Bway’s ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ Sets Cast + More Project Announcements

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Photo Source: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

With dozens of castings announced and new projects coming down the pipeline each week across television, film, and theater, it can be near-impossible to keep up. Luckily, Backstage is here to help. Every Friday, we’re rounding up the week's industry news you shouldn’t miss so you can be sure you're firmly in the know!

Broadway’s “Harry Potter” project finds its cast.
Following its critically acclaimed (and very sold-out) run in London, seven original company members in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” will transfer with the show to Broadway. The play by Jack Thorne, based on the original story by “Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling, will begin previews at the Lyric Theatre in March 2018, with an official opening set for April 22, 2018. The cast will include West End stars Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni, Paul Thornley, Poppy Miller, Sam Clemmett, Alex Price, and Anthony Boyle. Jim Carnahan is heading up casting.

Allison Williams sets television return.
After starring on HBO’s lightning rod “Girls” for six seasons, Williams will return to cable television in a guest-starring role on Showtime’s “Patrick Melrose.” The limited series, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role, will also star Hugo Weaving, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Anna Madeley. A premiere date for the five-episode dramedy has not yet been announced.

Carrie Coon will venture back to the New York stage.
Coon, known for her acclaimed roles in television’s “The Leftovers” and “Fargo” (she’s currently Emmy-nominated for the latter), will play the title role in “Mary Jane.” The drama, written by Amy Herzog, will run at New York Theatre Workshop this fall, with previews beginning Sept. 6. Coon was last seen onstage in New York in the 2012 Broadway revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” which earned her a Tony nomination.

Bryan Cranston enlists Michelle Dockery for West End drama.
Cranston, who won an Emmy Award for his work on AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and Dockery, known for her role as Lady Mary Crawley on “Downton Abbey,” will star alongside each other in the National Theatre’s “Network.” Directed by Tony winner Ivo van Hove (“A View from the Bridge”), the drama begins previews in London Nov. 13.

“Kinky Boots” will return to its roots.
The Tony Award-winning best musical, with a score by Cyndi Lauper, will welcome back its two original leads, Billy Porter and Stark Sands, for a limited engagement beginning Sept. 26. Sands, who was Tony-nominated for his role, and Porter, who bested Sands to take home the prize, will be joined by Delaney Westfall in the role of Lauren, replacing Taylor Louderman, who departs for the “Mean Girls” musical. Telsey + Co. handles “Kinky” casting.

Two Broadway icons book series regular gigs on the small screen.
Tony Award winners Audra McDonald and Laura Benanti both made headlines this week with news that they’ll each have series regular gigs on respective projects. McDonald, who holds the record for most acting Tonys won by a single person, will reprise her CBS “Good Wife” role on its spinoff, “The Good Fight.” Benanti, meanwhile, will see her recurring role on the TBS comedy “The Detour” upped to series regular when it returns for its third seasons.

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