Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Nineteen years after the events of the Harry Potter novels, Harry Potter is an overworked Ministry of Magic employee and father struggling to connect with his younger son, Albus, who starts at Hogwarts under the weight of his father's fame. Albus, uncomfortable in his father's shadow, befriends Scorpius Malfoy, son of Harry's old rival Draco, and the two become close friends despite their families' history. Frustrated by how his father is remembered and eager to prove himself, Albus makes a reckless decision involving a piece of forbidden magic that puts him and Scorpius on a dangerous path, one that pulls in Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Draco as the consequences ripple outward.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was written as a play by Jack Thorne, based on a story by J.K. Rowling, Thorne, and director John Tiffany. It premiered in London's West End in 2016, originally performed in two parts, and later transferred to Broadway, where it won the Tony Award for best play.

Watch for how the production stages its magic: transformations, flying, and quick costume changes are handled live with theatrical tricks rather than film effects, and they are a major reason audiences come. The central relationship is the strained father-son bond between Harry and Albus, echoed by the unlikely friendship between Albus and Scorpius. The tone mixes the warmth and humor of the books with real family drama and moments of tension. Longtime fans will recognize familiar characters now grown up, while newcomers can follow the story as its own coming-of-age tale. It suits Harry Potter fans of any age and families with older children.