, and so the building - the actual nailing and that - [happened over] the last... let’s say the last year. But. No, it’s a thing. It’s a process. This is also a traveling show, so we have to pick this up and move it again. But luckily not for another six months.

Katie: I attended the Harry Potter Exhibition in 2010 in Seattle, and I was never fortunate enough to attend the ones in Europe.

Tom: It’s the same show anyway.

Katie: Yeah? Okay, I was curious because that exhibition was a separate company, right?

Tom: That exhibition was a touring show. That does not exist anymore. That toured for ten years and ended right when the pandemic happened. It was in Portugal; I think [that] was the last show. It was the same show for ten years, so I know the people really well who did that. Actually, I was a host of that show in Singapore. I had a museum that I worked at in Singapore, and I hosted it there. So I’m very familiar with it. Obviously, I understood from that the power of the brand and [how to bring it to life] and how much people love this kind of thing. But it also made me remember what I wanted to do [differently]. I think this is completely different.

Katie: Oh, it is. I can confirm. Absolutely.

Tom: I’m so very proud of what it is. I think we made something special.

Katie: Thank you. Thank you from the fans.

Tom: Yeah. You can come in, and it’s personalized. You can do it your way. You can choose your wand to cast your spell. I just think it’s really different for everybody. Obviously, this is very personal for you, I can tell.

Katie: Oh, absolutely.

Tom: I want to talk to you at the end for sure because I hope - I think - we did something really special, and I think people are going to love it.

Katie: For sure, please! It’s for all ages too. I can see kids and adults loving this. And just to wrap up, because I know you’re very busy: What is your Hogwarts House and your favorite character?

Tom: I am officially sorted into Ravenclaw, but I do have Gryffindor tendencies, and so I think I’m some kind of mixture of those two.

Katie: You’re a Hatstall. That’s what we call it: a Hatstall.

Tom: Yeah, that’s right. What was your other question?

Katie: [Who is] your favorite Harry Potter character? Or Wizarding World character! It could be from Fantastic Beasts or Cursed Child.

Tom: That’s tough. You know what, though? I’m going to go with Harry Potter. [There are] a lot of characters that I love, but I think... I think Newt is cool. I like Bellatrix Lestrange. I like a lot of them. But, I have to say, if I had to pick today, anyway, that’s who [I would pick]. But tomorrow, it might be somebody else. I tend to pick the phoenix as my Patronus; it just somehow feels right to me, but I think in my online Sorting Hat [quiz], I think it was a cat or something. It wasn’t a phoenix. [laughs]

Katie: Okay! Mine was a Thestral, so that’s apparently very rare.

Tom: I think it’s so fun with everybody. You have that connection, and that’s what this is for. And I think it’s for every level of fan. You can be in here and know nothing, and you will appreciate all the-

Katie: It’s so beautiful, yeah! I could spend all day here. Not everyone could, but of course, I could. This is incredible. Thank you so much for your time.

Tom: Thank you.