By Jennifer Chen | Posted on October 09, 2025 8:47 PM
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway will officially end its long-running $49 General Rush Ticket program on November 9, 2025, marking a rare discontinuation of same-day in-person discounts.
The Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will end its General Rush discount ticket program on November 9, 2025, a rare move in today’s Broadway market where most shows continue to rely on day-of-show discounts. The production, which plays at the Lyric Theatre, has maintained a steady audience base, but its demographic and pricing strategy make it an exception to the usual rush crowd.
What Rush Tickets Are And How They Worked at the Lyric Theatre
The show’s General Rush discounted tickets were available only in person at the Lyric Theatre box office, beginning when the box office opened each performance day (at 10AM). Tickets were priced at $49 each, limited to two per person, and sold strictly on a first-come, first-served basis.
These rush tickets offered excellent value for fans hoping to see the show without paying premium prices, but they were never offered digitally or through third-party platforms. Patrons would typically arrive early in the morning to line up outside the theatre, though demand for rush tickets here was modest compared to other popular musicals.
Why the Program Is Ending
Ending a General Rush program is unusual, but Harry Potter and the Cursed Child draws a very specific audience: families, tourists, and parents bringing children, many of whom plan well in advance and prefer guaranteed seats together. That makes same-day ticket buying impractical for most of its customers.
Producers are believed to be phasing out the program because it no longer aligns with how the show’s audience purchases tickets. The production also benefits from strong advance sales and dynamic pricing, making deep day-of discounts less necessary.
How Well Is The Show Doing
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is holding its own on Broadway, though with mixed indicators. Its weekly gross as of Sept. 28, 2025, was $802,261, with 9,424 tickets sold and a ticket average of $85.13 — filling roughly 77% of its capacity. It typically occupies a Broadway Popularity Index of 15, which puts it in the middle of the pack, but with 1,622 seats to fill in the Lyric Theatre it has to work pretty hard to stay out of the red. as its operating costs are typically $850,000 per week.
Still, the show has proved its blockbuster strength over time. It set a new record for a non-musical play in December 2023 with a gross of $2,718,487 over eight performances, becoming the top-grossing play in Broadway history. It often performs well over the holidays, so that may be why the Rush Ticket program is ending.
What It Means
While many Broadway shows continue rush and lottery programs to maintain accessibility, Cursed Child’s decision reflects its stability and family-focused appeal. As of November 10, 2025, all remaining tickets will be sold at regular prices — signaling that even in a world of wizards, there’s no easy spell for half-price magic.
