If you’re visiting New York City with kids, chances are you’ve been asked about seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. I’ve now seen it twice in NYC, once with each of our kids, and each time I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the thrill that it was for each kiddo. Harry Potter stories have been a big part of our kids’ world as they’ve gotten older, learning to read with the books and then understanding how books translate into movies, so seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway has been a bucket list experience for both of them.
Have you seen Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway? Or maybe in London? Without giving any spoilers, we’ve got the scoop on the show including some recommendations for when you plan your theater visit to ensure you have the best experience. If you have any questions about seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway or any other NYC with kids questions, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and love getting to encourage others to bring theater into their kids’ lives.
Highlights of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway
Before I saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway the first time I didn’t know anything about the story. Our oldest son had read and reread the play script multiple times, so he was very well versed in the story and characters. I’ve seen the HP films enough to know the background, but wasn’t sure where this whole lot would go with it. I must say, it’s a great story and the way it’s done on Broadway is remarkable. The visual effects, the magical happenings, the costuming… I have seen Harry Potter and the Cursed Child twice now and am still in awe, unsure of how they pulled some of it off.
NOTE: this is really difficult to write about without giving away spoilers, so I have a section below that says SPOILERS to share some notes.
While the show and stagecraft were both impressive, the real highlight each time I saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been watching my kids and their reactions to all of it. When I saw it with Oliver the first time, neither or us had seen it so each fantastical thing we both reacted to in real-time. That elevated the Broadway show experience for sure.
When I saw it the second time, this performance was with Elliott, I knew what was coming so I was able to tune into him and watch his face. I think that was even better than the first show. Magic on stage is amazing, and I’m not talking about going to a magician show (but we do love us some Justin Willman). Seeing spells take flight in front of you and seeing special effects that look like what you think magic would be like if it were real, it’s just jaw dropping.
Get Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway tickets here!
Tips for Seeing Harry Potter on Broadway
Even though Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is now done as a one-sitting performance(it used to be done over two days), it’s still a long show. The tickets are pretty expensive and you don’t want to either have a poor experience seeing it with your kids or to negatively impact others seeing the Broadway show. Like with any sort of live performance, I think it’s important to connect with the kids in advance and set some behavior expectations as well as answer any questions you can about being a part of a live performance audience.
For example, when we saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, we talked in advance about NOT chatting about the story or performance during the actual play. That might seem like a no-brainer as an adult, but when you’re seeing a show that kids are really interested in, especially one that’s a big part of their world, like Harry Potter, they want to engage and share their thoughts and feelings as the show happens. It’s hard to tell them to hold it until intermission or after the show, but it’s important, especially in Broadway show with so much dialogue.
TIP: if you want to wait around after the show, a lot of the cast will leave from the stage door not long after the production is done for the night. You’re welcome to wait for them and maybe grab an autograph or just tell them how awesome they were.
Prep for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with Kids
Do you need to bring anything special if you’re heading to see Harry Potter on Broadway with kids? No. Please no. I say this as a parent that’s been to Broadway shows with their kids when they were extremely young and now with a teenager. The show is what you’re there for. Do not bring a tablet or something to entertain your kids at the theater, especially to a large scale theater production like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This is a place to be quiet and observe. If you are thinking that you kiddo won’t be able to do that, then unfortunately I feel like this isn’t the best thing to do when you’re in NYC (or any stage show setting). Hate on me if you want, but theater tickets are expensive, bucket list experiences for people and they shouldn’t be negatively impacted by other viewers.
And this goes for loud snacks too. Yes, there is food and drink allowed in the theater when you see Harry Potter on Broadway, but you shouldn’t be bringing in crinkly bags and crunchy snacks. Even at the concession stand where you can buy loud food, as a courtesy to others who have also been looking forward to this experience, don’t buy something annoying to others.
The reason I bring this up is because the second time we saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, the family behind us somehow had the loudest boxed candy and somehow a bag of chips, and they talked the whole time. Y’all, no. All you need to bring to the theater is yourself, you listening ears and watchful eyes, and the mood for magic. And a sweater, because the Harry Potter Broadway theater, the Lyric Theater, is the coldest stage I’ve been to. So dress warmly for the performance.
Harry Potter Broadway Fun in the Lyric Theater
I love getting to see the photo walls and memorabilia at the theater when we see a show. The Gershwin Theater has some great Wicked costumes and such. The Minskoff Theater has AMAZING Lion King stuff to check out when you’re there. The Lyric Theater is not set up that way, but instead of memorabilia is full of magic and fun photo ops. From getting Hogwarts House photos to murals and even a red phone booth, there are lots of interactive things to do in the theater lobby before you sit down for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway.
When it comes to snacks and drinks, there are some Harry Potter theme food options and a few really creative magical cocktails. My favorite is the Deluminator cocktail, which both sparkles and changes color as you enjoy it. It’s a little bit of magic for the adults in attendance.
Who Will Enjoy Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?
Having two kids that both love the Harry Potter books and movies, I can say that if you know somebody who enjoys the franchise, in any format, they’ll like Harry Potter on Broadway. I would venture to say that it’s appropriate for kids 7 and up, given that they play is pretty long and there are some moments that could be a bit jarring for small kids. If your kiddo LOVES Harry Potter and has the capacity to sit still for 90 minutes at a time (there is a short intermission), then this is great for them.
SPOILERS: What I LOVED about Harry Potter on Broadway
If you’re read the book/script already, then there’s nothing shocking coming up, BUT if you haven’t and would like to be surprised as you watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway, then stop reading now… So, my absolute favorite effect in the entire show is the time-turner effect. Amazing. The way they use light to move the whole theater is astounding. The sound that accompanies the visual effects is equally stunning.
Another element that is really well done and still do not even begin to comprehend is the lightning fast costume changes that happy directly in front of you in a split second. I don’t get it! When it comes to what I do understand, the spell casting is really impressive. There is a moment when there’s a bit of a magical duel/fight happening and actual magic to being played out on stage. It’s remarkable.
Get Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway tickets here!
More NYC Fun With Kids
I used to not like going to New York City at all… and then I started bringing my kids when I had to travel to NYC for work and I love it. There is no shame in having a stereotypical New York trip with kids, whether you’re seeing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway or you’re visiting Times Square at night to see the craziness, it’s all fun. Here are our top picks for activities with kids when you’re in NYC, and a few of them really add to the fun of having a Harry Potter themed day.
- do the Empire State Building experience (it’s much more than just going up to the Observation Deck)
- visit the Harry Potter New York Store – it’s shopping, photo ops, Butterbeer and magical fun)
- have a meal at Ellen’s Stardust Diner – live singing all through the restaurant
- go out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
- check out the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian (I love this place)
- take the kids to the Nintendo and Lego stores
- do the Museum of Modern Art (better with kids than the Met)
- enjoy the Museum of Natural History and Central Park
If you do half of these activities paired with an awesome Broadway show like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child you’ll have a great trip to New York City with kids. For more ideas and suggestions for visiting NYC with older kids, check out our article about NYC with a Preteen. Lot’s of insights into what makes a trip with older kids fun.
Other Kid-friendly Broadway Shows to Consider
Not all Broadway shows are as kid-friendly as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but there are some good ones… and we’ve seen them so we can share our opinions with you! Like with anything in life, you know your kids best and know what they’ll be into and down for. When it comes to choosing a Broadway show to see with kids, try to think about these three things:
- Appropriateness – every kid has a different level of maturity and every household has a different level of joking / age-appropriate comedy. Read up on a show to gauge the level of adult content before planning to take kids to it.
- Consider the timing of a show – afternoon shows are great with kids and you’ll often see more families at these shows. If you’re concerned about your kids talking in the theater and such, look for an afternoon show when other families may be in attendance too.
- Visual – kids love bright, fun shows with catchy songs and cool effects. Drab, moody shows aren’t great with kids (or me), but fun, upbeat, colorful shows are sure to keep kids’ attention.
If you’re concerned that there may be too much adult content in a Broadway show, because there often is, these shows are solid choices to see with kids and if they aren’t on Broadway in NYC at the moment, you may be able to see them as they tour. Touring productions are just as skillful, but may be slightly less grand than productions in residence due to the need to be flexible.
- any Disney Broadway show – Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Frozen, Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins
- Christmas productions – Elf, White Christmas, A Christmas Story
- Classic Shows – Cinderella, Oklahoma, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Anything Goes, Music Man…
If you have any questions about Harry Potter on Broadway, other shows or putting together your ideal NYC plan for your family, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and love to help other have amazing adventures!
