After much anticipation stirred by the Olivier-winning West End production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has finally arrived on Broadway, where it earned ten Tony nominations, including one for Best Play. An old-school theatrical experience, director John Tiffany uses the simplicity of stagecraft to create magic at the completely redesigned Lyric Theatre (courtesy of scenic designer Christine Jones).
J.K. Rowling’s creation introduced Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to the world, which includes the four “houses” of the school. Each house speaks to the core character of each Hogwarts student, and so the question when you’re trying to get to know someone always returns to: Which house are you in?
Playbill was wondering that same thing about this year’s crop of Broadway roles. Using the traits of each house proclaimed by Pottermore, we sorted the characters played by each of this year’s 2018 Tony acting nominees.
Some of these were close calls: The Band’s Visit’s Haled flashes his cunning flirtation, but evolves to reveal a vulnerability and determination to help his new friend Papi. So he may have Slytherin skin but a Gryffindor heart. (His song is literally called “Haled’s Song About Love.”) Eliza Doolittle was another toughie, her courage to subvert the system and elevate her status as a woman in 1911 is no small feat, but in the end her hard work and patience with herself, as well as her loyalty to those she loves lands her in Hufflepuff.
See where all of the characters landed below. Do you agree with the Playbill Sorting Hat?
One character couldn’t be sorted: Lobby Hero’s Jeff is a Squib. When he turns on William, his betrayal negates him from Hufflepuff; he’s not a hard worker and lacks ambition, no Slytherin here; he most certainly does not stand up for any high morals or show courage under pressure, so he can’t be a Gryffindor; and he doesn’t display a proclivity towards learning or wisdom, which rules out Ravenclaw. A complicated guy, Jeff is an outcast who will find his place, just outside of Hogwarts.
