Tom Felton reclaims his iconic role of Draco Malfoy on Broadway

Kid Reporter Sara Adibi with actor Tom Felton

Entering its seventh year on Broadway, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child welcomed actor Tom Felton to the Lyric Theatre in New York City this November. On November 16, the show rolled out the red carpet to welcome Felton back to the wizarding world as he reprised the role of Draco Malfoy, the character he portrayed in the Harry Potter movie series for 10 years. 

The audience buzzed with excitement as Felton brought a new level of magic to the highest-grossing non-musical Broadway show in history since its debut in 2018. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, and is set 19 years after the famous battle in which Harry defeated his arch nemesis, Voldemort. The show explores Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco as parents, raising the next generation of wizards and witches. 

Several cast members and VIP guests walked the red carpet for interviews to celebrate the occasion. Felton said, “Honestly, I’ve missed having a wand in my hand. It turns out, after all the years, I’m still fairly handy with it.” He shared that the main difference between performing on Broadway and in the movies is the immediate response from the audience that the show provides. 

Felton made it clear that the Harry Potter book series was the “single reason why reading became cool again” and cites the series as his impetus to start reading again. 

Kid Reporter Sara Adibi with John Skelley, who plays Harry Potter

It became evident to the cast that Felton's joining the show generated a buzz for those on stage and in the audience. Trish Lindstrom, who plays Ginny Potter, mentioned Felton’s positive effect on the cast. “His enthusiasm is infectious; he’s so excited to be here. It’s a real treat and gift to have him.” Daniel Fredrick, who plays Ron Weasley, added, “He’s such a lovely guy, and obviously, he’s so incredible in the part. The audience gets so excited: they get to see him, and they get to see the story come alive to them in a totally different way, so it’s been an incredible ride.” Aidan Close, who plays Draco’s son Scorpius Malfoy, added, “With Tom here, the air is electric!” John Skelley, as Harry Potter, added, “Getting to do this with Tom Felton is unbelievable.” He mentioned how Tom brings a knowledge of theatre and experience to the show, and every night, the audience practically lights up to see him. “The first time he says Potter, it’s just incredible to watch the audience cheer!” 

The Harry Potter series proved to an entire generation the power of adapting books for the screen and stage. Lindstrom said if she could see another series adapted, she would like to see either the Ramona series or The Velveteen Rabbit on stage. Fredrick selected The Fabled Stables, and Felton said, “Any Roald Dahl book.” 

A common theme amongst the cast members was a shared love for reading. Close confessed he was a huge Percy Jackson fan as a kid, but was motivated to read Harry Potter when he was cast in the show. He reminisced that when he was reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on the subway, a passenger tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if it was his first time reading the series. “They said, ‘I would kill to read these books for the first time again,’ so I actually felt very lucky to read them for the first time.” 

Kid Reporter Sara Adibi on the red carpet of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

The red carpet and gala performance were a celebration of the Harry Potter story and the impact it continues to have on fans across the world. Felton will play Draco on Broadway through May 10, 2026.