(New York, NY – July 21, 2016) More than 300 Harry Potter fans formed a massive flash mob or “Muggle Mob” today, taking over Broadway in front of the Scholastic headquarters building in New York City, just 10 days before the highly anticipated release of the eighth Harry Potter story, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two. The fans, all Scholastic employees and their children, flooded onto the street reading from a favorite Harry Potter book and stopping traffic in the busy SoHo area. At the culmination of the estimated two-and-a-half minute event, the fans lowered their books and raised up paddles showing the cover of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, drawing cheers throughout the neighborhood. As the crowd dispersed, “Muggle Mob” participants handed out their Harry Potter books from the Harry Potter series 1-7 to lucky passersby, sharing the gift of books and reading. Scholastic released photos and video footage from the flash mob which can be found below.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, a play by Jack Thorne based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, will premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016. At 12:01 a.m. ET on July 31st, Scholastic will release the Special Rehearsal Edition of the eighth Harry Potter story, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two (ISBN 978-1-338-09913-3; All Ages), in print in the U.S. and Canada. Scholastic recently announced that an estimated 5,000 bookstores and libraries will be hosting midnight parties around the U.S. on July 30th to celebrate the release of the script book. For more information or to find a midnight party near you, visit www.scholastic.com/harrypotterbooks.

“Scholastic introduced Harry Potter to readers of all ages nearly 20 years ago. What better way to celebrate the release of the eighth story and start the countdown to the biggest publishing event of the summer than to gather a flash mob of dedicated Harry Potter fans eager to share their love of books and reading,” said Ellie Berger, President, Scholastic Trade. “We could feel the excitement and anticipation as hundreds of people were reading and one of the busiest streets in Manhattan came to a standstill. It was an incredible moment and we can’t wait until July 31st!”

Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, published the seven Harry Potter novels in the U.S. between 1998 and 2007. The Harry Potter books have sold more than 160 million copies in the U.S., over 450 million copies worldwide, are distributed in more than 200 territories, translated into 79 languages, and have been turned into eight blockbuster films. In addition to publishing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two script book, Scholastic also announced that it will also publish the original screenplay of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film written by J.K. Rowling this November. For more information, visit //mediaroom.scholastic.com/harrypotter.

(Click the images below to open a hi-res version in a new window)

On July 21, a “Muggle Mob” of 300 Harry Potter fans fills the street in front of the Scholastic headquarters building in New York City to celebrate the upcoming release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, the eighth story, on July 31, 2016 at 12:01 a.m. ET. (Credit: Scholastic)

Scholastic Intern Kaseem Stuart hands a copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to a stranger on the streets of New York City as part of a “Muggle Mob” where 300 Harry Potter fans fill the street in front of the Scholastic headquarters building in New York City on July 21, 2016 to celebrate the upcoming release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, the eighth story, on July 31, 2016 at 12:01 a.m. ET. (Credit: Scholastic)

A Scholastic employee’s daughter, 10-year-old Ella, joins the “Muggle Mob” of 300 Harry Potter fans in front of the Scholastic headquarters building in New York City on July 21, celebrating the upcoming release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, the eighth story, on July 31, 2016 at 12:01 a.m. ET. (Credit: Scholastic)

A “Muggle Mob” of 300 Harry Potter fans looks on as a massive banner unfurls in front of the Scholastic headquarters building in New York City on July 21, 2016, celebrating the upcoming release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, the eighth story, on July 31, 2016 at 12:01 a.m. ET. (Credit: Scholastic)

On July 21, a “Muggle Mob” of 300 Harry Potter fans fills the street in front of the Scholastic headquarters building in New York City to celebrate the upcoming release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, the eighth story, on July 31, 2016 at 12:01 a.m. ET. Credit: Scholastic

On July 21, a “Muggle Mob” of 300 Harry Potter fans fills the street in front of the Scholastic headquarters building in New York City to celebrate the upcoming release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two, the eighth story, on July 31, 2016 at 12:01 a.m. ET. (Credit: Matt Ringler, Scholastic)

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Contacts:
Charisse Meloto / 212-389-3785, cmeloto@scholastic.com
Kyle Good / 212-343-4563, kgood@scholastic.com
Kris Moran / 917-216-2639, kmoran@scholastic.com