Additional Performances of Betrayal and Fat Ham Extend the Run of Both Shows at Goodman Theatre

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

HIGH DEMAND FOR TICKETS PROMPTS EXTENSIONS OF TWO GOODMAN PRODUCTIONS

***FAT HAM EXTENDS A SECOND TIME (THROUGH MARCH 9) AND SUSAN V. BOOTH’S MAJOR REVIVAL OF BETRAYAL, STARRING IAN BARFORD, HELEN HUNT AND ROBERT SEAN LEONARD, EXTENDS THROUGH MARCH 23***

The new year is off to a strong start on stage as Goodman Theatre announces additional performances for both of its current productions: Fat Ham in the 350-seat Owen Theatre—marking the second extension for Tyrone Phillips’ Chicago-premiere production of James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play—and Susan V. Booth’s major revival of Betrayal in the 856-seat Albert Theatre. Dates and times for the extension week performances appear below. Betrayal, which begins performances this weekend, features Tony Award nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Ian Barford as Robert, Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Helen Hunt as Emma and Tony Award winner Robert Sean Leonard as Jerry in Harold Pinter’s masterwork. Betrayal appears February 8 – March 23. 

I'll be out to review for ChiIL Live Shows on opening night, February 17th. Tickets ($40 - $175; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Betrayal or by phone at 312.443.3800. 

The Goodman is grateful for the support of Northern Trust (Lead Corporate Sponsor), Katten Muchin Rosenmann LLP and PAXXUS, Inc. (Corporate Sponsor Partners). 

Fat Ham, the “heartwarming, tension-filled and laugh-out-loud funny” (Daily Herald) reimagination of Shakespeare’s Hamlet directed by Tyrone Phillips adds five performances to its Chicago run with a second extension. Co-produced with Chicago’s famed Definition Theatre—of which Phillips is Founding Artistic Director and playwright James Ijames is a company member—Fat Ham tells the story of Juicy, a Black, queer young man who is confronted by the ghost of his father during a family barbeque. Seeking revenge for his murder, his father puts a screeching halt to Juicy’s quest for joy and liberation. Ijames’s reinvention of Shakespeare’s masterpiece features an all-Chicago cast: Trumane Alston (Juicy), Sheldon Brown, E. Faye Butler, Ronald L. Conner, Victor Musoni, Ireon Roach and Anji White. 

It was my great pleasure to catch opening night of Fat Ham, reviewing for ChiIL Live Shows. We've long been fans of Definition Theatre's excellent work and love this creative, high energy riff on Hamlet as a modern black barbecue. Don't miss this! 

(This "Juicy" collab's so nice they extended it twice! FAT HAM is Goodman Theatre's co-production with Definition Theatre and an absolute must see. Now playing through March 9, 2025)

Highly recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars. B Kenaz-Mara, ChiIL Live Shows

Fat Ham appears through March 9. Tickets ($35 - $85; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Ham or by phone at 312.443.3800. 

Goodman Theatre is grateful for the support of ITW (Corporate Sponsor Partner), the Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust (Lead Sponsor of IDEAA Programming) and the National Endowment for the Arts (Production Support).

FAT HAM EXTENSION WEEK SCHEDULE

-Thursday, March 6 at 7:30pm

-Friday, March 7 at 7:30pm

-Saturday, March 8 at 2pm

-Saturday, March 8 at 7:30pm

-Sunday, March 9 at 2pm

BETRAYAL EXTENSION WEEK SCHEDULE

-Tuesday, March 18 at 7:30pm 

-Wednesday, March 19 at 2pm 

-Wednesday, March 19 at 7:30pm 

-Thursday, March 20 at 7:30pm 

-Saturday, March 22 at 2pm and 7:30pm*

-Sunday, March 23 at 2pm and 7:30pm

*At these two performances, the role of Emma will be played by Cheyenne Casebier.

Full Company of Betrayal (in alphabetical order)

By Harold Pinter

Directed by Susan V. Booth

Ian Barford…Robert

Nico Grelli…Waiter

Helen Hunt…Emma

Robert Sean Leonard…Jerry

Understudies…Cheyenne Casebier, Michael Milligan and Jeff Parker.

Creative Team

Set Designer…..Neil Patel

Costume Designer ……Linda Roethke

Lighting Designer…..Xavier Pierce

Projection Designer….Rasean Davonté Johnson

Sound Designers and Composers….Michael Bodeen and Rob Milburn

Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA. Neena Arndt is the Dramaturg. Nikki Blue is the Production Stage Manager and Jennifer Gregory is the Stage Manager.

Full Company of Fat Ham (in alphabetical order)

By James Ijames

Directed by Tyrone Phillips

Trumane Alston…Juicy

Sheldon Brown…Larry

E. Faye Butler…Rabby

Ronald L. Conner…Rev/Pap

Victor Musoni…Tio

Ireon Roach…Opal

Anji White…Tedra

Understudies…Blake Hamilton Currie, Marquise De’Jahn, TayLar, Joseph Primes and Jazzy Rush.

Creative Team

Set Designer…..Arnel Sancianco

Costume Designer ……Jos N. Banks

Lighting Designer…..Jason Lynch

Sound Designer….. Willow James

Illusion Consultant…Benjamin Barnes

Fight and Intimacy…Gaby Labotka

Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA. Jared Bellot is the Dramaturg. Patrick Fries is the Production Stage Manager.

ABOUT DEFINITION THEATRE

Definition Theatre has been a vibrant force for over a decade, celebrating stories created with, inspired by, and intended for people and communities of color. Through the act of making, Definition expands perspectives, stewards resources, and bridges the possibilities found at the intersection of art, innovation, and education. Known for bold and impactful productions, we’ve brought to life plays by Oscar-winner Tarell Alvin McCraney, Pulitzer Prize-winners James Ijames and Jackie Sibblies Drury, and Tony Award-winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. We strive to promote equity, foster empathy, and enhance the quality of life for our community members by offering opportunities for creative, entrepreneurial, and cultural expression. Our work emphasizes collaboration in theater-making and raises awareness of career paths in the arts. In 2024, Definition leased and equipped a storefront space in Hyde Park, enabling us to engage artists and expand programs as we prepare for our permanent home in Woodlawn on the southside of Chicago. This new theater, community center, and business incubator will amplify and preserve BIPOC voices, promote social justice, and empower the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to drive positive progress through the transformative power of the arts. Tyrone Phillips is the Artistic Director, Neel McNeill is the Executive Director, Willow James is the Civic Engagement Director.

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

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 John Collins, 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 earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff 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 unceded 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. The Goodman is proud to have a relationship with Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum. Located in Evanston, the Museum honors the survival and perseverance of Indigenous communities and promotes a greater understanding of Indigenous peoples: gichigamiin-museum.org.

Goodman Theatre 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 on 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.

REVIEW: Juicy Chicago Premiere of Fat Ham Now Extended Twice Through March 9, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

Chicago Premiere of 

Fat Ham

HIGH DEMAND FOR TICKETS NOW EXTENDING THE CHICAGO PREMIERE THROUGH MARCH 9th

**UPDATE: This "Juicy" collab's so nice they extended it twice! FAT HAM is Goodman Theatre's co-production with Definition Theatre and an absolute must see. Now playing through March 9, 2025. Don't miss this! 

REVIEW

By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

So you think you know Hamlet... but until you've seen a ghost emerge from a smoker, and young adults transform into their true selves, you ain't seen nothin' yet. It was my great pleasure to catch opening night of Fat Ham, reviewing for ChiIL Live Shows. 

Photo Credit: B. Kenaz-Mara

We've long been fans of Definition Theatre's excellent work and love this creative, high energy riff on Hamlet, set at a modern, black, backyard barbecue. We've long adored director Tyrone Phillips, playwright James Ijames, E. Faye Butler, and Sheldon D. Brown. Fat Ham has a strong cast all around. 

(L-R) Sheldon D. Brown, Ronald L. Conner, Trumane Alston, E. Faye Butler, Ireon Roach 

and Anji White. All Production Photos by Liz Lauren.

Tyrone Phillips’ Chicago premiere-production of James Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning, five-time Tony Award-nominated play Fat Ham is an absolute must see! We've known Tyrone Phillips for years and long admired his talent. I believe we first met when he worked on a show at A Red Orchid, back in the day. It's been a joy watching him move from scrappy storefronts to directing at Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and now Goodman, without sacrificing his creative vision. Tyrone is an excellent director, and under his guidance, this award winning script and crazy talented all-Chicago cast shine! 

This Goodman production is co-produced with Chicago’s famed Definition Theatre—of which Phillips is Founding Artistic Director and Ijames is a company member. I got to know Definition Theatre well, back in 2018, when I was chosen to join them for a multiweek DCASE Playwriting workshop. They're a wonderfully welcoming company and the talent pool runs deep!

If you're well versed in The Bard's work, you'll notice many parallel plot points, and character details, like friends Tio, Larry, and Opal instead of Horatio, Laertes, and Ophelia. If you're not a Shakespeare scholar, never fear. Fat Ham is a solid, stick-to-your-ribs production that works as a hilarious stand alone piece as well. In this version, Hamlet is Juicy, a young man who is both black and gay. Like the original, his father's been murdered by his uncle who then marries his mother, inappropriately soon after. His father, like Hamlet's, makes repeat appearances from the afterlife. His lecherous uncle's devious designs are revealed in a game of charades instead of Hamlet's play within a play. Thankfully, in Fat Ham everyone does not die in the end. 

(L-R) Anji White and Ronald L. Conner.

In our current political and social morass, I'm still firmly committed to amplifying DEI voices and works. Fat Ham is a universal exploration of family dynamics and drama, as well as a celebration of black culture and style in the form of a backyard barbecue. What face do we show our parents and long time family friends? What secrets do we hide and what do we share? Fat Ham is at once classic and modern, fierce and funny, and unapologetically black. 

Fat Ham is decidedly more comedy than tragedy, and it was fun seeing Shakespeare's text catapulted into the 21st century in James Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning, five-time Tony Award-nominated play. 

(L-R) Trumane Alston and Sheldon D. Brown.

Finally, I don't want to give too many spoilers, but it was great to see Sheldon Brown back in town from LA, and in such a fabulously fun, transformative role as Larry. I've always admired his skills as an actor and his outlook on life and healing after trauma. I was blown away by his performance in Fat Ham and even more impressed knowing his backstory. He played a shirtless lead in About Face Theater's "This Bitter Earth." back in May 2019 and I remember how much depth and bravery he brought to the role. He was still healing from multiple surgeries following a violent attack in Uptown in April of 2018, and unflinchingly bared his physical and emotional wounds in a powerful way that left a lasting impression on me. 

Though we differ in obvious ways, I've always felt a particular affinity and common ground with Sheldon. He hails from Dayton Ohio originally, while I grew up in nearby Cincinnati. We both came to Chicago after college and moved first to Uptown, sketchy but affordable on struggling actor wages. I was also attacked in nearly the same block he was, in a random act of street violence, where the perpetrators were never caught. In my case it was May of 1994, when 3 men with a large, curved, serrated hunting knife, attacked me in a robbery attempt outside of my apartment near Kenmore and Wilson. Both my arms and hands were cut multiple times with defensive wounds as I tried to mace them and shielded my face. My watch was hit so hard the watch face smashed and the time stopped. I'm pretty sure my left hand would have been severed completely if I hadn't been wearing that watch. Healing emotionally, PTSD, nightmares, and getting back to feeling reasonably safe again took much longer than healing from the physical injuries. His even more horrific and traumatic attack resonated with me on a personal level. I have nothing but admiration for his strength and resilience, and it brings such joy to see him succeeding. Read more about Sheldon's attack and recovery journey at these 2 links:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2018/11/09/a-chicago-actor-was-shot-months-later-hes-worked-his-way-back-to-the-stage/

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2020/09/23/actor-sheldon-brown-was-shot-in-uptown-2-years-ago-he-was-filming-cicada-2-months-later-now-hes-sharing-his-take-on-living-with-trauma/

(L-R) Victor Musoni, Trumane Alston, Sheldon D. Brown, E. Faye Butler and Ireon Roach.

Back to the show at hand, Fat Ham is stellar storytelling and we were wowed all around by the acting, directing, creatives, and cast. It's always a joy to see E. Faye Butler, and though she's best known for musical theatre, her comedic timing is impeccable and we adored her over the top role as Rabby. I was not familiar with Trumane Alston's work before Fat Ham, but he's caught my attention now. Don't miss this! Highly recommended. 

★★★★ Four out of four stars. B Kenaz-Mara, ChiIL Live Shows

“Fat Ham”: James Ijames’s riff on Hamlet centers on Juicy (Trumane Alston), “a Black, gay, self-aware young man struggling with body image, personal confidence and the oppressive expectations of others, especially his father, as much as any broader existential angst.

Check out the fun show tie in drinks at Goodman's bar. 

Photo Credit: B. Kenaz-Mara

ChiILin’ at opening night of Goodman Theatre’s Fat Ham! Such joy and support among all the cast/creatives/crew and audience. Love drink tie-ins with show themes, but I think this is the first one in 16 years of reviewing that’s a tie-in with my +1, Barbara B! “Hard to be the Barb” indeed. 

Photo Credit: B. Kenaz-Mara

By the way, I've been part of Goodman's GeNarrations Storytelling workshops for 4 sessions now and I was chosen twice to perform at Lobby Stories. Here's the storyteller lineup for the Goodman's production of Fat Ham, on the theme of "Family"--biological and/or chosen. I'll be performing before the Fat Ham matinee on Thursday, February 20th at 1pm in the second-floor mezzanine lobby. Drop in if you can. FREE. 

LINEUP:

Thursday, February 6th

Carrie Waller; "A mother's power of persuasion." 

Cora Rambert; "Did The System Fail me or did I Fail the System?"

Thursday, February 13th

Regan Burke, "Holidays Interrupted."

Margot McMahon, "Painting Polyp Portraits."

Thursday, February 20th

Pamela Schumacher, "Tea and Crumpets."

Nancy Solomon, "Mama Golda and Her Famous Blintzes."

Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, "Once Bitten." (My real life Voodoo engagement story, set in New Orleans) ❤

Bonnie is a Chicago based writer, theatre critic, photographer, artist, and Mama to 2 amazing adults. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).

 

Fat Ham

By James Ijames

Directed by Tyrone Phillips

January 11 - March 9, 2025 in the Owen Theatre

(L-R) Trumane Alston and Anji White.

Fat Ham tells the story of Juicy, a Black, queer young man who is confronted by the ghost of his father during a family barbeque. Seeking revenge for his murder, his father puts a screeching halt to Juicy’s quest for joy and liberation. Ijames’s reinvention of Shakespeare’s masterpiece features an all-Chicago cast: Trumane Alston (Juicy), Sheldon Brown, E. Faye Butler, Ronald L. Conner, Victor Musoni, Ireon Roach and Anji White. Fat Ham opens tonight and runs through March 2. Tickets ($25 - $85; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Ham or by phone at 312.443.3800. Goodman Theatre is grateful for the support of ITW (Corporate Sponsor Partner) and the Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust (Lead Sponsor of IDEAA Programming).

EXTENSION WEEK SCHEDULE

-Tuesday, February 25 at 7:30pm

-Wednesday, February 26 at 7:30pm

-Thursday, February 27 at 2pm and 7:30pm

-Friday, February 28 at 7:30pm

-Saturday, March 1 at 2pm and 7:30pm

-Sunday, March 2 at 2pm

Special events for the production include: Drinks and Discussion: Conversation with Definition Theatre (January 24) featuring a panel of the talented Black creatives behind the Chicago-premiere production exploring the unique experiences and perspectives of Black queer artists; Black Affinity Night (February 7) celebrates the richness of Black culture and community at a special pre-show reception and conversation, followed by the evening performance.

(L-R) Trumane Alston and Ireon Roach.

Full Company of Fat Ham (in alphabetical order)

By James Ijames

Directed by Tyrone Phillips

Trumane Alston…Juicy

Sheldon Brown…Larry

E. Faye Butler…Rabby

Ronald L. Conner…Rev/Pap

Victor Musoni…Tio

Ireon Roach…Opal

Anji White…Tedra

Understudies for this production include Blake Hamilton Currie, Marquise De’Jahn, TayLar, Joseph Primes and Jazzy Rush.

Creative Team

Set Designer…..Arnel Sancianco

Costume Designer ……Jos N. Banks

Lighting Designer…..Jason Lynch

Sound Designer….. Willow James

Illusion Consultant…Benjamin Barnes

Fight and Intimacy…Gaby Labotka 

Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA. Jared Bellot is the Dramaturg. Patrick Fries is the Production Stage Manager.

ENHANCED AND ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES AT GOODMAN THEATRE

ASL-Interpreted Performance: Friday, January 31 at 7:30pm – Professional ASL interpreter signs the action/text as played.

Touch Tour* and Audio-Described Performance: Saturday, February 1, 12:30pm Touch Tour; 2pm performance – The action/text is audibly enhanced for patrons via headset.

Spanish-Subtitled Performance: Saturday, February 1 at 7:30pm – An LED sign presents Spanish-translated dialogue in sync with the performance.

Open-Captioned Performance: Sunday, February 2 at 2pm – An LED sign presents dialogue in sync with the performance.

Visit Goodman theatre.org/Access for more information about Goodman Theatre’s accessibility efforts. 

(L-R) Victor Musoni and Trumane Alston.

Fat Ham

By James Ijames

Directed by Tyrone Phillips

January 11 - February 23, 2025 in the Owen Theatre

Photos by Liz Lauren

ABOUT DEFINITION THEATRE

Definition Theatre has been a vibrant force for over a decade, celebrating stories created with, inspired by, and intended for people and communities of color. Through the act of making, Definition expands perspectives, stewards resources, and bridges the possibilities found at the intersection of art, innovation, and education. Known for bold and impactful productions, we’ve brought to life plays by Oscar-winner Tarell Alvin McCraney, Pulitzer Prize-winners James Ijames and Jackie Sibblies Drury, and Tony Award-winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. We strive to promote equity, foster empathy, and enhance the quality of life for our community members by offering opportunities for creative, entrepreneurial, and cultural expression. Our work emphasizes collaboration in theater-making and raises awareness of career paths in the arts. In 2024, Definition leased and equipped a storefront space in Hyde Park, enabling us to engage artists and expand programs as we prepare for our permanent home in Woodlawn on the southside of Chicago. This new theater, community center, and business incubator will amplify and preserve BIPOC voices, promote social justice, and empower the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to drive positive progress through the transformative power of the arts. Tyrone Phillips is the Artistic Director, Neel McNeill is the Executive Director, Willow James is the Civic Engagement Director.

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

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 John Collins, 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 earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff 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.\

Goodman Theatre 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 on 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.

Spring and Summer Block of *The Magic Parlour* Performances Now Available

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

The Magic Parlour Extends Performances Through Summer 

Tickets Now on Sale

Production photos Courtesy of The Magic Parlour unless otherwise noted

MORE MAGIC THIS SPRING/SUMMER!  DENNIS WATKINS OPENS THE MAGIC PARLOUR TIX THRU AUGUST 2025

***VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND (FEBRUARY 13-16) PERFORMANCES FEATURE EXTRA SPECIAL MAGIC + MIND-READING WHILE PETTERINO’S OFFERS A SPECIAL FOUR-COURSE SENSORY EXPERIENCE WITH COCKTAIL + WINE PAIRINGS***

The Magic Parlour is recommended for audiences ages 12+; while there is no inappropriate content, this elegant experience is designed for adults.

Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, Dennis Watkins, and Catherine Hellmann

at The Magic Parlour at Palmer House, 2019 

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we've been fans of Dennis Watkins for decades. I caught some of his early Magic Parlour shows in the basement of Chopin Theatre, and many years of performances at first the Palmer House, and now at Petterino's, in partnership with Goodman Theatre. He's a longtime favorite of ours and his show and VIP experience aftershow in The Encore Room are highly recommended for Chicago locals and tourists alike. Don't miss this! 

Highly Recommended. ★★★★ Four out of four stars. 

Bonnie Kenaz-Mara, ChiIL Live Shows

  Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

On the heels of holiday season success—including welcoming 2,200+ guests to 40 performances over two months, nearly a third of which were sold out—third generation magician Dennis Watkins now opens a new block of tickets to The Magic Parlour performances, through August 31, 2025. This extension also increases the potential for bespoke group bookings with Watkins: in addition to performing close-up magic in his custom theater at 50 W. Randolph, established in partnership with Goodman Theatre and Petterino’s restaurant, “Chicago’s premiere resident magician” (Chicago Tribune) offers group and private event bookings on location. 

  Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

Performances of The Magic Parlour, now on sale through August 31, 2025, take place every Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $85 (includes the 90-minute performance + complimentary beverage) or $115 (includes the performance, beverage and “The Encore Room” 25-minute VIP experience). To purchase tickets, call the Goodman Theatre Box Office at 312.443.3800 (12 Noon – 5pm daily) or visit TheMagicParlourChicago.com. 

“It’s been a thrill to see The Magic Parlour grow from a weekly installation to a downtown destination—for all kinds of audiences and gatherings, from date nights and family outings to team celebrations and corporate events,” said magician Dennis Watkins. “We’ve been able to serve our audience with six shows weekly, and have found ways to host events for groups of 20-120 for tailored magical celebrations. I’m excited that we’re now able to release tickets through August of this year, to help bring magic to those traveling and celebrating in Chicago this Spring and Summer.”

  Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

Expect extra-special magic at Watkins’ special Valentine’s Day weekend six-performance stand. Wedding rings mysteriously interlock as he reads the mind of your loved one in an unforgettable, elevated night out for couples, gal-entines, family and friends alike. Valentine’s Day weekend performance pricing is $85-$115 (February 13 and 16) and $95-$125 (February 14 and 15). Theatergoers can make it dinner and a show with “The Relationship”—a four-course Valentine’s sensory experience at Petterino’s. Diners embark on a journey through the four stages of a relationship, starting from flirtatious courtship, with each course designed to invoke the emotions and enjoyment of each moment. For more information, visit Petterinos.com. 

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 20 guests are escorted to a private space where Watkins performs up-close magic. 

  Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

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.

Pictured: Dennis Watkins as Houdini

Courtesy of  The House Theatre

Here at ChiIL Mama, this is one of our top favorite shows of all time! 

DEATH & HARRY HOUDINI is oh SO highly recommended! 

We reviewed it in 2012, 2013 & 2016.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Back in 2012, before a revival of Death & Harry Houdini, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Dennis Watkins in his lovely home, filled with show posters and retro magic tricks from his grandfather's stash. Check out our original video interview right here!

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.

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 John Collins, 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 unceded 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. The Goodman is proud to have a relationship with Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum. Located in Evanston, the Museum honors the survival and perseverance of Indigenous communities and promotes a greater understanding of Indigenous peoples: gichigamiin-museum.org.

Goodman Theatre 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 on 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.

Photo Credit for all The Magic Parlour 2025 Photos Kyle Flubacker

Chicago debut of FAT HAM: A GOODMAN CO-PRODUCTION WITH DEFINITION THEATRE JANUARY 11 – FEBRUARY 23, 2025

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

TRUMANE ALSTON, SHELDON BROWN, E. FAYE BUTLER, RONALD L. CONNER, VICTOR MUSONI, IREON ROACH & ANJI WHITE CAST IN 

FAT HAM

A GOODMAN CO-PRODUCTION WITH DEFINITION THEATRE

Chicago debut with an all-Chicago cast

JANUARY 11 – FEBRUARY 23

**TYRONE PHILLIPS DIRECTS THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF JAMES IJAMES’S PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING PLAY**

***TICKETS ON SALE NOV. 1 WITH EVENTS INCLUDING PRIDE NIGHT (JAN. 14) AND BLACK AFFINITY NIGHT (FEB. 7)***

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we're SO excited for Fat Ham. We dig James Ijames wonderful work. You're in for a treat, whether you're a longtime fan or you're just hearing about this Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award nominated playwright. We've also adored Tyrone Phillips' expert directing skills for years. Don't miss this! 

Come to the barbecue! James Ijames’s Pulitzer Prize-winning, five-time Tony Award-nominated play Fat Ham—an “uproarious reimagining of ‘Hamlet’” (The New Yorker)—makes its Chicago debut with an all-Chicago cast led by Trumane Alston. The Chicago- premiere production is directed by Tyrone Phillips—Founding Artistic Director of Chicago’s famed Definition Theatre, who co-produces Fat Ham at the Goodman—and also features Sheldon Brown, E. Faye Butler, Ronald L. Conner, Victor Musoni, Ireon Roach and Anji White. Fat Ham appears January 11 – February 23. I'll be out for opening night on January 21st, so check back shortly after for my full review. 

Tickets ($25 - $85; subject to change) are on sale November 1 at GoodmanTheatre.org/Ham or by phone at 312.443.3800. Goodman Theatre is grateful for the support of ITW (Corporate Sponsor Partner) and the Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust (Lead Sponsor of IDEAA Programming).

“I am thrilled to bring this production to life with some of Chicago’s finest artists on and off the stage,” said Director Tyrone Phillips. This cast is extraordinary, and I can’t wait to get to be in the room with each one of them as we explore this beautiful coming of age story. I’m also thrilled to collaborate once again with Definition ensemble members Ireon Roach and Victor Musoni.”

A boisterous Southern cookout sets the scene for a Black, queer discovery of self and resilience in this Pulitzer Prize-winning, five-time Tony nominated coming-of-age story. As Juicy grapples with his identity and his family at a backyard barbecue, his father’s ghost shows up asking for revenge—on Juicy’s uncle, who has married his widowed mom—bringing his quest for joy and liberation to a screeching halt. James Ijames has reinvented Shakespeare’s masterpiece, creating what the New York Times hails as “a hilarious yet profound tragedy, smothered in comedy,” where the only death is the patriarchy. 

Special events for the production include Pride Night (January 14), a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community that includes a discounted ticket, specialty drink, light refreshments and music. In addition, Black Affinity Night (February 7) celebrates the richness of Black culture and community at a special pre-show reception and conversation, followed by the evening performance.

James Ijames is a Pulitzer Prize-winning and Tony Award nominated playwright, director and educator. Ijames’ plays have been produced by Flashpoint Theater Company, Orbiter 3, Theatre Horizon, Wilma Theatre, Theatre Exile, Azuka Theatre (Philadelphia, PA), The National Black Theatre, JACK, The Public Theater (NYC), Hudson Valley Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, Definition Theatre, Timeline Theater (Chicago IL) Shotgun Players (Berkeley, CA) and have received development with PlayPenn New Play Conference, The Lark, Playwright’s Horizon, Clubbed Thumb, Villanova Theater, Wilma Theater, Azuka Theatre and Victory Garden. Ijames is the 2011 F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Artist recipient, and two Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Play for The Brothers Size with Simpatico Theatre Company and Gem of the Ocean with Arden Theatre. Ijames is a 2015 Pew Fellow for Playwriting, the 2015 winner of the Terrance McNally New Play Award for WHITE, the 2015 Kesselring Honorable Mention Prize winner for ….Miz Martha, a 2017 recipient of the Whiting Award, a 2019 Kesselring Prize for Kill Move Paradise, a 2020 and 2022 Steinberg Prize, the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Drama recipient and a 2023 Tony nominee for Best Play for Fat Ham. James was a founding member of Orbiter 3, Philadelphia’s first playwright producing collective. He received a BA in Drama from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and a MFA in Acting from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. James is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Villanova University. He resides in South Philadelphia. 

Tyrone Phillips is a first generation Jamaican-American artist, Founding Artistic Director of Chicago’s Definition Theatre and a proud member of the NAACP, SAG-AFTRA and SDC. Recipient of the 2022 Alumni Association Award for Diversity & Inclusion, he is an honors graduate of the Fine and Applied Arts college at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and has studied abroad at Shakespeare’s Globe. Tyrone is currently leading a capital campaign for the development of Definition’s new theater, community center and entrepreneur incubator in Woodlawn. Past directing and associate directing credits include: Purpose (Steppenwolf Theatre), Twelfth Night, I,Cinna (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Fairview (Jeff Nomination), Byhalia, Mississippi (Jeff Nomination), Dutchman (Definition Theatre), An Octoroon (Goodman Theatre/Definition Theatre) and The MLK Project (Writers Theatre). Regional: The Royale (American Players Theatre) and The Tale of Despereaux (Old Globe, Berkeley Rep). Off–Broadway: Trevor, the Musical. Awards and Honorable Mention: Arts Midwest’s Peter Capell Award for Midwestern Creativity & Entrepreneurship (2022) and Newcity Stage Hall of Fame (2024).  

Full Company of Fat Ham (in alphabetical order)

By James Ijames

Directed by Tyrone Phillips

Trumane Alston…Juicy

Sheldon Brown…Larry

E. Faye Butler…Rabby

Ronald L. Conner…Rev/Pap

Victor Musoni…Tio

Ireon Roach…Opal

Anji White…Tedra

Understudies for this production include Blake Hamilton Currie, Marquise De’Jahn, TayLar, Joseph Primes and Jazzy Rush.

Creative Team

Set Designer…..Arnel Sancianco

Costume Designer ……Jos N. Banks

Lighting Designer…..Jason Lynch

Sound Designer….. Willow James

Illusion Consultant…Benjamin Barnes

Fight and Intimacy…Gaby Labotka

Casting is by Lauren Port, CSA. Jared Bellot is the Dramaturg. Patrick Fries is the Production Stage Manager.

ENHANCED AND ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES AT GOODMAN THEATRE

ASL-Interpreted Performance: Friday, January 31 at 7:30pm – Professional ASL interpreter signs the action/text as played.

Touch Tour* and Audio-Described Performance: Saturday, February 1, 12:30pm Touch Tour; 2pm performance – The action/text is audibly enhanced for patrons via headset.

Spanish-Subtitled Performance: Saturday, February 1 at 7:30pm – An LED sign presents Spanish-translated dialogue in sync with the performance.

Open-Captioned Performance: Sunday, February 2 at 2pm – An LED sign presents dialogue in sync with the performance.

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

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 John Collins, 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 earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff 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.

Goodman Theatre 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 on 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.

Announcing FREE Tickets With RSVP for Goodman Theatre’s 20th Annual New Stages Festival December 11 – 15, 2024

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ANNOUNCING THE 20TH ANNUAL 

NEW STAGES FESTIVAL 

FEATURING PLAYWRIGHTS DOLORES DÍAZ, LEE KIRK, EDUARDO MACHADO & JACINTA CLUSELLAS, DAEL ORLANDERSMITH AND MARCO ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ

***PUBLIC READINGS OF EACH WORK-IN-DEVELOPMENT TAKE PLACE DECEMBER 11 – 15; FREE TICKET RESERVATIONS OPEN NOVEMBER 15***

Five new works—four developmental plays plus one musical in free public readings—are on tap this December for Goodman Theatre’s 2024 New Stages Festival, under Artistic Susan V. Booth and Director of New Works Kat Zukaitis. The 20th year for this annual celebration of new-plays-in-process kicks off with a new musical, Broken Eggs (based on Eduardo Machado’s plays Broken Eggs and Fabiola) co-adapted by Machado (Book and Lyrics) and Jacinta Clusellas (Music), directed by Henry Godinez, followed by four new play readings: Ashland Avenue by Lee Kirk, directed by Booth; George Washington’s Mexican Birthday by Dolores Díaz; Rave by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Neel Keller; and a new English-language adaptation of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Marco Antonio Rodriguez, directed by Wendy Mateo. 

In addition, Booth and Zukaitis invite American theater industry professionals to join for “Industry Weekend,” including special events and opportunities for networking. Goodman Theatre’s 20th annual New Stages Festival appears December 11 - 15 in the 350-seat Owen Theatre; reservations for free tickets open on November 15 at GoodmanTheatre.org/Festival or by phone at 312.443.3800 (12noon – 5pm, daily). 

Theater professionals interested in attending Industry Weekend should RSVP by November 25 at GoodmanTheatre.org/Professionals; for questions, contact Lena Romano (312.553.7253 or LenaRomano@GoodmanTheatre.org). 

“It’s exhilarating to meet a play at the beginning of its adventure, when it’s without a pedigree or history to tell us what those before us have felt/thought/experienced, and to have the opportunity to forge meaningful collaboration and dialogue with its creator,” said Artistic Director Susan V. Booth. “I’m proud of the projects that New Stages has helped launch along its own two-decade adventure and am continually inspired by our audiences’ enthusiasm and hunger for new work.”

Over the past two decades, New Stages has offered Chicago audiences a first-look at more than 120 plays—the majority of which have premiered at the Goodman or its peer theaters across the country since 2004. The New Stages Festival is made possible by The Joyce Foundation, which provides Major Support for Diverse Artistic and Professional Development. The Goodman is grateful for the generosity of its New Work sponsors, including: Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation and the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Major Support of New Work; Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee New Works Fund, Major Support of New Play Development; The Glasser and Rosenthal Family, Mayer Brown LLP, and Shaw Family Supporting Organization, Support of New Work.

“I’m thrilled to welcome the emerging and established artists involved in this season’s five New Stages readings, and for Chicago to experience a first-look at their unique plays-in-process—works that are inspiring, trenchant, provocative, hilarious and beautiful,” said Kat Zukaitis, Director of New Works. “Some of the Goodman’s most exciting creative collaborations over the past 20 years have originated in this festival. We’re proud to share the excitement of this celebration with industry professionals from our peer theaters to see these new plays as they begin their journey.” 

THE 2024 NEW STAGES FESTIVAL LINE-UP

Broken Eggs

Book and Lyrics by Eduardo Machado

Music by Jacinta Clusellas

Directed by Henry Godinez

Based on Broken Eggs and Fabiola by Eduardo Machado

December 11 and 13 at 7:30pm

You can’t make an omelet without shattering a few cherished family illusions—especially when your family won’t let go of their idyllic memories of pre-Revolutionary Cuba. It’s 29 years after Sonia’s fairytale wedding in Havana, and now it’s her turn to be the Mother of the Bride. But her husband has left her for a younger woman, her son is perpetually high, and her daughter just wants to be American. In Broken Eggs, composer Jacinta Clusellas teams up with legendary Cuban playwright Eduardo Machado to adapt his 1984 hit play into a new musical about love, loss and learning to let go.

Ashland Avenue

By Lee Kirk

Directed by Susan V. Booth

December 14 at 10am

“Sometimes I sit here, store’s empty, and I think, how is this the same place where there used to be a line around the corner? I’m busy taking care of my customers, same routine, day by day, year by year...until suddenly one day I’m drowning.” Pete was never a Chicago legend. But as the owner of an iconic local chain of television shops, he was the next best thing. Now, there’s just one store left, and he’s struggling to keep it afloat. Playwright and screenwriter Lee Kirk presents a stunning new play that explores dying dreams, new beginnings and the inevitability of change.

George Washington’s Mexican Birthday

By Dolores Díaz

Directed by TBA

December 14 at 2pm

“American Indian or Alaskan Native. Asian. Black or African American. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. White.” These are the five categories U.S inhabitants must navigate on the U.S. census. How does the box you check inform your national identity? Playwright Dolores Díaz explores the intersection of identity for Latine-Americans for whom checking the “right” demographic box can make all the difference. Viewed through the month-long George Washington’s Birthday Celebration in Laredo, Texas, the play explores community, radicalization, and the past, present, and future of fluid identities in the United States.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Adapted by Marco Antonio Rodriguez

Directed by Wendy Mateo

December 14 at 7:30pm

“I have heard from a reliable source that no Dominican male has ever died a virgin. I shall be the first.” Oscar knows that a nerdy Dominican college freshman isn’t anyone’s idea of a romantic hero. But with the encouragement of his new roommate, Yunior, Oscar is going to give love another chance... and then another... and then another. There’s just one problem: a dark “fukú” has haunted his family for generations, following their epic journey from Santo Domingo to the USA. A vivid new stage adaptation based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Junot Díaz.

Rave

By Dael Orlandersmith

Directed by Neel Keller

December 12 at 7:30pm and December 15 at 11:30am

What are you scared to say? What does free speech mean when what you say can cost you your reputation, your livelihood and your place in the world? In her brand-new piece, Rave, Goodman favorite and Pulitzer-Prize finalist Orlandersmith wrestles with whether it is possible to speak truth in a world in which people are unwilling to examine their own beliefs, and where a speaker’s intent counts for less than the hearer’s perception. In her signature poetic style, the playwright and performer asks the audience to reconsider the ideas they may be reluctant to engage with—and why that matters.

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

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 John Collins, 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 more than 160 Jeff 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.

Goodman Theatre 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 on 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. 

THE MAGIC PARLOUR IS SET TO THRILL INTO 2025 AS DENNIS WATKINS OPENS A NEW BLOCK OF PERFORMANCES

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

THE MAGIC PARLOUR 

Tickets are now on sale for performances between 

January – March 2025

DENNIS WATKINS OPENS A NEW BLOCK OF PERFORMANCES FOLLOWING UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS IN HIS FIRST YEAR AT 50 W. RANDOLPH

***THIS MONTH, SPECIAL MAGIC SHOWS INCLUDE THE DESTINOS FESTIVAL (THRU OCT. 20) FEAT. SIEGFRIED TIEBER, LUIS CARREON AND MAGO GOZNER, AND WATKINS’ HALLOWEEN STAND, “THE SPIRIT CABINET” (OCT. 30-31)***

The Magic Parlour is recommended for audiences ages 12+; while there is no inappropriate content, this elegant experience is designed for adults

It’s been one year since third generation magician Dennis Watkins welcomed the first audiences to his new custom magic theater, established in partnership with Goodman Theatre and Petterino’s—and opened the doors to unprecedented success. After nearly 300 public and private performances for double the number of audience members served in any previous year, “Chicago’s premiere resident magician” (Chicago Tribune) proudly announces that The Magic Parlour at 50 W. Randolph will continue to astound and delight audiences into the new year: tickets are now on sale for performances between January – March 2025.

In partnership with Chicago Latino Theater Alliance’s 2024 Destinos Festival, Watkins turns the spotlight on three world-class Latine magicians—Siegfried Tieber, Luis Carreon and Mago Gozner—when these artists take over The Magic Parour for Chicago Latino Theater Alliance’s 2024 Destinos Festival, through October 20. Tickets for Siegfried Tieber are $70 (general admission) and $95 (includes a 25-minute VIP Encore Room experience following the show). The 3-Card Monte performance, featuring Tieber, Luis Carreon and Mago Gozner (October 16) is $70. To purchase, call the Goodman Theatre Box Office at 312.443.3800 (12 Noon – 5pm daily) or visit TheMagicParlourChicago.com/Destinos.

This Halloween, Watkins also offers audiences a very special treat as a spookier form of magic that Chicago hasn’t seen in decades creeps into “The Spirit Cabinet.” Dennis Watkins’ two-performance Halloween engagement takes place October 30 at 7:30pm and October 31 at 8pm. Tickets are $95 (general admission) and $125 (includes a 25-minute VIP Encore Room experience following the show).

Performances of The Magic Parlour, now on sale through March 31, 2025, take place every Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are $85 (includes the 90-minute performance + complimentary beverage) or $115 (includes the performance, beverage and “The Encore Room” 25-minute VIP experience). To purchase tickets, call the Goodman Theatre Box Office at 312.443.3800 (12 Noon – 5pm daily) or visit TheMagicParlourChicago.com. 

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 20 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

The Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA) is a leading advocate organization for Latine theater in Chicago. Supporting the development of emerging and established Latine playwrights, actors, directors and theater professionals is central to its mission. CLATA’s goal is to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive theater community, by presenting and producing Latine theater that celebrates and promotes the richness and diversity of our Latinidad. CLATA’s signature program is Destinos, the Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, an annual, citywide festival showcasing Chicago's Latine theater artists and companies alongside top Latine artists from the U.S. and Latin America. This year’s Destinos runs September 30-November 12, showcasing 22 productions from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico the U.S. and Chicago at theaters large and small all over the city. For tickets and information, visit clata.org, or follow CLATA on Facebook, Instagram and Threads at @latinotheater.

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 John Collins, 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.