The Curran Theatre

The Curran Theater was built in 1922 and more than a hundred years later…it’s still beaming with pride & beauty!! The second you step inside you feel the electricity and excitement! Seen The Jersey Boys and The Golden Girls lately and the theater hasn’t lost its touch. If anything it’s even more beautiful! Props to the ticketing people…they are as nice as can be! Me and my good friend had the best time ever!!! I cannot recommend this theater more even if I wanted to! 👍🏼👍🏼❤️❤️

Attended two different productions in the fast 2 months. Each time I simply could not get over how beautiful this theater is. Don't get the "lemonade". Too sweet. But other cocktails and drinks and snacks are available.

The Curran Theatre, located at 445 Geary Street between Taylor and Mason Streets in the Theatre District of San Francisco, California opened in February 1922, and was named after its first owner, Homer Curran. As of 2014, the theater is owned by Carole Shorenstein Hays. Capacity 1,667 In the 1950s, the theater was used for the interior and exterior scenes of a Broadway theater in the movie All About Eve. The original main floor interior lobby can be seen in this film. All the theater scenes were filmed at the Curran except for the dressing room interior. The television series The Streets of San Francisco filmed an episode inside and outside the Curran. In the program, the Curran is used as the setting for A.C.T. In reality, A.C.T. operates at the adjacent Geary Theatre which is also visible in some shots.

A great fun night out ! A very nice theater , seats are a little tight but comfortable ,it's an old theater so expected ,but a lovely venue. Big enough for over 1000 people but it's still intimate enough that you can pretty much see the stage from any seat. And they had 2 interpreters for Sign language and wheelchair access also , they catered for everyone. And the staff were super friendly. As usual as most theater's if you want an interval drink it can be a chore but nothing you wouldn't expect. Overall a very nice time had by all ,I would definitely go here again . And if you get a chance to see this show , do! It's a lighthearted fun time! #TheGoldenGirlsLive

Gorgeous theatre, LOVELY staff, excellent productions and not a bad seat in the house.

We went to see Joe Jackson, who was amazing! The theater has beautiful decor. The seats were fairly comfortable, but with a slightly itchy fabric. We sat in the front left and there were no seats in front so I could lift my legs up periodically for circulation. They served nice beverages including a non-alcoholic frozen lemonade and a frozen rosee. The frozen rosee was delish! It was pricey, though. $16 (before tax???), then when I tipped, it was $20. Yummy, though. Very nice staff, and great bathrooms with metallic tile.

Exceptional performance from all of the actors. Not a bad seat in the house. (Although very close together) Runs like a well oiled machine, Hardly any wait for concessions or bathroom. Attentive service staff that came to our seats. Only things I would suggest is perhaps more seating in the lobby since they have you show up an hour before they let you into the main theatre. I was feeling bad for a few of the older folks waiting. As they had to stand for an hour, waiting to get in to be seated. That being said, we will be back and enjoyed the experience. You do have to wear your mask the entire time.

Recently saw Kimberly Akimbo and had a wonderful time! The theater itself is gorgeous and has a nice intimate feel. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the bar-concession options were also very nice. I’m very excited to watch another show!

I'm a Harry Potter fan and heard this was playing in San Francisco so I HAD to buy a ticket even if I had to go solo. The lodge to me were the best seats to get to watch the show!! But let's get to the important stuff, the play! OMG, one word- magical! It exceed my expectations and I know I wasn't the only one. The people around me were in awe of the magic and illusion throughout. If you do anything in San Francisco, you must check this play out! It really doesn't matter if you are a Harry Potter fan or not. It will blow your mind!

TOTALLY RECOMMEND! The production is exceptional and amazing! Cast was superb! You don't have to know HP to appreciate the production and the show in its entirety. It will make you want to go back. We were in awe!!! HP products are sold from tees to scarves and chocolates. You can bring your own water bottle.

WOW! MAGICAL! My husband and I were blown away by this show. From the special effects, magic, characters (some new faces and some old!), costumes, soundtrack and acting. The 3.45 hr play explores themes of family expectations, love, good vs.evil and time travel all woven together. It is a continuation of Harry Potter so knowledge of his previous books and background is useful to understand this play as they time travel through the past and present. It is a long play, but the acting and story was so good, it kept us entertained throughout! The mini store was great for Harry Potter merchandise but would prefer a larger store so we can see all the goods on sale. $40 for a regular tshirt (not soft tee) is steep. The paperback version was $14 when the back of the book states $12.99. Felt a little ripped off at the store. They also have an online store for the same prices. During Intermission, we got a bunch of Harry Potter snacks like Voldemort's chocolate wand, gummy bears, and a Cherry Soda in a Harry Potter cup. Again, an arm and a leg but if it supports the show, then I'm for it.

The one-part version of this play works so much better than the two-part version. It moves at a brisk pace but keeps the interesting dance segments in it. The effects are spectacular and left me wondering how they did some of them. We got row b which is too close to the stage as the Curran stage is really high up. I think this play would work better from 8 or more rows back from the stage. The audience on a Saturday night was drunk and many didn't understand that this wasn't a conversation with the actors on stage. The theater did a great job of getting the audience in, even while checking vaccinations. I liked the in-seat ordering for intermission. What we ordered came back quicker than waiting in line at the snack bar.

Oh my goodness! What a show! I love watching broadway shows and this is the best I ever experienced. The stage set up, the lighting and the story line are all amazing. The cast are great too. It is nearly 3 and half hours. You will truly experience magic happening right in front of your eyes. Well worth the money. A must see in SF. Tips: 1. If the theater is not fully packed, you can move up a few rows in your section. The workers didn't seem to mind when we did it. 2. Parking can be validated if you park at the Mason parking garage next to the theater near CVS. Workers standby in the garage lobby after the show to help validate the ticket for $15 dollars. Without validation it is $38.

I really enjoyed the show. We got balcony tickets and the view was surprisingly nice. I don't recall being impressed by the play script when I read it a few years ago but the play itself was so impressive. All the actors and actresses did a great job with their roles, especially Ron, Draco, Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall. The character Scorpius was my favorite. He looked exactly like Draco in his young age. Secondly, the effects looked so good and real. I was terrified when the dementors came out. The transition between scenes was very smooth. The crew utilized the whole theater for the desired effect and it was mind-blowing. Last but not least, the staff was very kind and friendly. We went to an early afternoon show where the back areas were relatively empty and we sat on the left side. During the break, a staff member reached out and suggested that we switch to better seats if available. I loved my original seats but it was nice of them to offer this to attendees. The parking is very convenient and affordable with theater discount in the Mason O'Farrell garage. Upon showing the Curran ticket to an attendant, we got 6 hours or parking for only $15.

This Broadway show is truly magical!! Whether you are a die hard Harry Potter fan or just wanting to experience a Broadway show it's a must. The theater is beautiful and the staff were helpful. There are QR codes on the seats so you can get drinks or snacks delivered to your seat or you can also pre-order things to be ready for you at intermission. The performers were extraordinary and the show is a great mix of laughter, emotion, and action. The special effects are magical!!! My only complaint was the huuuuuge line for the women's restroom during intermission. The theater is older but they definitely need to look at ways to help solve that problem. Would it stop me from going back, absolutely not. Do yourself a favor and get tickets for this amazing show!

I can say that I am a BIG Harry Potter fan. I read the books at least 4x when I was in high school. I have been trying to watch the cursed child since it came out but I also wanted my 8 year old daughter to see it with me, but she was too young at the time. After learning that the show is ending in Curran Theater this coming September. Me and my daughter started watching the movies, and I am so happy that she loved it and actually enjoyed them. Now lets talked about the show. The actors/actresses were amazing, in my opinion Scorpius stole the show. The actor who played Scorpius was great from beginning to end. Literally made every laugh in every scene. The transition from scene to scene were fantastic. The stage visual effects were extraordinary, especially when they travel through time. Wow. Mind blowing! Very entertaining! And I super loved it when the dementors came out. My daughter got spooked because it came really close to where we were sitting. Lol Overall I will give this show a 5/5. 10/10. 100/100. Its just too good. I was really surprised that my daughter didn't complain how long it was. Thats how good it was.

I was not expecting to love Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, mostly because It wasn't a musical and...it's Harry Potter, which I've never been a fan of. I expected to like it but be checking my watch throughout to see when it would finallllly be over. I was pleasantly surprised! I loved it, and the time flew by without one glance at my watch! This is a wonderful show whether you're a Harry Potter fan or not. I'd recommend seeing both acts on the same day and making a local dinner reservation about 5:15-5:30 in between shows. The show is magical, exciting and even has a couple scenes that might leave you needing a tissue to wipe away the tears. We sat in the mezzanine, and I was very happy with our seats, BUT I would recommend the orchestra if possible as a couple thing happen that might be a little better in the orchestra. I would also recommend having an idea of all the important characters and events in the books/movies leading up to Cursed Child. I thought I might be a little over the top in my Hufflepuff T-shirt, but, as it turns out, many of the Die Hards show up in full Hogwarts regalia. I have to say that I'm definitely a Harry Potter fan now, and I kinda wish I'd named my dog Scorpius!

If I win the lottery, I'll come see it again, or I'll just go to London or NYC to watch it at a prettier theater. Not that HP and the Cursed Child isn't pretty here, just that they can only change Curran Theater by so much. They've prepped the interior to make you feel like you're at Hogwarts. Honestly, it didn't; they tried, but it didn't. The show was so much better than the book. I'm a huge fan of anything with a circular/moving stage. It's intriguing to see how magic is shown without CGI, they've done a great job making it believable. I sat in the balcony section (G113), I was able to see 99% of the stuff happening without too much stuff being blocked. Gorgeous effects throughout, love the choreography. For some parts, I forgot that this was a play, my mind was expecting a musical number to start, like right about...now.. JK. All the staffs dressed up, as well as many audiences, so don't be afraid to flaunt your Hogwarts colors or anything Harry Potter related. I guess you can watch the play without having any HP knowledge, but it's way better when you do. I had a lot of fun picking up all the little things that emphasized on the characters' traits. You'll appreciate it more if you had all those movies and books and yadida in your mind. The playbill also has a mini timeline summary so you kind of know what Harry did in Books 1-7. This is a 2 part show as you may have known by now, you have choice to see it in one day with a 2 hour meal break or you can watch it over a 2 day period. If you didn't want to eat dinner, you can just stroll around Union Square and munch on the theater's pricey snacks during the show. Outside of some cocktails, everything else is pretty much on their order from your seat menu. Their $12 kettle corn was pretty good, not as good as the stand on Market Street, but no outside food, so this will do.

I won 2 tickets for the opening night showing from FunCheap SF website! I'm so thankful I won as I've been wanting to see this play but then the pandemic shut it down. Prices were also steep to buy tickets for both part 1 & 2. I'm glad they condensed it into 1 show now. I sat in the balcony and the intrigue of this show kept me leaning forward almost the whole time. This was how exciting this show was, especially if you're a Harry Potter fan like me who read all of the books and watched all of the movies! There were so many unexpected plot twisters and magic tricks that wow me! Such an awesome night and made better that they passed out butter beer (butterscotch soda)! Only caveats are the seats were too small at Curran and lines for the women restroom was crazy. Why are the seats this small that it felt uncomfortable since my left was a stranger and it's still Covid times wearing a mask and social distancing, when movie theater seats are usually too big for me because I'm a size small... However, the show itself was too awesome to let this little thing irritate me. Thank you cast and I'm happy to be one of the phone flashlights for your opening night!! Mayor London Breed was sorted into Gryffindor before the show. I'm happy the city celebrated by lighting up City Hall with the show's colors too!

Let me start off by telling you Baaaaaaby, this play was magical ! I'm somebody who loves the arts I love to see plays all across the world and this was definitely one of my top five. Can't remember exactly how long it is but I want to say almost 3 hours with the intermission in the middle and trust me even though it's a long play you're not gonna fall asleep there's never a dull moment! I actually seen it twice it was so good the first time I had a running back a second one and also encouraged a lot of my friends to buy tickets and see it which they did. I sets second row both times and I feel like the seats were amazing front row might hurt your neck a little bit from looking straight up to the stage so I wouldn't recommend that row...

This review is for the Curran Theater specifically. The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child live performance was phenomenal and I would rate it five stars! The Curran Theater staff and management need to really improve on their service. For starters, the staff chose to pile everyone into the lobby without opening Theater doors until 30 minutes before the show. They most likely were in violation of local fire safety ordinance codes. It was jam packed and extremely hot too! Secondly, two of three of us in our group are disabled and therefore our seats were in the back section of U. Halfway into the show, the lady who was monitoring that section, told us to remove our popcorn bucket and drinks fron the nice bartop because they may spill, well there is no other place to set your food and drinks so that means placing them on the floor! That's terrible for food safety! Third and last, the same lady saw my watch light up and told me to turn my watch off! She was completely unreasonable! Please improve your customer service!

OMG!!! Absolutely loved the show!!! The cast was so good!!! The story line was well told as well as the magic and stage production. Kudos to the sound and presentation as well as the way they changed stage props and from scene to scene of the play!! I thoroughly enjoyed and loved the merchandise they had for sale as well...got my butter beer and souvenirs too!! I'm a happy fan !!!

Have you had those few magical moments in your life where you experienced it and you told yourself immediately that you would remember it for the rest of your life? That was what we had last night at the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Part One and Part Two. I read the book. All Harry Potter books and always the Cursed Child playbook. Like many of us, I grew up with Harry Potter. I love all the 8 movies that were made. But I have to say, this play was the best of them and my most favorite for so many reasons. First of all, Curran theater nailed it for the most magical night from the outside to inside. Everywhere you step in, there's a reminder of Harry Potter. Even the wall paper has HP logo on it. The stage itself is dynamic with the revolving stage so you can see actors/actresses from different angles, from far away and from close up. We were lucky enough to win the lottery tickets to front row, Orchestra center seats to see the actors from up close. Even their tears and small facial expressions! We love the forever moving staircases on the stage, feeling like being Hogwarts itself. The stage background is simple, but with sound and light effect and clever use of props, you feel like you are transformed into different scenes. We love how they always flutter their cloaks when they move the props around. Feel magical indeed! Very compelling story telling and gives us a closure as Harry Potter fans. Everything comes back to a full circle. Love, friendships and family always win! Very relatable too and I actually cried. That tells a lot about how superb their acting is. I think they represent the characters even better than the original movies cast. Thanks for such a magical night, Curran theater and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child cast!

What can I say? We bought tickets months ago. Then with the craziness of life we realized Part 1 was the next day! This brightened up my spirits! The story and the actors made this memorable for our party of five. The sets and effects were very cool and the ending pulled at my heartstrings. The Curran Theater itself is a beautiful historic theater with a grand chandelier overlooking all levels. The downside was the rude Asian American guy who thought we were cutting where two lines converges into one. This is a reminder that the world has changed dramatically and that people think the worst of others even during a time when people should feel thankful for having the privilege of seeing a play in the middle of the homeless folks of the Tenderloin. But we decided not to let the entitlement of one person ruin this review of the show. Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is to be appreciated. 5+ stars!

I didn't get pictures because I was half wrapped up in the awe of what I got to see and the other half wrapped up in the service issues my fiancée was dealing with (review posted on the Curran), but they did an amazing job on this play. This was my first ever, and I'm hooked!

The play itself was amazing. The actors did an amazing job, and I was pleasantly surprised by how real some of the magic seemed. I truly applaud all the effort, time, and dedication that was put into small details of the play. It made my heart warm to see the excitement of so many Harry Potter fans around me, and I would definitely recommend this play to any fan. My boyfriend and I got seats in the Orchestra, seats D6 and D8. Personally, I felt like I was straining my neck a bit too much and kind of had a lot of pain in my neck by the end of the play, so it may be worth to keep that in mind when choosing seats. Other than that, it was amazing to be so close to stage.

Fantastic story, exciting visual effects, amazing acting!!! If you are a fan of Harry Potter this is a must see!!! It's based on the screenplay written by JK Rowling. If you haven't seen/read the last few Harry Potter books I'd recommend brushing up before going since they reference a lot of key details. I recommend getting seats on the lower level.

The show was good but it was so LONG!! They need to cut about 10-15 min off. My 10 year old liked the show but she was falling asleep and said at the end it was just too long. They could easily cut 15 min that you wouldn't miss.

The show was absolutely amazing and I saw it from Row G and a 2nd time in Row O. The stage effects make you feel like you are in an actual Harry Potter movie! Great actors and props! The only reason 4 stars and not 5 is because when they had to stop the show due to covid; they did not offer any refunds. My family flew in to SF to watch the show and they canceled it a day before. It was very disappointing.(this would have been my 2nd time watching the show)

pros: -we had balcony seats (129.00/ticket) and were able to move up a few rows since they were vacant! we had an excellent view of the action despite being in the higher up seats -EXTRAORDINARY TRANSITIONS, SPECIAL EFFECTS, AND CHOREOGRAPHY. i write it in all caps bc i cant stop screaming how MAGICAL it was!! like watching a movie in real life! -beautiful indoor decorations (HP carpet, HP wallpaper, HP art frames). even the bathrooms had mesmerizing red tile walls -acting was superb! they enunciated every word so you can still understand the dialogue even with english accents -they sell HP and the cursed child merch -friendly ushers cons: -expensive snacks/drinks (bring small snacks for intermission) -wish they validated parking (but it is SF and SF parking is expensive, so it was expected)

Oh my goddddd, best play i've ever seen! I haven't seen that many plays, but Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is still my favorite! I bought balcony tickets for my fiance and I through TodayTix. We ended up with the first row of balcony, toward the center! (A2 + A4) I was really happy with where we were sitting. Though a lower angle would have been preferred, this play definitely gets expensive since it's two parts! After the first part we were mindblown at all the magic on stage! The acting is also amazing. They reference a lot to the previous movies, so anyone who likes Harry Potter in the LEAST bit will love this! The storytelling is really amazing. The Curran itself was great. It went through a renovation a few years ago and everything is on point. The acoustics are really good!

I saw the show pre-Covid and it was an A+ experience! I loved every aspect of the show... Sadly, I saw it again last night. The actors (especially Harry) were just running lines and very hard to understand. The performances were lacking "truth" and commitment as if they were just walking through the plot and not feeling/living the moments. Many of the magical effects have gotten a bit sloppy and not as impressive as early in the run, and there are fewer special OMG moments. The abbreviated plot takes away some theatricality and thins out some of the characters. The theatre was half-filled and I think the actors reacted to the small house. I wanted to be transported to Hogwarts again, but went home on a low.

It was spellbinding although I expected the special effects to be more spectacular. The beginning was saturated with introducing who's who and the context of their existence - kinda annoying but necessary, especially for those who did not have background knowledge on the characters. We were on second row, which was way too close to the tall stage. I believe the mezzanine or farther on orchestra would actually be best for this show. I think the one-show condensed version works wonderfully. It would have been great if the live theatrical version boldly and explicitly depicted the repressed and subdued same sex love between the two main characters; but of course J.K.R. would have protested!

I won the lottery and Im so glad I got to see this phenomenon. The practical effects are mind blown just right in front of you. Avada kadavrra is a solid green string of fire. Amazing! The acting was good Harry Potter kind of just yells so I didn't love most of his acting choices but other than that the casting is great. It's so nostalgic and the sstory doesn't feel forced - like J k Rowling is just trying to milk her golden idea. I really cared for tHe story and the characters. Loved it. And loved the length of it. Every cliffhanger before every part was so well done. Had me so excited to return.

Unfortunately I have to be honest and review my experience. I bought tickets for the weekend of January 20th 2022. Flew from LAX to SF Friday night. Got a hotel by the teather and Saturday 1 hr before the show me and my wife were ready for the show with a lot of expectations. We are big harry potter fans. We have been at WB Lomdon, world of HP Orlando and universal Hollywood. Show suposed to start at 8pm. 745pm we walk to the front door and some of the workers are telling people that the show has been canceled. Not 24 hrs before, not 12 hrs before.. 10mn before. The reason COVID. I know any people its going to say. "Well you knew the risk, covid is always a risk " etc etc Iny mind there are not excuses for a company that it's charging 250$ + per ticket and that has been there since and before covid and 2 years later it's still not prepared to keep the production going. You either close until covid is not a challenge anymore or you adjust and keep the doors open following all the rules and regulations that you accepted the day you bit to produce this huge name. 10mn before show time is a slap on the face. The store was open to public but the show was cancel supostly couse couple of people from the cast were sick. I hope this never happens to anyone. We were refunded for the the tickets few weeks later but our time, airline tickets, hotel etc were ignored as they don't care about the public. It's just a fair...

If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is a must see. The entire performance was magical and spell binding. Although you can probably figure out the ending, there is enough twist and turns to the storyline that you have to say "What else can go wrong?" The play is well done with lots of theater magic that even gets the theater building into the storyline. We sat very close to the stage and the theater magic was even impressive up close, where you kept wondering,, "how did they do that?" It also brings back a lot of old HP characters from the past as well as old storylines. Highly recommend to see if you are a Harry Potter fan.

The show was a special effects spectacular - and exciting, and LOUD - all performers had microphones and the amplified sound effects were incredibly loud at times even for us, sitting up on the back row. The theatre staff were all super helpful and friendly! However, my poor review is about the lack of COVID precautions taken by the theatre, It seems the theatre has gone from one extreme to the other - they were screening everyone for COVID vaccination status but now no-one is checked for vaccination status and there are apparently no other COVID safety measures in place: (1) ventilation in the auditorium seemed non-existent, it was very warm (2) seating was not spaced out between groups, we were all packed in like sardines (the upper balcony was left closed which was a shame as could have helped us space out a bit) (3) food was allowed in the auditorium so the vast majority of people were eating and masks were left off for much of the performances - which were three hours long!! Food eating also made for a smelly and noisy auditorium because of the crunching and crackling of wrappers, etc. Out of our party of five - all fully vaccinated and all wearing masks throughout - we all went down with COVID within five days of attending the performance. There was no other confined space we were in with unmasked people other than the theatre so it seems clear where we all got it. SO - there are risks, it's still a pandemic, and we could have left the performance when we realized the risk we were taking. We are all trying to navigate the new 'freedoms' and it is our own choice as to whether we attend or not. I just thought people should know that the Curran Theatre does not seem to be putting into practice COVID safety measures and the risk is high - as you are sitting with a bunch of unmasked, unscreened strangers in a confined unventilated space for three hours. Having paid a high price for the tickets, it seems we are paying a higher price for attending. The Curran Theatre could do a lot more to help put in place some common sense COVID precaution measures. Other theatres, cinemas and venues have done one or more of the following: - better ventilation - spaced out seating - mask wearing (no food in the auditorium)

The beginning was so rushed in this "story".. There was no music in this play and I was very disappointed.. they brought up a lot of events from former Harry Potter ideas and it was unoriginal and barely authentic .. wish we could get back the $220 ticket I spent on this for me and my fiancé. Don't waste your money or 3 hours of your life.

The play is great don't get me wrong but we bought tickets at full price that radically went on a sale just a week later and they would not refund the difference they would not do anything to help out. beware of buying tickets because once you buy them you can't get the money back which is ridiculous.

Such an amazing performance! The actors put it all on stage. You really become apart of the story. It's a 2 part show, so be prepared for a long day if your going to both shows. Fantastic costumes and great for Harry Potter nerds!!!

Save your money. It was moderately entertaining. The special effects weren't that special and the story didn't tug at my Harry Potter-loving heart. The 13 year olds liked it but they haven't seen much live action theater. Buy your candies before you go. A chocolate frog will run you ~ $10. You have been warned.

What a great show! Everything from interior of theater to the magical, entertaining story was great! Took our 10 year old daughter who enjoys HP and she loved it! Great job!!!

After reading the script for 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' when it was first published in 2016, I was skeptical of the whole affair. The script was - and remains - fan fiction, employing questionable plot devices to revisit several key moments from the seven novels and films. But, several friends, including one with particularly discriminating taste in theatrical productions, had noted that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was the best play she had ever seen. With that endorsement, I shelled out $$$ for orchestra tickets to Part One and Two, and was not disappointed. And, you won't be either! You may have seen the advertisements for the play on TV, but the clips do not do the production justice. Witnessing the technical wizardry unfold on the stage is, for lack of better words, magical, and you'll be surprised by how the special effects transport you to the world of Harry Potter if only for a few hours. Aside from the incredible special effects, the actors do a brilliant job of inhabiting their characters, delivering lines with enough panache or gravitas to elevate the source material. (Hats off to the actor who played Scorpius!) While the play is accessible to all audiences, its themes will resonate with an older audience that understands the burdens of parental expectations and personal guilt. Whether you're familiar with Harry Potter or not, you'll appreciate the labor involved in making this one-of-a-kind production come to life. Practical Matters: + Patrons have the option of viewing both parts on a single day (Wednesdays, Saturdays, or Sundays) or over two evenings (Thursdays and Fridays). If you're a local, commuter, or visitor, then seeing the two plays over two nights is probably more feasible and enjoyable. Otherwise, making the trek into downtown San Francisco on two weeknights probably isn't ideal. It's a long day, with each play clocking in over 2.5 hours. There were a number of kids fidgeting in their seat by the time the curtain rose on the second part due to the length, so keep that in mind + The seats at the Curran Theatre are not staggered, so you'll likely be angling your body to avoid staring into the backside of a stranger's head. However, seats along the left and right sections' center aisles offer good vantage points. And, the orchestra section begins to rise more steeply around Row K or L. Avoid sitting too close (rows AA-B), as you'll likely miss some action at the back of the stage. + The ushers will not let you return to the theatre if you leave to use the restroom. This creates long lines for the bathroom during intermission, so plan (or drink) accordingly. + Parking garages near Union Station charge upwards of $30-40 for all-day parking. Consider taking BART to Powell. + Make dinner reservations for your chosen restaurant in advance! Most sit-down restaurants in the immediate area do not open until 5PM or 5:30PM, and any time spent waiting to be seated might make you late to Part Two.

I went to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child unsure of what to expect...and it completely exceeded any expectations I had and left me amazed!!!!!!!!!!!! From the smallest of details of the magic to the gracefulness of the scene changes to the rollercoaster of emotions the actors portrayed throughout the show, everything was spot on. I would highly recommend it! If you are a Harry Potter fan (or just a person who knows the general storyline) and maybe not the biggest fan of broadway shows - this show will make you a fan and want to experience the magic again!!

I can't believe the other reviews of this show. My friend and I walked out at the intermission in the middle of Part 1, not to return, even though we had paid handsomely for both parts. There is also a ridiculously high "service charge" for each ticket as well as expenses for parking, getting a meal between the two parts on the same day, and other charges that come with being away from work or home for half a day. 1. We sat near the rear of the mezzanine (first balcony) and could understand no more than one word out of ten. My friend claims the actors were miked, but it didn't sound like it to me. They were yelling all their lines very, very quickly, rendering every conversation unintelligible. There were apparently lots of laugh lines, based on the people in the front of the mezzanine and in the orchestra laughing. Neither we nor anyone in most of the mezzanine laughed. 2. The acting was on a poor high school play level. None of the actors were remotely believable. As I said, the fallback mode was "Be as loud as possible," so any attempt at subtlety or sincerity was out the window. The tone appeared to be geared toward children -- extremely hyperactive children with attention deficit disorder. 3. I had not read the books, like my companion had (several times), but I saw and loved all the movies. Even so, there were many references to characters and incidents I did not understand or remember. Warning: You DO need to be intimately familiar with the book series to appreciate the play. Also note that J.K. Rowling was one of three contributors to the STORY on which the play is based. She did not write the play! 4. The only drawing card of the play is the technical stage "magic." The dazzling "how-did-they-do-that?" effects are obviously intended to distract from and compensate for the lack of other dramatic elements. All the whiz-bang smoke and mirrors make the experience similar to expecting a banquet but only getting dessert. The effects come off as a Las Vegas magic act with unintelligible dialog. I really wish someone had warned us about how horrible this play was.

The sequel to JK Rowling's original series, this 2 part production takes place about 20 years after the events of Deathly Hallows. The story centers around the oldest son of Harry Potter. Not going to put any spoilers in here, so let's just say that this show is fantastic. Excellent writing and acting. Special effects will mesmerize you on many occasions. Amazing!!!

Amazing production. We loved every minute! Our kids (ages 9&12) were mesmerized. Thank you for a great show!

I did the full day experience, and it was a wonderful, magical, performance. Everything felt polished. The actors, the costumes, and the stage. I could really tell they put a lot into every small detail, even the transitions. It felt like I was watching one of the movies.

Unfortunately, my friend and I were seated in the back of the Mezzanine (I certainly don't recommend that!!), so could not hear much of what was being said. By the time we got to intermission for Part 1 (we had bought tickets for both parts), I had just about had enough and my friend as well, so we left. As an actor myself, I didn't feel the characters on stage were particularly connected to each other and it seemed rushed. Technically, it's pretty amazing, but story line? Oh, meh -- just didn't do much for me. I may try it again at some future time; the reviews have been so amazing, I'm wondering if somehow I missed something. I am a huge fan of the movies and the books -- gone through them both many times, so the characters as presented on stage seemed quite different from the characters I know so well. Oh, well. Maybe it's just me, but I was not swept away or sucked in and couldn't feel connected to the characters. Sorry!

The show is now 1 stretch of 3.5 hours long with a 15 mins break. We are huge Harry Potter fans who didn't like the Cursed child book all that much. So we did not have high expectations, but the show actually blew us away. The acting and the special effects were exemplary and the fact that they edited out many of the boring aspects of the book made it a great experience. It's a must watch for all HP fans, but maybe a bit difficult for those who don't know the franchise to follow.

We attended the play yesterday. For some reason, the theater seated a very young girl with her parents immediately behind us. Not surprisingly, she could not keep quiet for the duration of the show, especially the second half. She kept talking to her parents, who responded, and shuffling whatever food she had. She could not have understood the fast-paced show. The noise ruined the play for us. Such young children should not be allowed or should be seated in a separate area.

What an absolute cracker this play was. Highly recommend it. The Loge seats to the right of the stage have the perfect view and worth the price!

Really good. 3.5 hours, so families with kids under 10 be aware. Special effects were great!

Could've been better I love the Curran theater and have been to many a wonderful production there. I only read the first few books in the HARRY POTTER series, but enjoyed what I read, but am not a super avid fan. I heard this show was worth seeing, so I gave it a 'go. The special effects were a marvel. The movements of the cast, the tricks at play were fantastic and truly worth the praise. However, the story was so weak and lame I was astounded, actually. Confusing from the outset...it seemed its authors were searching for a narrative which never really transpires. It's a limp noodle, actually. Tired and cliched tropes of modern times: over-worried, hand-wringing 'helicopter parents'--Harry himself and his wife--wrangle over their teenage son--who is missing in a time warp of 'Harry Potter Land'. Again, the staging and special effects were stunning, but the story was so drab in its "people-pleasing" that your average TV sitcom has more substance. There's a subtle hint at sexual orientation...but it's so pat with political correctness that it was irritating in its sentimentality.

Amazing show! I was hesitant about the show because it is in two parts and very long. I did not think it would hold my attention. But this show has magic, visual effects and illusions and a fun plot with great characters, especially if you read the books. My husband who is less of a fan even enjoyed it. I preferred seeing both parts in one day but if it is too long it would still be good over the course of two days. Parking in SF is nuts so go early.

50 Stars! LOL This is MAGICAL! FABULOUS! UNBELIEVABLE! If you get a chance to see this do not hesitate! We are huge Harry Potter fans and when the play came to San Francisco it was close enough for us to go. My daughter made reservations for my birthday. Yea! Covid cancelled it. Boo! Two years we waited and even though we were supposed to finally go on Valentine's Day 2022, it was shut down all of January. Nail biting time. Tickets finally arrived the day before we were scheduled to leave. YEA! We saw it at the Curran Theater. I had read some negative reviews and made myself sick as a result anticipating the worst. There is NOTHING wrong with that theater! Nothing! Nothing wrong with the play! Open your heart and enjoy. The play itself was an experience. I hadn't read the book so I had no idea what to expect. WOW! The music, the choreography, the special effects, the lighting, the actors--everything was amazing. I don't know how they did it but they did it in spades! I'm sure we missed a lot of magical happenings since it was rewritten to be half the original play but 3 hours was good. Got the job done. An usher said he had seen the play 150 times. I would see it again and again but alas, that isn't going to happen unless it is finally put on DVD. Seeing it in person the first time is a must. If you can possibly manage, see this play. You won't regret it.

What a fantastic night. I got this for my wife for Christmas and we saw part one and part two. The acting was phenomenal. There were lots of special effects especially for the stage. Lots of great transitions from scene to scene. This play is a must see if you are a Harry Potter fan or just like the movies. Although the theater drinks and food were way over priced we knew to expect that. They even pre order for intermission so you can get your stuff. The only thing is they have one female restroom and the line is ridiculously long at intermission and if you are not in your seat when it starts they won't let you back in. That's the only issue and if your seeing both parts I would highly suggest you get a reservation somewhere for 445pm and just be 15 minutes late because several theater goers had a difficult time finding food.