Advice - Harry Potter in London or on Broadway?

[BroadwayMomma]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 7:09pm

We have tickets to see Harry Potter in London in April 2017; we are seeing both parts in one day.  We are in the very back of the stalls, next to the sound board (these seats were added after the show initially sold out).  We might be able to upgrade our seats at the box office.  We are going with our two teenage children who love theater and like Harry Potter.  My concern is that my kids have never been to London (or anywhere in Europe) and we only have four nights there before we head to Paris.  Now that the Broadway run has been officially announced, would you still dedicate so much time seeing it in London or would you just wait and see it on Broadway in 2018?  I can return the tickets, but will probably lose money on the exchange because I bought them pre-Brexit.  I know this is a lucky problem to have, but I'm just curious what others would do.  

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 7:32pm

Would you really ask them to wait ANOTHER year?   GO! Enjoy.  Let your kids enjoy and have great bragging rights. 

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 7:35pm

Absolutely go in London! It's the original production and it would be another year of waiting! What is better than seeing something related to Harry Potter in London?! Enjoy!   

[BroadwayMomma]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 7:37pm

Ok, thanks for setting me straight.  I was just overthinking it.  It will be probably the highlight of the London trip, right?  Thank you.  

[Wildcard]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 7:38pm

You have to factor in the difficulty of getting tickets to the show. Blocks of tickets sell out very quickly and you may be in the queue for a very long time with no guarantee of getting a ticket. When the initial block of tickets went on sale in 2015, I wasn't able to get any. When they opened a new block earlier this year, I was able to get tickets for mid-2017 because I had a low number on the queue. So just because it's opening on Broadway in 2018, you may not get to see it till 2020. 

[BroadwayMomma]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 7:52pm

So just because it's opening on Broadway in 2018, you may not get to see it till 2020. 

Good point.

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 8:18pm

I also think the Palace is a great theatre that is incredibly suited to the Potter play.  There is no theatre in NYC that comes close to it for quirkiness, charm, interesting nooks and crannies.  Parts of it remind me of Hogwarts.  

The only theoretical negative is that you will be in the theatre 'for an entire day', when you only have 4 days in  London.  But don't view it that way.  If you get going relatively early that day, you can have a good amount of sightseeing -- it is close to a lot of places you will likely want to visit -- and go to the theatre when everyone's legs are feeling tired.

I second all other comments.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 9:22pm

I also think the Palace is a great theatre that is incredibly suited to the Potter play.  There is no theatre in NYC that comes close to it for quirkiness, charm, interesting nooks and crannies.  Parts of it remind me of Hogwarts. 

Agree completely.  Seeing it in that theatre makes it even more special.  And it's London!  You can even see places they would recognize from the films like the Millennium Bridge and Kings Cross station, where they have a special Harry Potter store with a Platform 9 3/4 photo op.  It will be an extra special trip for your kids.

[BroadwayMomma]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 10:21am

Thanks for that added perspective about the atmosphere of the theatre.  I've now gone from being somewhat unsure to being totally excited.  Thanks!