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Sonia Friedman

All articles tagged with #sonia friedman

West End’s Cursed Child Cuts to One Act as Costs Rise 40%

West End’s Cursed Child Cuts to One Act as Costs Rise 40%

The original two-part London production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child closed on September 20 after a ten-year run. Producer Sonia Friedman cited a 30-40% rise in operating costs since the pandemic as the reason for converting the show into a single three-hour performance, which reopens at the Palace Theatre on October 9. While the creative team resisted the change, the producers argued that maintaining the two-part format would require ticket prices that are unaffordable for most audiences. The new version retains the core narrative but condenses the runtime, following a similar transition already implemented on Broadway in 2021.

Tarantino Sets His Sights on the West End Stage
arts7 months ago

Tarantino Sets His Sights on the West End Stage

Quentin Tarantino will write and direct a new swashbuckling play, The Popinjay Cavalier, set in 1830s Europe. The production is from Sonia Friedman Productions and is slated to premiere in London's West End in early 2027, described as a rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by classic stage and screen epics. Tarantino has said he moved to theater to create an experience without interruptions like cell phones, offering a face-to-face, immersive audience experience.

Tony-winning 'Leopoldstadt' and 'Parade' bring antisemitism to the forefront at the Tony Awards.
entertainment3 years ago

Tony-winning 'Leopoldstadt' and 'Parade' bring antisemitism to the forefront at the Tony Awards.

Producer Sonia Friedman, who backed Tony-winning plays like Leopoldstadt, The Ferryman, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, expressed concerns about the future of large-scale plays on Broadway due to their high cost and the tough financial environment. She believes that until the economics of Broadway can make them more accessible for audiences and cheaper to produce, plays of this scale and breadth may be under threat. Despite the challenges, Friedman remained committed to keeping Leopoldstadt running for as long as possible.