Harry Potter and the Cursed Child • September 23, 2026 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Alisha Gregson
Photography by Manuel Harlan courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles
The touring production of the Broadway play, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” brought its magic to the stage at Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City.
I have always been a Harry Potter fan. I read the first book the year it came out, when I was just 9 years old. I would eagerly wait for the release of each of the following books. I have read the series straight through multiple times, even as an adult. I have thrown at least 4 Harry Potter parties; I have a framed quote from Dumbledore hanging in my entryway, and I was Voldemort for Halloween a few years back.
I really love Harry Potter. But for some reason, I have always been a little hesitant about seeing The Cursed Child. I liked the way things ended, so I think I was concerned about what a continued storyline would be like. I also wasn’t sure how it would be possible to successfully portray anything related to Harry Potter and the Wizarding World on a stage setting.
Still, when I saw the announcement that the tour would be coming to Eccles, I decided it was time to give the show a shot. To say it exceeded my expectations would be an understatement. I was simply blown away by the entire performance. Every part of the production was absolute perfection.
The visual production of the show was truly unlike anything I have seen before. I went into the theater assuming I would need to use my imagination quite a bit with a story involving so much magic. It turns out I was just greatly underestimating what was in store for me. At some point during the show, I decided to stop asking myself “how did they do that” and just enjoy. There were so many jaw-dropping moments and unbelievable special effects. It felt impossible not to enjoy.
While anyone would surely be entertained and in awe of the visual performance, I will admit that when it comes to the plot, the show is better suited for those who have either read the books or seen the movies. It helps to be familiar with the characters and original storyline. The final chapter in Harry Potter jumps forward 19 years, as Harry Potter arrives at platform 9 3/4 to send his kids off to Hogwarts. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins with that very scene. The plot moves very quickly, especially in the first half, and most of the scenes referenced things that took place in the books (or movies).
There was a spoiler alert warning on the playbill, advising audience members who didn’t want any surprises spoiled to wait until after the performance to read the cast list. I appreciated this warning, and chose not to read the cast list until later. I also do not want to spoil any part of the show, but I will just say that I enjoyed every surprise and loved every moment with the characters.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is playing at Eccles Theater until October 11. Tickets start at $65, with premium seats also available. For tickets and to find which days have the best availability, go to https://cursedchildslc.com/
