Displaying items by tag: James Sanden

Demand for Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour continues into 2026 following a strong holiday season of sold-out performances and group and event bookings. Now, "Chicago's premiere resident magician" (Chicago Tribune) releases a brand new block of tickets to see audiences into the spring and summer months. Watkins also welcomes Derek Hughes—a "thoroughly entertaining" (New York Times), "suberb magician with a gift for the unexpected and off beat" (Minneapolis Star Tribune) to perform as a guest artist on selected dates this and next month. Now in its third year, the custom magic theater in the heart of the Loop has welcomed more than 28,000 Chicagoans to 700+ performances and bespoke private events—including hosting some of the nation's greatest magicians as guest artists-in-residence and special performances. In addition, Watkins brings back the popular 3-Card Monte, a special format in which three magicians visit each audience member's table to perform close-up magic. Offered only on Sunday evenings at 5pm, 3-Card Monte magicians include Watkins, Hughes, Luis Carreon, Mike O'Donnell, Ryan Plunkett and James Sanden.

"As The Magic Parlour and its audience continue to grow, I've been hunting for new ways to share world-class magic with Chicago. As we continue, I'll keep running my show, The Magic Parlour, six shows per week and 300 shows per year. I'm thrilled to bring in two or three guest artists each year for limited-engagement runs. On the heels of Siegfried Tieber's sold-out engagement last month, this month we welcome the incomparable Derek Hughes for three short weeks," said Dennis Watkins. "And, I've launched 3-Card Monte on Sunday evenings. This experience showcases my carefully curated list of Chicago magicians and out-of-town guests performing formal close-up magic at the table with the audience. Three performers run at three tables concurrently, then rotate for 30-minute sets—creating a whirlwind of magic as up-close and personal as it gets!"

The Magic Parlour, now on sale through August 31, 2026, takes place Thursday through Sunday. Tickets range from $93 - $136; tickets for Guest Artist Derek Hughes' performances range from $76 - $106. All tickets include a complimentary beverage. Hughes appears Feb. 26-27 (7:30pm); Feb. 28 (4:30 + 7:30pm); March 1 (2pm); March 5-6 (7:30pm); March 7 (4:30 + 7:30pm); March 8 (2pm); March 12-13 (7:30pm); March 14 (4:30 + 7:30pm); and March 15 (2pm); tickets for 3-Card Monte are $73. To purchase tickets, call the Goodman Theatre Box Office at 312.443.3800 (12 Noon – 5pm) or visit TheMagicParlourChicago.com. Note: Watkins will invite a TBA guest magician to appear at select July performances; check website for dates, full announcement coming soon. The Magic Parlour is recommended for audiences ages 12+; while there is no inappropriate content, this elegant experience is designed for adults Media members: for complimentary press passes, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hailed as a "star attraction dazzling audiences in an elegant underground Loop parlor" (WBEZ), The Magic Parlour is "90 minutes of mind-boggling fun that would make Houdini proud, offer(ing) warmth, intimacy and a great close-up view of the magic being performed right before your eyes" (WGN Radio). In a first-of-its-kind creative collaboration, Watkins teamed up with Goodman Theatre and Petterino's restaurant to establish a permanent home for Chicago's longest-running magic show—an intimate evening of classic magic and mind-reading previously hosted for more than a decade at the Palmer House (opened on New Year's Eve, 2011). 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.

The space at 50 W. Randolph, situated adjacent to the Goodman in Petterino's transformed lower-level area, 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 24 guests are escorted to a private space where Watkins performs up-close magic.

A co-founder of The House Theatre of Chicago, Dennis 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, he 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.

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

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.

Since 1925, The Goodman has been more than a stage. A theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for community, it's where stories come to life—bold in artistry and rich in history, deeply rooted in the city it serves.

Led by Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, The Goodman sparks conversation, connection and change through new plays, reimagined classics and large-scale musicals. With distinctions including nearly 200 world or American premieres, two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman is proud to be the first theater to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson's "American Century Cycle." In addition, the theater frequently serves as a production partner—with national and international companies to Chicago's Off-Loop theaters—to help amplify theatrical voices.

But The Goodman believes a more empathetic, more connected Chicago is created one story at a time, and counts as its greatest legacy the community it's built. Generation-spanning productions and programs offer theater for a lifetime; from Theater for the Very Young (plays designed for ages 0-5) to the long-running annual A Christmas Carol, which has introduced new generations to theater over five decades, The Goodman is committed to being an asset for all of Chicago. Education and Engagement programs led by Clifford Director of Education and Engagement Jared Bellot and housed in the Alice Rapoport Center use the tools of theater to spark imagination, reflection and belonging. Each year, these programs reach thousands of people (85% from underserved communities) as well as educators, artists and lifelong learners across the city.

The Goodman stands on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations—and acknowledges the many other Nations for whom this land now called Chicago has long been home, including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo, and Mascouten. The Goodman is proud to partner with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum (Gichigamiin-Museum.org) and the Center for Native Futures (CenterForNativeFutures.org)—organizations devoted to honoring Indigenous stories, preserving cultural memory, and deepening public understanding.

The Goodman was founded by William O. Goodman and his family to honor the memory of Kenneth Sawyer Goodman—a visionary playwright whose bold ideas helped shape Chicago's early cultural renaissance. That spirit of creativity and generosity endures today. In 2000, through the commitment of Mr. Goodman's descendants—Albert Ivar Goodman and his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton—The Goodman opened the doors to its current home in the heart of the Loop.