‘Harry Potter’ opens this week at Armstrong

Rdale’s Armstrong High School is making news with its upcoming production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Armstrong is the first high school in Minnesota, along with 28 others nationwide, to receive rights to produce the show. All had to submit a video about their theater program and explaining why their school would be a magical place to produce this new edition for high schools. The production opens tomorrow night, Wednesday, Oct. 30, and runs for eight performances through Saturday, Nov. 9. Advance tickets are available online at Armstrong High School’s ticket portal.

Featuring a cast of 34 and a backstage crew at least twice that size, the show is directed by Jenny Lovitt. The designer and technical director is Molly Kern.

Both worked on the show for months before beginning casting and rehearsals. As Lovitt says, "The most challenging aspect of the production has been the technical requirements -- and making sure we strictly adhere to the extensive contract." Among the technical wizardry onstage will be flying actors.

Is the show scary? "There are a few scary characters," says Lovitt, who suggests the production is "probably appropriate for third grade and up, depending on the maturity of the student and how much they've read the Potter books and watched the films."

Lovitt is gratified at the media stories the production has received. "We are happy to promote the show," she says, "and we want to fill the auditorium."

A look at advance ticket sales shows that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is doing just that: at least two performances are already SOLD OUT. If you want to see the show, buy your tickets right away.