'Harry Potter' Play's Broadway Move Comes With an Awkward Catch
Harry Potter is pulling a Newt Scamander and heading Stateside, but that's not good news for everyone.
It was recently revealed that "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is planning to open on Broadway "in a totally transformed Lyric Theatre" in New York City in the spring of 2018. U.S. Potter-philes had been waiting for that news, but -- as "Once Upon a Time" fans know -- magic always comes with a price. In this case, the price is apparently being paid by a Cirque du Soleil show.
According to the New York Times, the Lyric Theater is being transformed, "shedding one-fifth of its seats" to make room for the two-part Potter play. However, here's the catch:
"The move is awkward: The theater is currently occupied by Cirque du Soleil, which spent $25 million creating its first Broadway show, 'Paramour,' and was hoping to keep running it there.
But the Ambassador Theater Group, known as ATG, the British company that owns the Lyric, was so eager to lure 'Cursed Child' that it is making it financially worthwhile for Cirque to move out.
'They made us an offer we couldn't refuse,' said Scott Zeiger, the chief executive of Cirque's theatrical division. 'They have some plans for the venue, and they incentivized us to go.'"
Did you ever expect to hear a "Godfather" reference in regard to Harry Potter muscling someone out of a Broadway venue? Maybe the whole thing is being run by Slytherins. That doesn't have to be a bad thing, but it's a bit surprising.
At any rate, the takeaway is good for the fans who couldn't travel to London to see the play, which is most of us here in North America. Stay tuned for details on when "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" will open on Broadway, and how to get tickets.
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