Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to transfer to Broadway's Lyric Theatre

Broadway plans announced for Harry Potter

Producers of the West End smash hit play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child have announced that they are in "advanced discussions" with Ambassador Theatre Group about transferring the play to Broadway, reopening the Lyric Theatre on Broadway in Spring 2018.

Operated by ATG, plans are underway for the venue to undergo a multi-million dollar renovation to completely transform, remodel and reconfigure the 1,900 seat theatre and turn it into a scaled down, more intimate playhouse, with approximately 1,500 seats. The remodeled house will include a smaller auditorium specifically redesigned to suit Harry Potter, along with a new proscenium arch to house Christie Jones' set for the production.

Producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender commented: "ATG's plans will provide Harry Potter and the Cursed Child with a bespoke home that will be intimate enough for a drama, yet big enough for us to deliver on our commitment to provide audiences with access to low priced tickets throughout the auditorium."

J.K. Rowling said "I'm delighted we are one step closer in bringing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to Broadway and very excited by the proposed plans."

The Lyric Theatre was previously known as the Foxwoods Theatre, the Hilton Theatre and the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Located in the heart of Times Square, it has a seating capacity of 1,930 making it the second largest house on Broadway behind The Gershwin. The current building was created in 1996 on the site of both the Lyric and the Apollo Theatres and has housed productions such as Ragtime, Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 42nd Street and Paramour.

The UK based Ambassador Theatre Group acquired the lease to the Foxwoods Theatre for around $60 million, renaming it The Lyric Theatre in 2014.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is written by Jack Thorne, based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. Produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender's Playground Entertainment and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, the production is directed by John Tiffany.

Tickets and further details for the Broadway production are yet to be announced.