Casting for the NYC premier reading of For My Last Trick
Written by Jordan Baker, this new play is a period drama about the final years in the life of Harry Houdini, aiming to perform by October 2026. This public reading will be used to gauge an audience interest, producer interest, and make future edits to the script.
“Harry Houdini will be dead by Halloween.” It’s the 1920’s and humanity has made its biggest breakthrough. The ability to communicate with the dead. Mediums and fortune tellers have used seances to finally bridge the gap to the afterlife and prove ghosts are real! But one man is not impressed. Magician and Escape Artist, Harry Houdini. When Houdini is invited to a seance by his best friend, Sherlock Holmes writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he is not amazed. Instead, he’s angry. What everyone else sees as a healing experience that's connecting them to their lost loved ones, he sees a sophisticated hoax which is extorting grieving people for money.
Harry sets out on his own “witch hunt” to expose these mediums with his brother, Theo. But everything changes when Harry has a “curse put on him by the mediums, who all say he’s gonna die by Halloween… and on Halloween of 1926, Houdini dies of mysterious causes.
Theo and Harry’s widow, Bess, are left to pick up the pieces and figure out, how did this happen? Who was responsible? And will Harry Houdini escape death and return from the grave?
“For My Last Trick is a thrilling and thought provoking piece that tackles grief, belief, faith, and fame. Using authentic Harry Houdini magic tricks, spooky seances, and amazing dialogue. Do you believe in Magic?”
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
HARRY HOUDINI - (Mid 20’s to Mid 30’s, any ethnicity) World class performer and the ultimate showman. Despite being a magician, he’s incredibly cynical when it comes to anything dealing with “the supernatural”. He’s a ball of energy, talent and unrelenting drive. He intends to win EVERY argument he finds himself in. Witty, incredibly intelligent, physical, a perfectionist and confident to a fault.
BESS HOUDINI - (Mid 20’s to Mid 30’s, any ethnicity) Harry’s wife and the only reason he’s able to navigate life. His own Gwen Verdon. In every way, she is just as smart, talented and more mature than him. But when she suddenly loses him, she now has to navigate a life full of leeches and vultures where all the focus is on her. Quiet but blunt, sensitive, anxious and surprisingly introverted.
THEO HARDEEN - (Mid 20’s to Mid 30’s, any ethnicity) Harry’s brother. An athlete and a fighter. Like most little brothers, he’s deeply competitive and desperate to prove himself to his brother. He shares the same passion and perfectionism for Magic but is a victim of “wrong place, wrong time”…until the Houdini moniker is thrust on him. Sarcastic, hard working, but short fused.
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE - (Late 40’s to 70’s, any ethnicity) Harry’s best friend turned enemy. Despite being the author of Sherlock Holmes, the most logical detective in literature, his mind is occupied with dreams of fairies and ghosts. A staunch believer in spirituality who yearns to be reunited with his son. Calm, thoughtful, proper, assertive, if not a bit naive.
JEAN DOYLE - (Early 40’s to Late 60’s, any ethnicity) Arthur’s wife. An elegant woman who exudes richness and class. But also, a medium who hears the voices of the dead and writes what she hears. Her seance with Harry starts it all. Arthur’s biggest supporter. Difficult to please, matriarchal, condescending, and posh.
MINA CRANDON - (Early to Late 20’s, any ethnicity) The most famous medium in America. She’s a youthful and sparkling spirit who is able to produce the most incredible paranormal phenomenon. Beloved by everyone around her. But she lives a mysterious life that Harry becomes obsessed with. The 20’s Party-Girl, but a proper performer and thespian, sociable, and just fun.
REVEREND FORD - (Mid 20’s to Mid 40’s, any ethnicity) First reverend of the American Spiritualist Church. A man of southern hospitality and sincerity. He’s a good looking man, whose Reverend Clerical is sometimes at odds with his shady behavior. Divine, dangerously charming, but refrained.
DR. CRANDON - (Mid 30’s to Mid 50’s, any ethnicity) Mina’s husband and manager. A medical professional who is handling all of Mina’s affairs and money while being very careful about who he lets into their inner circle. No one is allowed to know too much. Very close to Arthur Conan Doyle and Reverend Ford. Aloof and austere, serious, and grumpy.
THE ASSISTANT - (Early to Late 20’s, any ethnicity) Harry’s and Bess’s niece. She serves as the magic assistant to both Harry and later Theo. But she’s much more. She’s one of our narrators of the story, a physical representation of survival. Surviving grief and surviving death. Always there to guide people through. A dancer and performer, graceful, regal and statuesque.
THE COMPANION - (Early to Late 20’s, any ethnicity) Harry’s closest partner and our other narrator. He’s been a part of Harry’s career for a VERY long time. He knows exactly how Houdini died and he’s finally ready to tell everyone what happened. The exact opposite of The Assistant. Disheveled, nervous, bumbling, and awkward.
THEATER GHOSTS - (All ages, ethnicity, and genders) We will also have a 6 person ensemble that will read for various other roles in the show including BERNARD ERNST, MALCOLM BIRD, MADAME MARCIA, REPORTERS, PERFORMERS, etc.
TIMELINE
This will be a PUBLIC READING of Act One, planned for August 23rd, 2025 (subject to change). Another reading of Act Two will be planned for a near date and aim to utilize the same performers.
Preliminary virtual rehearsals will be scheduled after casting, based around performers availability.
To submit, please send a headshot and resume as well as a monologue (at least 90 seconds in length) to formylasttrickplay@gmail.com
Please include your NAME and CHARACTER(S) YOU’D LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR in the subject line.
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