Cursed Child Melbourne News?

[phinasamaj]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 3:14am

Any casting rumours ?

[LexiGirl]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 6:06pm

I just saw an Instagram post from the official Harry Potter play account and the video announced Jamie Parker specifically, but also said the original Broadway cast and original London cast. It was a little confusing and vague, which is why I came here looking for news. Haven’t been able to find anything but that video on Instagram yet!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 6:19pm

According to the official website, there has been no casting news. The only news is that tickets go on sale in August.

https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/au/latest/

[LexiGirl]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 6:26pm

I wasn’t sure how to post a link yet, so hope this works... below is the link to the video in their Instagram post. I just saw the video on Twitter, too.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkgKrP_HXaC/?taken-by=hpplaynyc

If true, that means Jamie Parker will be gone from the Broadway cast by year end, and potentially others.

Updated On: 6/26/18 at 06:26 PM

[phinasamaj]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 7:50pm

I doubt Jamie will go to Australia 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 7:55pm

I don't think those images have anything to do with casting. More likely, it's just "Here are some pics, and this is who they are."

[LexiGirl]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 8:01pm

Ah, maybe you’re right, that it was just some photos. Would explain why I haven’t seen that news anywhere else.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 11:52pm

He's gotta be making so much $$ from this show.

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 9:34am

I agree. If he has nothing else lined up and if he always wanted to live in Australia for a few months, I can see Jamie or any of these cast members go to Melbourne but who knows.

I'd presume the creative team will all be in Melbourne.

[JennH]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 8:57pm

^^ I mean that's how it works. Creatives stay on for all first major professional productions of a new show (unless all hell breaks loose I suppose), I'm sure they'll be down under soon if they aren't already. I also gotta say I honestly didn't expect Melbourne to be up an running that early next year. I was thinking it would open about halfway through 2019, so when I saw today that tickets were on sale, I kinda went "Woah...what, they have dates set already??" Hey that's fine anyway, I can imagine the Australians are perfectly happy about it!

[NewZealander]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 6:33pm

any more information 

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 7/31/18 at 6:46am

Only that the Princess Theatre has all new seats[thank God] and now has a center aisle and the inside had been painted a dark green[I think. The theatre has been booked for 5 years.

Just passing on info from friends who went to opening night of Mamma Mia.

I will be in Melb. in 2 weeks to see The Production Company's production of Boy from Oz-Rohan Brown[VERY spunky] as Peter Allen with Caroline O'Connor as Judy Garland and will see Rocky Horror as well. Will report if any interest.

[Javi]

Posted: 7/31/18 at 9:08am

My guess is Rowan Witt will play Harry Potter.  Rowan left 'The Book of Mormon' in Sydney where he was playing Elder McKinley for a top secret project.  Rowan was shortlisted to the final four for the role of Harry Potter in the series of feature films that eventually went to Daniel Radcliffe.  So would be perfect to use him. And he is a terrific talent.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/31/18 at 9:56am

I had NO idea about that. Interesting! Wouldn't he be a bit young, though? (I saw him as Elder McKinley in Melbourne and he was fantastic.)

I remember shortly after he left Mormon, he was secretly in London, per his instagram story, and didn't say much else about it afterward.

[Javi]

Posted: 7/31/18 at 5:03pm

Yes, he did take off to London suddenly. I don't know why he would have left 'Book of Mormon' suddenly unless he had something big coming up.

Rowan will be 30 years old when Harry Potter opens in Melbourne.  Jamie was 36 when the show opened in London.  So, yeah, Rowan's a bit younger.  

He only seems to have 'She Loves Me' coming up at the Hayes Theatre from August 24 to September 15.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/1/18 at 10:13am

If there were, wouldn't it be here?

[TheIan]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 9:22pm

LizzieCurry said: "If there were, wouldn't it be here?"

I live in San Francisco but doing a tour of Australia so I wonder where I should see the show?

[StephieElise]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 4:53am

SweetLips22 said: "Only that the Princess Theatre has all new seats[thank God] and now has a center aisle and the inside had been painted a dark green[I think. The theatre has been booked for 5 years.

Just passing on info from friends who went to opening night of Mamma Mia.

I will be in Melb. in 2 weeks to see The Production Company's production of Boy from Oz-Rohan Brown[VERY spunky] as Peter Allen with Caroline O'Connor as Judy Garland and will see Rocky Horror as well. Will report if any interest."

I was SO confused when I was booking my Mamma Mia tickets wondering what theatre I was looking at! Thrilled they’ve done some upgrades to the Princess (hopefully they’ve repaired the hole in the floor in the front row from my Mum’s high heel at the Hairspray closing!). Although, I ended up with front row of the dress circle for HP; pretty happy after having 20,000 people in line ahead of me when booking! 

(And so much yes to Rohan in Boy from Oz - seeing that this weekend and then the closing of Rocky Horror!).

Back to the issue of casting, I think it is almost certain that it will be an Australian cast. Michael Cassel (who is my favourite producers for a variety of reasons, including this!) signed an agreement with Equity basically promising to consult with them about casting and to only cast Aussies wherever possible. So unless a role is particularly difficult to cast due to racial issues, etc. or if they want a particular big name in a role, they will cast Australians. This was due to a lot of backlash from unnecessary import casting by various producers, e.g. for Book of Mormon, Aladdin, My Fair Lady (not really Cassel though - he did bring in Callum Francis for Lola but I don’t know anyone who’s angry about that!).

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 1:43pm

"Back to the issue of casting, I think it is almost certain that it will be an Australian cast. Michael Cassel (who is my favourite producers for a variety of reasons, including this!) signed an agreement with Equity basically promising to consult with them about casting and to only cast Aussies wherever possible. So unless a role is particularly difficult to cast due to racial issues, etc. or if they want a particular big name in a role,they will cast Australians. This was due to a lot of backlash from unnecessary import casting by various producers, e.g. for Book of Mormon, Aladdin, My Fair Lady (notreally Cassel though - he did bring in Callum Francis for Lola but I don’t know anyone who’s angry about that!)."

I know the person who will be the resident director in Melbourne and she also states it will be an "all-Australian-cast".

[TheIan]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 7:54pm

so glad i am going to Broadway.

Updated On: 8/13/18 at 07:54 PM

[sorano916]

Posted: 9/1/18 at 5:12pm

Cast was announced.

https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/au/cast-announced-for-australian-premiere-production/

The Australian cast of 42 performers will be led by Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger, Gyton Grantleyas Ron Weasley, Lucy Goleby as Ginny Potter, Sean Rees-Wemyss as Albus Potter, Tom Wrenas Draco Malfoy and William McKenna as Scorpius Malfoy.

They are joined by Iopu Auva’a, Damien Avery, Mike Bishop, Simon Chandler, Clare Chihambakwe, Louis Corbett, Gillian Cosgriff, Manali Datar, Mark Dickinson, Lyndall Grant, George Henare, Soren Jensen, Hamish Johnston, Madeleine Jones, Amanda LaBonte?, Debra Lawrance, Kuda Mapeza, Kirsty Marillier, Cle Morgan, James O’Connell, David Paterson, John Shearman, David Simes, Hayden Spencer, Slone Sudiro, Connor Sweeney, Jessica Vickersand Hannah Waterman playing a variety of characters. The cast will also include seven children who will alternate two roles.

[StephieElise]

Posted: 9/22/18 at 10:27am

An update on the renovations to the Princess Theatre - it is GORGEOUS! It now has a wonderful wide aisle and (for Mamma Mia at least) the stage is definitely lower and there is heaps more leg room in the front row. It has been painted a nice dark olive-grey sort of colour (difficult to see as they never fully brought the house lights up) with gold accents. For Mamma Mia there was a pretty water ripple effect happening on the ceiling before the show, so I imagine any projections needed for Cursed Child will work nicely. They have removed the beautiful chandelier though. There is all new red carpet with gold designs on it and new red seats.

The seats would be my sole issue with the renovations - while I found them comfy, they are very, very tight and have a tiny armrest. I noticed a couple of larger people who were struggling a bit. I would say they’ve managed to keep the same number of seats despite the new aisle.

Of course, the foyer is still the most crowded of the 3 major Melbourne theatres. I would highly recommend pre-ordering a drink and/or dessert at Federici’s (the connecting restaurant) for interval to avoid the crowds.

[eastcoasttheatre]

Posted: 9/22/18 at 6:47pm

Is there a special Harry Potter Entrance like NYC

[StephieElise]

Posted: 9/22/18 at 10:22pm

eastcoasttheatre said: "Is there a special Harry Potter Entrance like NYC"

The show isn’t open yet; Mamma Mia is still playing at the moment.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/24/18 at 2:28am

eastcoasttheatre said: "Is there a special Harry Potter Entrance like NYC"

What special Harry Potter Potter entrance?