REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Opening night at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child delivered exactly what Twin Cities theatergoers hoped for: spectacle, nostalgia, and enough stagecraft wizardry to make even skeptical Muggles grin. As the first-ever touring production settles into its four-week Minneapolis run, the production’s biggest triumph is how convincingly it transforms a beloved franchise into live theatrical wonder, with illusions, set changes, and visual effects that often feel genuinely impossible from a seat in the house. How do they do it?!
The show’s strongest asset is its sheer theatrical ambition. Flying dementors, wand duels, Polyjuice transformations, and time-turning sequences are executed with Broadway-level precision, making the Orpheum itself feel temporarily enchanted. The choreography and transitions are especially sharp, creating a cinematic pace despite the nearly three-hour runtime. For longtime Harry Potter fans, there’s an emotional pull in seeing familiar themes—friendship, legacy, sacrifice—reframed through Harry’s relationship with his son, Albus.
Narratively, Cursed Child remains divisive. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, you might want to hit the Cliffnotes version before you go. The script can feel more fan fiction than Rowling canon, leaning heavily on time-travel chaos and nostalgia over the emotional depth of the original books. The story may not fully satisfy every purist, but the production itself is “magical” and visually extraordinary.
On opening night, the energy was palpable—part Broadway premiere, part fandom reunion. Folks were dressed in everything from standard theater wear to house robes, sorting hats, and spectrespecs. The crowd came ready, and the production met that enthusiasm with polish and flair. If you’re going for airtight storytelling, you may leave with some quibbles. If you’re going for awe, wonder, and one of the most technically impressive stage experiences to hit Minneapolis, this production casts a powerful spell.
Things to know: It’s not a musical! Not sure why you might make this assumption, but we did. As did many others in the audience. It’s long! And, if you’re considering bringing younger witches and wizards, age appropriateness is worth noting. The show includes intense scenes, loud sound effects, moments of darkness, and some frightening creatures—particularly dementors and suspenseful magical confrontations—that may be overwhelming. Elementary-age fans who are already comfortable with the darker later Harry Potter books or films will likely be captivated, but for kids under 8, the length and intensity could be challenging. Tweens, teens, and adults are the sweet spot.
Highlights: The magic in the opening scenes had the whole audience gasping! The set and scenery were incredible. The time change effects were five stars and the Dementors were a huge highlight. Truly a visual delight.
Bottom line: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Orpheum Theatre is less about whether the story belongs in the wizarding canon and more about surrendering to the magic of live theater—check it out and see if you can believe your eyes.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis through May 17, 2026.
Review by Tracy Whitney; photo by Matthew Murphy
