It won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Play and is considered the eighth story in the beloved Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. This month, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be staged for the first time in a U.S. school, at Hoboken High School.
Hoboken was chosen after an extensive search by the play’s license holders, landing the prize because of its robust theater program. The district employs three full-time theater educators, which is a rarity, says Danielle Miller, director of the Hoboken production.
The district’s theater program is unique for another reason: Students from kindergarten through high school participate in the productions. High schoolers play the adult characters and middle schoolers the other leads; props are the job of 6th to 12th graders.
Miller says young people benefit greatly from participating in theater productions, and she’s seen firsthand how it gives students a stronger sense of self.
“It’s about finding their voice and accepting and loving their unique selves,” says Miller. “Theater is powerful.”
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be performed at Hoboken High School May 15–19; see website for information. Purchase tickets here.
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