Loudoun School Chosen As First In VA To Perform 'Harry Potter' Play

LANSDOWNE, VA — A school in Loudoun County will be the first place in Virginia to bring the magic of the play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" to life.

Riverside High School in the Lansdowne area of Loudoun County was the first and only school in Virginia chosen to perform the high school version of the Broadway play. Through the "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child High School Edition: Wands at the Ready" competition, schools in each U.S. state were selected.

The play is scheduled for performances in fall 2024 under the leadership of theater teacher Marilyn Gilligan.

"You know anything's possible if you've got enough nerve. You went for it, and now the journey has only just begun," said Superintendent Aaron Spence in a video announcement. "Congratulations, Riverside High School, and I can't wait to see this theatrical production in the fall of 2024."

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is a Broadway play based on a story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. The play follows Harry Potter's son Albus, who makes friends with the son of rival Draco Malfoy at Hogwarts. According to the high school competition's website, the high school version was designed for schools of different sizes and technical capabilities.

To enter the competition, teachers or administrators had to submit a video demonstrating why their school should be the first to perform the play and explaining their commitment to the arts, support of inclusion and diversity and how they will promote the performance.

In the submission video, students discuss why they'd like to perform the play. Several students mention that their teacher loves "Harry Potter" and the Broadway play, and they want to give back to her for the opportunities she gave them.

Schools selected to perform the play may schedule performances between Oct. 15 and Nov. 10. Due to the demand for the show and capacity limits in the 999-seat auditorium, Riverside High School expects sold-out shows. Sponsors are being sought now for the production.