LOCAL WINS MAGICAL HARRY POTTER ROLE
GEELONG actor Amanda LaBonte has been cast in the hotly anticipated Melbourne production of the West End hit Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
LaBonte was announced yesterday on a list of 42 cast members who will begin rehearsals for the hit show in the coming months.
She and her actor husband Bert LaBonte — who himself has been performing in the Melbourne production of The Book Of Mormon — took to Twitter yesterday to share the good news.
“Pretty pumped for all my mates on this but mainly my best mate Amanda LaBonte,” Mr LaBonte tweeted. “What a year ahead. Congrats to all of you. Cannot wait to see this.”
The former Clonard student and GSODA Junior Player grew up on the stages of Geelong and continues to contribute to the local theatre scene through her work as Coartistic Director of Essential Theatre — a company she founded with friends in 1997.
The Australian cast is led by Gareth Reeves as Harry Potter, Paula Arundell as Hermione Granger, Gyton Grantley as Ron Weasley, Lucy Goleby as Ginny Potter, Sean Rees-Wemyss as Albus Potter, Tom Wren as Draco Malfoy and William McKenna as Scorpius Malfoy. It is not yet known what role LaBonte will play.
“So excited to be joining the Australian cast for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child! Bring it!” Mrs LaBonte shared on Twitter.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre on January 16.