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

OPENING: Chef Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse Team Up On "A Recipe for Disaster" Beginning October 6th at Petterino’s

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Of all the live shows slated to return to Chicago this fall, “A Recipe for Disaster” tops our short list. We've loved Windy City Playhouse since their inception and can't wait to get a taste of their collaboration with James Beard Award-winning Chef Rick Bayless! In 2012 I met Rick Bayless at the first press conference when he announced that he was joining forces with Lookingglass Theatre Company to create “Cascabel,” the story of food’s capacity to change lives. We were in the audience for opening night of “Cascabel” for a memorable meal with circus performers precariously balanced on a tightrope above the diners, and a gloriously fun, funny, crazy talented cast of actors, musicians, singers. We're beyond jazzed to catch this new pairing. This is not your parents' dinner theatre. Tickets are on sale now.

Chef Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse Artistic Director Amy Rubenstein have announced that “A Recipe for Disaster,” their outrageous, immersive farcical experience, will take place on the Club Level at Petterino’s, located at 150 N. Dearborn in Chicago’s historic Theatre District. Tickets for the production, which begins October 6, are on sale now.  

Bayless, Rubenstein and Associate Artistic Director Carl Menninger are teaming up to create a fully scripted immersive event, with audiences enjoying tastes of cocktails, wine and food created by Bayless as the hilarity unfolds. Based on Bayless’s real-life experiences, the story revolves around a special event at a well-known restaurant where everything that could possibly go wrong occurs, sending the restaurant staff into a tailspin. A drunk chef, a couple in crisis, a dishonest health inspector and a spy from a competing restaurant all contribute to the chaos with side-splitting results. 

“A Recipe for Disaster” will be directed by David H. Bell, who won a Jeff Award for his direction of Windy City Playhouse’s smash hit “Southern Gothic,” which ran for more than a year. The design team includes set designer William Boles, who won a Jeff Award for his design of Windy City Playhouse’s “The Boys in the Band,” and costume designer Uriel Gomez, who was nominated for a Jeff Award for his work on the same production and sound designer Willow James. Additional designers and casting will be announced at a future date.  

Petterino’s main dining floor, which has been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is slated to reopen in mid-August. While the cocktails, wine and food served to “A Recipe for Disaster” guests are created by Bayless for the production, the chef will not be affiliated with the reopening of the main restaurant. “A Recipe for Disaster” attendees may enter Petterino’s Club Level from the Randolph Street entrance. 

Tickets to “A Recipe for Disaster,” which include six bite-size tastings and three cocktail and wine samplings are on sale now, with regular and VIP options (including an expanded food and beverage menu) available. For ticket availability and more information, please visit WindyCityPlayhouse.com.

About Rick Bayless  

Most people know Rick Bayless from winning the title of Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters.” His highly rated public television series, “Mexico: One Plate at a Time,” is broadcast coast to coast and his nine cookbooks have earned multiple high-profile accolades.  

Located in Chicago, Rick's Frontera Grill and Topolobampo have each received the “Outstanding Restaurant of the Year” designation from the James Beard Foundation — an unprecedented feat for side-by-side restaurants. His wildly popular fast-casual Xoco debuted in 2009 and Tortas Frontera at Chicago’s O’Hare airport has changed the face of airport dining. In 2016, he opened Frontera Cocina in Disney Springs. In 2018, Rick expanded his Clark Street restaurants by opening Bar Sótano, a Oaxacan-inspired mezcal bar with modern Mexican bar food. Tortazo, Rick's new fast-casual concept, debuted in 2020 in Chicago's iconic Willis Tower, with plans to open an outpost in New York City in fall 2021.  

In 2012 and again in 2014, Rick joined forces with Lookingglass Theatre Company to create “Cascabel,” the story of food’s capacity to change lives. The audience for “Cascabel” shared a meal with the cast of actors, musicians, singers and circus performers as the tale of unrequited love resolved into magical beauty.  

Always a philanthropist, Rick and his staff established the Frontera Farmer Foundation in 2003 to support small Midwestern farms. To date, the Foundation has awarded nearly 200 grants totaling nearly $3 million. He also launched the Frontera Scholarship, a culinary school scholarship for Mexican-American students in Chicago. 

In 2019, Rick founded Impact Culinary Training, a restaurant job readiness program on the city’s west side. And in 2017 he established the Bayless Family Foundation to support the city’s vibrant theater scene with grants to Chicago theater companies totaling $1.5 million to date. 

The Government of Mexico has bestowed on Rick the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle–the highest decoration bestowed on foreigners whose work has benefitted Mexico and its people. 

About Windy City Playhouse 

Windy City Playhouse is a professional theater and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located on Chicago's northwest side. Premiering in March of 2015 with a mission to present contemporary, relevant, and approach art, the Playhouse has quickly become a mainstay of the Chicago theater scene. In 2018, its runaway hit, the immersive “Southern Gothic” solidified the Playhouse as the first choice in Chicago theater for one-of-a-kind audience experience. "Experience driven. Audience first." 

For more information, visit WindyCityPlayhouse.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.