Interview: Nick Dillenburg of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD at Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis

Nick Dillenburg, a Minneapolis native, found his way onto the stage in high school after tagging along to an audition with a friend. What started as a favor quickly became something more, setting him on a path that’s now brought him back home in a full-circle moment.

Dillenburg is currently playing the adult Harry in the national tour of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, now at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis through May 17, 2026. His take on Harry leans less into the legend and more into the person—a man in his 30s juggling family, routine, and the weight of a past that never fully goes away.

In our conversation, Dillenburg talks about stumbling into acting, revisiting the Harry Potter story from a new perspective, and why performing this role in Minneapolis—surrounded by family, friends, and the community that shaped him—means so much.

How does it feel to step into Harry as an adult?
Anytime you take on something this big, it’s a little intimidating. It’s one of the most recognizable stories out there, and people have such a strong connection to it. At the same time, that’s what makes it exciting.

I grew up watching Daniel Radcliffe, so I’m a huge fan of what he did. Those films feel like part of my childhood. Now, when I go back to them, they almost feel like backstory for what we’re doing.

For me, it’s about honoring that, but not getting trapped by it. At the end of the day, Harry’s just a person. He has a family, he’s in his 30s, life has settled down. There’s been peace for a long time. And then things start to shift again. I like starting from that place—it makes everything feel grounded and real.

Did you go back to the books and movies while preparing?
Yeah, I’m one of those people who likes to have all of that in my head. I’ve read the books a couple of times and seen the movies more than I can count.

Prisoner of Azkaban has always stood out to me—there’s something about the way it’s made, and the time-travel element connects to what we’re doing. But I also really love Goblet of Fire. I was an athlete growing up, so the competition side of that story always stuck with me.

When you go back through the material, sometimes you’ll read a whole book and only take one or two things from it that actually apply. But it helps. And then once you’re in rehearsal, you kind of let it go and focus on what’s in front of you—these people, this version of the story. The earlier stuff still lives somewhere in you, though.

You didn’t grow up doing theater—how did that happen?
Completely by accident. I was all sports—football, basketball. Theater wasn’t even on my radar.

A friend asked me to go to auditions for Arsenic and Old Lace, mostly so we could go to Dairy Queen after. I ended up reading a scene, got cast, and tried to back out because I had football. But I went to the read-through, and something just clicked. It felt like I’d found this whole other part of myself I didn’t know was there.

After that, it happened fast. I started taking classes at Children’s Theatre Company, and by the next summer I was working at the Guthrie. It really just snowballed from there.

What was that early experience like?
That first class at Children’s Theatre kind of opened the door. I was surrounded by people who took storytelling seriously, and it hit me how powerful it could be.

Then at the Guthrie, I got to work with incredible artists and see how it all fits together. You start to realize it’s this huge network of people who are all really passionate about the same thing. That’s when it started to feel like something I could actually pursue.

Did you ever think about doing something else?
Yeah—after grad school at the University of Connecticut, I was pretty close to moving back to Minnesota and maybe teaching for a while.

Right before I left New York, I went to say goodbye to a casting director, and she mentioned an audition for The Tempest. I figured, why not. It turned out to be this production in Bermuda with Felicia Rashad. I got it, and suddenly I was right back in.

There have been a few moments like that where things could’ve gone a different way. Even with Harry Potter, I didn’t get it at first. Then almost a year later, it came back around. You just never really know how things are going to unfold.

Do you still have roles you want to play?
There’s always Shakespeare—I’d love to keep working on that. But lately I’ve been more interested in creating new work.

I wrote a play recently that was produced at a college, and that’s something I want to keep doing—telling stories that feel current and personal. I’ve been lucky to get to play a lot of great roles already, so now it’s about building something of my own too.

What’s it like being back in Minneapolis with this show?
It’s pretty emotional, honestly. My mom saw me on stage for the first time since high school. She’s seen the film and TV stuff, but this is different. There are moments in the show that hit close to home, and having her there for that—it’s a lot.

Being back here in general means a lot. This place shaped me. And the last several years, especially, have been heavy for the community. There’s a lot of strength here. It feels good to come back and be part of it in some way.

What do you love about Minnesota now that you’re back?
I’ve been having fun just exploring again. Northeast has changed a lot since I was growing up. I’ve been checking out restaurants, biking around the lakes, getting back into the art scene.

What’s funny is I know the city really well from growing up, but I don’t know it as an adult. So I’ve been asking people for recommendations and kind of rediscovering it that way.

Are you still following Minnesota sports?
Oh yeah, I’m locked in. Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild—I’m all in.

I still remember exactly where I was for the Minneapolis Miracle. It’s not always easy being a Minnesota fan, but you stick with it.

What do people usually say when they find out you’re from Minnesota?
Usually it’s The Vikings or Bob Dylan. And then they ask for the accent.

My mom still has it. I had to train mine out a bit, but I can bring it back if needed. And yeah—coming home still means hotdish.

Thank you Nick for your time! We're glad to have you here!

Don't Miss a Minneapolis / St. Paul News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...