“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” Toronto Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

by · June 5, 2023

The cast of Canada’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child celebrated its first anniversary on June 1 – a whole year and a day of bringing the magic of the Wizarding World to Toronto’s CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre.

 

 

As part of the week-long anniversary celebrations, which also included an art installation inspired by the play, the City of Toronto officially proclaimed May 31 Live Theatre Day, with a statement read by City Councillor Gary Crawford.

In Toronto, we are blessed to have a wide selection of live theatre shows that offer something for everyone … Thank you to the talented artists and everyone involved in live theatre who help ensure that the show can and must go on for our residents and all theatre enthusiasts.

Sadly, however, all good things must end, including Toronto’s Cursed Child, which will show its final performance on July 2. Despite only being shown for one year, the production has employed a cast of 40, a backstage crew of 77, and over 100 theater staff.

Over 600,000 people have been to watch the show in Toronto since it opened on May 31, 2022, and by the time it reaches its final performance, it it will be the longest-running professional play in Canadian history, with 17,094 spells cast, 285 props used, and 1,375 costume pieces and 41 wigs worn.

 

 

 

The show has also set a Canadian box office record; the final week of 2022 saw $1,984,046 in sales, making it the highest weekly gross for a non-musical play in Canadian theater history.

With only four weeks left until Cursed Child Toronto’s final performance, will you be visiting the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre for one last magical time?

Press Release

THE IMPACT OF TORONTO’S
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

With only five weeks remaining of the acclaimed all-Canadian production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the CAA Ed Mirvish, it’s time to look at the impact of the show.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child led the reopening of the theatre sector in Toronto, which for many decades has been the third[-]largest theatre community in the English-speaking world, after London’s West End and New York’s Broadway.

Employing a cast of 40 performers, a backstage crew of 77 and theatre staff of over 100, the opening of the show on May 31, 2022, was a resounding signal that large-scale theatre had returned in as massive a way as possible.

And Toronto theatregoers responded in an equally massive way. By the time the show ends on July 2, it will have been seen by more than 600,000, becoming the longest-running professional play in Canadian history.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child also set a Canadian box office record for the week of December 26 to 31, playing to 100 percent capacity and pulling in $1,984,046 in sales – the highest weekly gross for a non-musical play in Canadian theatre history.

It is estimated that the economic spin[-]off to the city and province of the show’s Toronto engagement is over $750,000,000.

Here are some other fun numbers:
· 17,094 spells
· 285 props
· 1,375 costume pieces
· 41 wigs
· 984 lighting cues

The production has welcomed people from every province and territory in Canada as well as visitors from China, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, Mexico and many others to the historic CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, following a $5 million renovation.

Grace Hurley

I'm an animal-loving Ravenclaw with a Masters Degree in Writing and a passion for the Harry Potter universe since the age of five.