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Huge news for Harry Potter fans: Broadway Licensing Global (BLG) has acquired the amateur licensing rights for the global phenomenon Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. That means that the beloved Wizarding World is about to make its premiere on high school stages around the world.
BLG Founder and CEO Sean Cercone is passionate about making everyone a theater person. As a result, Cercone and BLG are teaming up with the creators of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, making for a magical partnership—and the release of this live stage sensation is giving high schoolers first dibs in an unprecedented move.
Based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play by Jack Thorne. When Harry Potter's headstrong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all—with the power to change the past and future forever.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has cast its spell worldwide with productions running in London, New York, Hamburg and Tokyo, and has completed runs in Melbourne, Toronto and San Francisco.
10 Things to Know About Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Coming to Schools
1. A high school edition is being created specifically for high schools to perform. J.K. Rowling's agent and founding partner of The Blair Partnership, Neil Blair, said, "Making Harry Potter and the Cursed Child available for school productions around the world will inspire creativity, imagination, play, and storytelling through the medium of theater, and we couldn't be more thrilled."
2. The high school edition will feature a shorter runtime and reduced technical complexities, so that any school can perform. BLG is working with the show's original creative team to adapt the script for high schools and secondary schools, so that schools of any size, regardless of budget or technical capabilities, can produce the show with success.
3. Only high schools worldwide can license the show...for now. "Opening the world of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child up to schools is thrilling and feels like the natural next step in our journey," director John Tiffany shared.
4. Licensing of the high school edition will begin in spring 2024. A perusal script is now available to purchase.
5. High schools that are interested to learn more can visit licensecursedchild.com. The site provides more details about everything you need to know, including a way to register your interest in the show.
6. A production package will be provided for schools that license the show; BLG will provide details soon.
7. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the first Harry Potter story to be presented on stage, has sold over 6 million tickets worldwide and holds a record 60 major honors, with nine Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, and six Tony® Awards, including Best New Play.
8. The creative team's original vision for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was that the show's magic should have its roots in storytelling techniques that could be achieved when playing at home or in school, so creating a version of the show for students has always been an objective.
9. The cover of the 2023-2024 BLG educational marketing catalog features an Instagram-programmed, augmented reality Time-Turner that rises and spins in 3D. The cover has a hidden QR code to scan for viewers to enjoy the experience.
10. BLG has developed many other high school editions of marquee titles, including Clue: On Stage, The Play That Goes Wrong and Saturday Night Fever.
Two Global Teams Join Forces
Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender expressed their delight in working with BLG. "We are delighted to be working with Broadway Licensing Global so that schools around the world can stage their own productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," they said. "We can't wait to see how students embrace their creativity and bring the magic of the wizarding world to life on their school stages. It's extremely exciting for us all."
This partnership aligns with the stated purpose of BLG to make everyone a theater person and, in effect, foster more inspiration, empathy, and also access to live theater worldwide. High school theater programs often rely on donations, money from caring drama teachers, and previous box office revenue to fund next year's shows. BLG is on the front lines to help by putting this marquee title directly into the hands of schools, whose students represent the future of the professional theater and entertainment industry.
About Broadway Licensing Global
Since its start in 2017, BLG, under Cercone's leadership, has grown exponentially, representing more than 8,000 titles, making it the fastest-growing catalog for live stage plays and musicals worldwide. Cercone said, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not just a theatrical marvel but will also be a catalyst for change in our communities. Its magic transcends the stage and will inspire support and unparalleled enthusiasm for educational theater programs worldwide."
Jennifer Isaacson, Senior Vice President Licensing at BLG, added that the company's philosophy in partnering with schools is quite similar to how they partner with professional theater, "We believe that every high school teacher and director is also a producer. Because of this, we make it our goal to actively help school productions achieve both artistic and box office success."