The House Theatre of Chicago announces the return of Dennis Watkins in The Magic Parlour, at the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, 17 E. Monroe, for an open run starting September 2.
The Belmont Theatre will present the moving musical SIDE SHOW August 12-14 & 18-21. The show will take place in the intimate setting of The Bon-Ton Studio and will give the audience the feeling of sitting in a tent in the middle of the action. The front row sits right on the stage with the actors.
The Belmont Theatre will present the moving musical SIDE SHOW August 12-14 & 18-21. The show will take place in the intimate setting of The Bon-Ton Studio and will give the audience the feeling of sitting in a tent in the middle of the action. The front row sits right on the stage with the actors.
Ragtime On Ellis Island is pleased to announce that a limited number of seats to the highly anticipated site-specific developmental concert on Monday, August 8, will be distributed to the public by way of an online ticket lottery
Ragtime On Ellis Island just announced that Tony Award winner and Original Broadway cast member Brian Stokes Mitchell (Shuffle Along, Man of La Mancha) and acclaimed stage and television star Andy Mientus (Spring Awakening, Les Miserables) have joined the lineup of the highly anticipated site-specific developmental concert on Monday, August 8. The all-star cast, directed by Sammi Cannold (Violet on a moving bus at A.R.T; Assistant Director for Diane Paulus & Rachel Chavkin), will perform a selection of songs from the Tony Award-winning musical that features music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally. The concert is being presented by Suzanne Friedman with an eye towards an immersive, full production of the acclaimed American musical on Ellis Island in 2017.
The House Theatre of Chicago has announced the extension of the first play to ever grace its stage, the magic-filled crowd favorite Death & Harry Houdini, written and directed by The House Theatre of Chicago Artistic Director Nathan Allen and starring Company Member and professional magician Dennis Watkins as Harry Houdini. Filled with stunning magic, poignant dialogue and original music, Death & Harry Houdini presents the story of history's most famous magician and his life-long war against Death.
The Tony Award-winning musical Ragtime will receive a one-night site-specific developmental concert on Ellis Island on August 8, 2016. An all-star cast of Broadway and Off-Broadway veterans including Olivier winner Laura Michelle Kelly, Tony and Grammy nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, Emmy winner Michael Park, Robert Petkoff, Shaina Taub, and five-time Emmy nominee Georgia Engel will perform a selection of songs from the American musical with music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Sammi Cannold will direct the concert in anticipation of a full production in 2017.
Eye Spy Publishing Ltd, has released the first e-book in a new series featuring true stories about 'real-life' spies. 'Celebrity Spies' covers forty-three professions and industries whose famous members 'spied for the side' and include fascinating trivia and hundreds of images. Book 1, Hollywood Actors, features over 50 celebrities.
Did you know?
Cary Grant was a spy hunter.
Frank Sinatra lent the CIA his jet for rendition flights.
Marilyn Monroe assembled drones during WWII.
Dr. Seuss produced instructional cartoons for the US Army Signal Corps.
Lucky Luciano, head of the mafia crime family, worked with the CIA.
The US Secret Service and hired Harry Houdini to train agents in escapology.
Alfred Hitchcock was an MI6 contact man.
Walt Disney became an undercover spy for the FBI.
Miles Copeland Jr's father worked for the CIA.
The brother of the Dalai Lama worked for the CIA?
'We are excited about the new series and although a departure from the sobering material in Eye Spy Intelligence Magazine, we hope our readers will enjoy it.'
- Mark Birdsall / Managing Editor
In the series:
Actors, Actresses, Adventurers, Archaeologists, Artists, Astronauts, Astronomers, Authors, Businessman, Cartoons, Chefs, Clergy, Cowboys and Indians, Criminals, Dancers, Directors, Engineers, Entertainers, Explorers, Fashion, Groups, Historians, Inventors, Journalists, Movie Producers, Musicians, Mystics, Naturalists, Patriots, Photographers, Physicians, Playwrights, Poets, Politicians, Producers, Royalty, Scholars, Scientists, Sculptors, Singers, Sons and Daughters, Sportsman and 'The Watched'.
Book I - Actors. Features over fifty actors who actively participated in or with the intelligence services.
In one week, a world-famous magician and a legendary detective writer team up to solve the caes no one else can. “HOUDINI & DOYLE” premieres Monday, May 2 at 9/8c on FOX.
The House Theatre of Chicago is proud to announce the return of the first play to ever grace its stage, the magic-filled thrill show and crowd favorite Death & Harry Houdini, written and directed by The House Theatre of Chicago Artistic Director Nathan Allen and starring Company Member and professional magician Dennis Watkins as Harry Houdini. Filled with stunning magic, poignant dialogue and original music, Death & Harry Houdini presents the story of history's most famous magician and his life-long war against Death. The production runs from May 12 - July 24 at the Chopin Theatre's Upstairs Theater, 1543 W. Division St.
?The story of Memorial Players' spring musical this year is almost prescient in its relevance to Baltimore (and the country) in 2016 - wealth inequality, abuse of power, corruption, the struggles of immigrants, collectivist organizing, cults of celebrity, the American dream lost and then found. What is almost more amazing is that it was selected by our Theater Committee more than two years ago.
A new book documenting the extraordinary true story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's belief in spirits is released by publisher Life Is Amazing this month to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creator of Sherlock Holmes going public about his interest in the paranormal.
'Conan Doyle and the Mysterious World of Light, 1887-1920' written by Matt Wingett traces the author's story from his earliest psychic experiments while working as a young doctor in Southsea, Portsmouth, to his dedication of the final decade of his life to Spiritualist missionary work, during which he became world leader of the Spiritualist movement.
'The new tv series, Houdini & Doyle, is great fiction,' says author Matt Wingett, 'but the truth in the book is far stranger - and more moving.'
The book, the first of three on the subject projected by Life Is Amazing, reveals how Conan Doyle was fascinated by psychic phenomena throughout his life. He declared himself a Spiritualist as early as 1887, but didn't fully commit to the religion at this time. In the following years, he founded the Hampshire Psychical Society, investigated poltergeist activity, attended séances and was approached to join the mystical cult The Golden Dawn, of which 'the wickedest man in the world' Aleister Crowley was a member. Though Conan Doyle eventually declined this offer, he continued his psychic investigations.
In 1916, after a series of inexplicable psychic events, Conan Doyle finally became convinced of the 'undeniable truth' of Spiritualism and began his missionary phase.
'Sir Arthur Conan Doyle travelled the country tirelessly, addressing hundreds of thousands of people,' says author Matt Wingett. 'He believed that Spiritualism was a new revelation, sent by God to console the bereaved who were experiencing the terrible grief that swept Europe during World War One. He published books on the subject and because of his great fame, caused deep controversy in the Church, in the Press and among scientists.'
His dedication to the cause reached new heights after the death of his son Kingsley in 1918, whose spirit Conan Doyle was convinced spoke to him at a séance in Southsea in 1919. 'That was the moment he lost his objectivity,' says Matt Wingett. 'It left him open to hoaxers and frauds.'
Though Harry Houdini later became good friends with Doyle, in the period the book covers, Conan Doyle would have been aware of the controversy around the great escapologist. 'Houdini started out as a fake medium,' says Matt Wingett. 'His fake séances were so convincing that many were adamant he must have real psychic powers. Think of the mystique of Derren Brown today. Their friendship was a double-edged sword to Conan Doyle, who sought to prove to Houdini that though he had faked some spiritual phenomena, not all such phenomena were fake.'
'Conan Doyle and the Mysterious World of Light, 1887-1920,' is published by Life Is Amazing on 11th March, 100 years from the date of publication of Conan Doyle's letter that commenced his Spiritualist missionary phase.
It is available direct from the publisher at www.lifeisamazing.co.uk, Waterstone's and through Amazon. The hardback is £25, paperback £12.99
Further Press contacts:
Matt Wingett, matt@lifeisamazing.co.uk
?The House Theatre of Chicago's Board of Directors announce the 4th annual incarnation of The Secret Soiree, which celebrates the company's continuing commitment to amazing feats of storytelling with a one-night-only stage magic performance from Company Member Dennis Watkins (The Magic Parlour, Death & Harry Houdini). This year, the gala is hosted by Peter Sagal of NPR's Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me!. The Secret Soiree will be held Saturday, March 5 at 7:30pm at the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel's Red Lacquer Room, 17 E. Monroe St. The Secret Soiree Event Sponsorships, Event Supporter packages, group tickets and individual tickets may be purchased through The House Theatre of Chicago at 773-769-3832 or online at theHouseTheatre.com.
From “House” creator and executive producer David Shore, the new mystery adventure drama series HOUDINI & DOYLE, starring Michael Weston
The Grand 1894 Opera House presents RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL, tonight, February 20, at 8 pm, and tomorrow, February 21 at 3 pm.
The Grand 1894 Opera House presents RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL, Saturday, February 20, at 8 pm, and Sunday, February 21 at 3 pm.
The America depicted here is a place of quests: Father's for the unknown horizon, Tateh's for a land where he and his daughter can prosper, Coalhouse's for reuniting with Sarah and raising his son in a world where blacks are regarded and treated as equals. To these quests might be added two more: Younger Brother's for some ideal he can build a life around and Mother's, a quieter one, to nurture a family, whatever contours her decency and generosity cause it to assume. And all of these quests are played out among the novelties and sensations of an exuberant American decade: among the things which will figure in the plot are Henry Ford's Model T, J.P. Morgan's library of priceless incunabula, the notorious charms of uber-courtesan Evelyn Nesbit, and the antics of escape artist Harry Houdini.
RAGTIME zahlt mit seinen bittersu?ßen Geschichten aus dem New Yorker Leben, den vielen historischen Figuren - von Henry Ford bis Harry Houdini - und seinem unwiderstehlichen musikalischen Charme zu den ganz großen Broadway-Musicals. Der Erfolg 1998 in New York war immens und bescherte Komponist Stephen Flaherty und Buchautor Terrence McNally jeweils eine der begehrten Tony-Awards. Nach weiteren Erfolgen in London, Washington und abermals am Broadway erreicht RAGTIME nun am Staatstheater Braunschweig endlich auch das europaische Festland. Am vergangenen Freitag war Premiere, und das Publikum zeigte sich begeistert von diesem historischen, sozialkritischen Musical, und belohnte die Auffuhrung mit einer Standing Ovation.
»Ragtime« zahlt mit seinen bittersußen Geschichten aus dem New Yorker Leben, den vielen historischen Figuren - von Henry Ford bis Harry Houdini - und seinem unwiderstehlichen musikalischen Charme zu den ganz großen Broadway-Musicals. Der Erfolg 1998 in New York war immens und bescherte Komponist Stephen Flaherty und Buchautor Terrence McNally jeweils eine der begehrten Tony-Awards. Nach weiteren Erfolgen in London, Washington und abermals am Broadway erreicht »Ragtime« nun am Staatstheater Braunschweig endlich auch das europaische Festland. Die Premiere findet am 18. September 2015 statt, weitere Vorstellungen laufen bis Januar 2016.
1926: Houdini's right-hand man deals with the death of his boss. A half century later, a Blackpool joke shop proprietor takes on a wide-eyed young protege. An affectionate look at a misspent youth and unsung heroes; a touching true story of interlocking lives.
Seances, spirituality, immortality and magic. The true story of the deadly feud between Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Starring Phill Jupitus as Conan Doyle and Alan Cox as Houdini.
John Hannah (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Sliding Doors, The Mummy) stars in this madcap comedy of illusion. Four tramps huddle together at an abandoned railway station, full of vodka-fuelled dreams of escaping on one of the passing trains.
Four tramps huddle together at an abandoned railway station, full of vodka-fuelled dreams of escaping on one of the passing trains. But the trains never stop. Until one day, a dishevelled stranger is thrown into their midst. He claims to be the great illusionist Harry Houdini, and promises that together they will perform the most astonishing vanishing act the world has ever seen.
Michael Weston (“House,” “Six Feet Under”) and Stephen Mangan (“Episodes”) have been cast in the lead roles of HOUDINI & DOYLE, a mystery adventure drama series scheduled to debut in Spring 2016 on ITV Encore and in 2016 on FOX.
World-class magicians and illusionists astonished audiences today at the launch of brand new West End show IMPOSSIBLE. The biggest magic show London has seen in decades is set to thrill audiences at London's Noel Coward Theatre this summer when it opens on 24th July. Spectators at the launch event were given taste of what's to come as the magicians performed a number of dumbfounding stunts, from Houdini's death-defying water tank escape with a 21st century twist to contemporary street magic.
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