This fall, world-class magic and mentalism make a new home in the heart of the Chicago Loop Theater District. In a first-of-its-kind creative collaboration, Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director/CEO Roche Schulfer announce a brand new partnership with Dennis Watkins—award-winning third-generation magician and mind-reader—and Petterino’s restaurant. Chicago’s longest-running magic show, The Magic Parlour, takes residence adacent to the Goodman at 50 W. Randolph, Petterino’s newly remodeled lower-level space, presented by the Goodman and Petterino’s. The move builds on Watkins’ 15-year success, thrilling 50,000+ guests with jaw-dropping magic during 1,600 live performances and hundreds of corporate events, including five marriage proposals. While maintaining his signature up-close, intimate magic-packed experience for 60 guests, “Chicago’s official magic man” (Chicago Sun-Times) “unites us in wonder” (Chicago Reader) anew in six performances per week; the 90-minute immersive show is recommended for ages 12+. Tickets to performances of The Magic Parlour at 50 W. Randolph, which begin October 5, are on sale now (press performance dates TBA); call the Goodman Theatre Box Office at 312.443.3800 (12 Noon – 5pm daily) or visit TheMagicParlourChicago.com. Tickets ($85 for the performance and $115 for performance + encore experience) include a complimentary beverage.
“This new home changes everything: The Magic Parlour is no longer just a show, it’s a destination for world-class, close-up magic—right here in the heart of the Theater District,” said Dennis Watkins. “After 15 years of running The Magic Parlour in Chicago, I am immensely excited to have found collaborators to help grow the show and deepen the magical experience we give to our guests. As a theater artist, I came to Chicago to learn from the folks who built Goodman Theatre and made this the greatest theater city in the country. The opportunity to share time, space and imagination with the Goodman family of artists is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I cannot wait to discover all of the ways that the show grows in this new iteration.”
A co-founder of The House Theatre of Chicago, Watkins has collaborated as an actor, writer, director and/or designer on 30+ world-premiere plays with companies including Lookingglass, Steppenwolf and Goodman Theatre. After studying theater at Meadows School of the Arts and the British American Drama Academy in London, Watkins launched The House Theatre with Artistic Director Nathan Allen and cohorts from school on Halloween of 2001. His appearance in the title role of Death and Harry Houdini—including performing Houdini’s infamous Water Torture Cell escape in every show—earned him a Joseph Jefferson Award.
“Susan and I are proud and honored to welcome Dennis into the Goodman family, having long admired him as a distinguished artist of unparalleled artistry for more than two decades,” said Roche Schulfer, Goodman Theatre Executive Director/CEO. “Perhaps his greatest gift is as remarkable as it is astonishing: the warmth, wonder and connection Dennis fosters among his guests at The Magic Parlour makes special memories that last a lifetime. We are thrilled to help expand his reach and deepen our longtime partnership with Petterino’s in this exciting, artful way.”
The Magic Parlour at 50 W. Randolph continues Watkins’ famed tradition of the VIP experience in The Encore Room, an upgraded ticket option for guests seeking an exclusive 25-minute interaction following the performance. Immediately following the performance, up to 20 guests are escorted to a private space where Watkins performs up-close magic.
ABOUT THE PARTNERS
The Magic Parlour is an intimate evening of classic magic and mind-reading featuring the work of third-generation magician Dennis Watkins. Previously hosted for more than a decade at the Palmer House, the audience participates in much of the performance as Watkins wows the room with classic sleight of hand, unbelievable mind-reading and magical wisdom passed down from his grandfather. Since opening at the Palmer House on New Year’s Eve of 2011, Dennis Watkins’ The Magic Parlour has enjoyed phenomenal success and unimagined growth. Offering an intimate experience with only 50 guests per show, The Magic Parlour has been featured in two books (Chicago Magic: A History of Stagecraft and Spectacle and 100 Things to do in Chicago Before You Die).
Petterino’s has been a beloved downtown icon in the Chicago community for 20+ years, continuing to offer the same spirit and tradition that diners know and love. Enjoy timeless flavors, authentic Italian fare, comfortable interiors and warm hospitality. Our passion for creating memorable dining experiences aligns perfectly with the mystique of magic. The synergy between the culinary artistry of our chefs and the magical prowess of Dennis Watkins promises an evening of unparalleled wonder and flavor. We've joined forces with the Goodman and this talented magician to bring you a dining experience like no other. Blend the flavors of Italy with the wonder of magic, by dining at Petterino’s before or after the show. You may also consider booking a private or corporate event in conjunction with a show. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, a romantic evening, or simply seeking an escape from the ordinary, our magical collaboration guarantees an enchanting escape into a world where delectable cuisine dances with spellbinding illusions.
Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director/CEO Roche Schulfer, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large-scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earner two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, among other accolades. The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.
Using the tools of theatrical practice, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand and empathize with cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.
Goodman Theatre was built on the traditional homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi Nations. We recognize that many other Nations consider the area we now call Chicago as their traditional homeland—including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo and Mascouten—and remains home to many Native peoples today. While we believe that our city’s vast diversity should be reflected on the stages of its largest theater, we acknowledge that our efforts have largely overlooked the voices of our Native peoples. This omission has added to the isolation, erasure and harm that Indigenous communities have faced for hundreds of years. We have begun a more deliberate journey towards celebrating Native American stories and welcoming Indigenous communities.
The Goodman was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.
Julie Danis is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Lorrayne Weiss is Women’s Board President and Kelli Garcia is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.