J.K. Rowling's Blog, page 7

Last night Harry Potter and the Cursed Child unveiled its new creative approach with a bold Times Square billboard takeover. Passers-by and assembled fans watched in wonder as every screen in Times Square lit up in the show’s colours before being engulfed in darkness, Dementors and an ominous Dark Mark…

In the new posters and front-of-theatre artwork, an adult Harry ‘casts’ a magnificent lightning bolt, but within the spell’s glow is the looming threat of a Dark Mark. The prophetic new tagline – ‘Sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places’ – was written by J.K. Rowling for the original play description and lends further intrigue to the image.

The new design celebrates Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’s place as the eighth story in the canon by incorporating J.K. Rowling’s name and the iconic lightning-bolt logo. This logo was originally designed by legendary Harry Potter illustrator Mary GrandPré over 23 years ago, and has continued to be used across books, films and many official Harry Potter projects all over the world since.

Visit Pottermore to find out more.

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J.K. Rowling will join Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, environmental activist Wendy Abrams, and Livongo Health Executive Chairman Glen Tullman as honorees at the 51st annual RFK Human Rights Ripple of Hope ceremony held in New York on 12th December 2019.  The Ripple of Hope laureates were selected for their lifelong commitment to human rights and their exceptional work toward a more just and peaceful world. 

Robert F Kennedy Human Rights President Kerry Kennedy said: ‘My father believed that each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot other others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.  We are proud to honor these extraordinary laureates who have sent forth countless ripples of hope to millions of people inspired by their example.’

The Ripple of Hope Awards recognise leaders from government, business, advocacy and entertainment who are dedicated to advancing positive social change.  Past laureates include Barack Obama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bono, Hillary Rodham Clinton, George Clooney, Harry Belafonte, Tim Cook, Tony Bennett and Robert de Niro.

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child officially opened at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre with a red carpet gala on Saturday 23rd February.  The cast, director John Tiffany, writer Jack Thorne, and producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender were all on the red carpet to welcome Australian fans to the show. 

J.K. Rowling couldn’t attend, but sent the production a note saying: ‘Thank you to the cast and creative team who’ve done such a magnificent job.  If I could apparate I’d be there.  My heart’s in Oz tonight!’

The multi-award-winning theatrical event is exclusive to Melbourne in Australia and is
currently booking at the newly renovated Princess Theatre until December 2019.  

This is the third continent that the eighth story is opening to, as it continues to entertain and delight audiences in London and New York.  The show received its world premiere in July 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End, and opened at the Lyric Theatre on Broadway in April 2018.  It will open in San Francisco in 2019 and in Hamburg 2020, which will be the first non-English language production of the Cursed Child.

For the latest news and information about Cursed Child in Melbourne, head over to the Cursed Child website or www.pottermore.com.

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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the second film in the five-film series, officially opened in cinemas today, after its magical, global premiere in Paris on Thursday, 8th November.

The film features an ensemble cast that includes Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Jude Law, and Johnny Depp.

Set in 1927, a few months after Newt Scamander helped to unveil and capture the infamous Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, and moving from New York to London and on to Paris, this story of mystery and magic reveals an extraordinary new chapter in the wizarding world. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family.

The original screenplay of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald also publishes today in line with the release of the film.

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The producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have announced two further locations for the award-winning show.

From the West End to the West Coast, the next US production of Cursed Child will begin in Autumn 2019 at the Curran in San Francisco, California. Built in 1922, the Curran has housed some of the biggest productions in theatre history and is one of the leading live entertainment venues in North America.

Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender said, “The beautiful and historic Curran in San Francisco is the perfect theatre for the next North American company of Cursed Child. We are delighted that ATG and Carole Shorenstein Hays have worked their magic to provide the ideal West Coast home for the production.”

And what’s more, today saw the announcement of the first non-English version of the play, with the Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt in Hamburg set to host its German premiere from the spring of 2020. In preparation for this, the venue will undergo an extensive redesign starting in May 2019.

Friedman and Callender added, “We know Harry Potter has millions of German speaking fans and so we’re very proud that we are able to bring our beautiful production to Germany. The Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt in Hamburg is a unique space, and we’re delighted and grateful to have the opportunity to design and create a perfect, bespoke new home for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Germany.”

Information on performance dates, tickets, casting and all further details for both productions will be announced in the coming months. Visit www.HarryPotterThePlay.com  to sign up for the mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news and updates on Cursed Child around the world.

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Wizarding World fans in Australia have lots to look forward to, as the producers of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have announced that tickets for the upcoming Melbourne production will go on sale at on 6th August. Fans who sign up to the mailing list by 29th July will receive priority booking access before tickets go on general sale the following week. It was also confirmed today that preview performances at the Princess Theatre will begin on Wednesday January 16th 2019.

With all this news, producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender said “We’re so thrilled that Melbourne is Cursed Child’s next home and can’t wait to move into the gorgeous Princess Theatre soon. Our design team have been working closely with the Princess to renovate and redesign parts of the theatre – to not only make it more comfortable for audiences but add an additional touch of magic to the beautiful landmark. We look forward to sharing more production news over the coming months.”

Stay tuned for more updates on Cursed Child in Melbourne https://www.harrypottertheplay.com/au/

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The Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has received an extraordinary 6 accolades at this year’s Tony Awards, including the award for Best Play.

Director John Tiffany collected the Tony for Best Direction of a Play, and further honours went to Best Scenic Design (Christine Jones), Best Costume Design (Katrina Lindsay), Best Lighting (Neil Austin) and Best Sound Design (Gareth Fry).

Since opening in April this year, Cursed Child became the most nominated Broadway play this season, and is now the most awarded show, having been honoured with, among others, six wins at the Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Broadway Play, and 5 Drama Desk Awards.

For more on Cursed Child on Broadway, visit the official website

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Following the exhibition’s sellout run at The British Library in London, tickets go on sale today for Harry Potter: A History of Magic at the New-York Historical Society, which will host the exhibition from October 5 this year until January 27, 2019.

Capturing the traditions of folklore and magic at the heart of the Harry Potter stories, the exhibition features centuries-old treasures, including rare books, manuscripts, and magical objects from the collections of The British Library, the New-York Historical Society, and other museums, as well as original material from US publisher Scholastic and J.K. Rowling’s own archives.

Excitingly, the New York exhibition will display many new artefacts for the first time, and beginning today, tickets for trivia programs and a series of family events associated with the exhibition will also be available.

September 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the US publication of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and publishers Scholastic kicked off their year-long celebration at the beginning of this year.

To find out more about Harry Potter: A History of Magic at the New-York Historical Society, visit www.harrypotter.nyhistory.org

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has officially opened on Broadway, at the newly refurbished Lyric Theatre, after its magical opening gala performance on Sunday, April 22nd.

The New York Post reported that ‘Broadway’s never seen anything like it!’, with the New York Times declaring that the play in two parts “…raises the bar for Broadway magic. A remarkable production of all-consuming enchantment.”

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The critically acclaimed production received its world premiere in July 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London where it continues to play to sold out houses.

On Monday 23rd April, a new release of tickets for the Broadway production were made available, for performances up until March 2019. For the latest news and information about Cursed Child on Broadway, head over to the Cursed Child website or www.pottermore.com

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On 12th December, J.K. Rowling was made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, for her services to literature and philanthropy. She accepted the esteemed award from the Duke of Cambridge during an investiture at Buckingham Palace.

The century-old Order was founded by King George V in June 1917 as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion. It is a special award held by no more than 65 people at any given time, and one which recognises services of national significance. J.K. Rowling was made a Companion of Honour this year along with Sir Paul McCartney, Delia Smith, Sir Terence Conran and others.

Of the honour, she said “to be included in the distinguished and diversely talented company of the other Companions of Honour, especially as a female writer, is a particular privilege.”

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