First UK and US Schools to Produce “Cursed Child” Announced
After the news of a high school version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child back in September, followed by the announcement of the Wands at the Ready competition running across the US to become one of the first schools to produce the play, we finally know when and where the exciting first performances in both the US and the UK will be.
Broadway Licensing Global (BLG) announced earlier in December that Riverside School in Barking, London, and Hoboken High School in Hoboken, New Jersey, will be the first schools to put on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Riverside will hold the actual debut of the show’s school edition, while Hoboken High will take the title of the first school in the US to produce a pilot of the show.
There were a variety of elements that combined to bring magic to these two schools. They are both state/county schools with standard lighting, sound, and stage set-ups as well as an average budget for drama and plays, which is largely funded by the schools themselves rather than private investors or donations. The schools are also near BLG offices, allowing for easier collaboration. Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender stated that they “couldn’t be more thrilled” about the choices.
The entire team is looking forward to supporting the students and teachers in bringing the story to life for the first time on a school stage.
Riverside School intends to have the first pilot ready for audiences between March 20 and March 23 next year, with Hoboken High to follow a couple of months later, putting their production on between May 15 and May 19. These dates are only possible providing that the show can be produced in schools with all the magic of the professional versions across the world.
We are still awaiting the results of the Wands at the Ready competition, which allowed drama teachers to apply for their school to be the first in their state or territory to produce the show. The competition ended on December 15, and all schools will be expected to produce their version between October 15 and November 10 next year.
Would you have wanted to perform in a Cursed Child school production when you were at school, or are you actively hoping to be able to?
