‘Death and Harry Houdini’ extends to August 18th

CHICAGO, IL—The House Theatre of Chicago’s hit production, Death and Harry Houdini, is once again selling out performances at The Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division St.). The company announces an extension through August 18, adding seven performances to accommodate the high demand.

The full cast remains in tact for the extension. The added performances make another 840 seats available for The House Theatre of Chicago’s most popular show.

EXTENSION PERFORMANCES:
Tuesday 8/13 at 7:30pm
Wednesday 8/14 at 7:30pm
Thursday 8/15 at 7:30pm
No Friday*
Saturday 8/17 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Sunday 8/18 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm

All extension tickets are $49 and are on sale now at thehousetheatre.com and 773-769-3832.

4 out of 4 Stars “HOUDINI is back, more entrancing than ever. The House Theatre’s dazzling show… truly covers the range of Houdini… deeply satisfying.”
– Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, July 18, 2013

The Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Artistic Specialization – Magic Design was given to Company Member Dennis Watkins in November 2012.
He was honored alongside nominations for Best Production – Play Midsize, Best Direction, Best Lighting Design – Midsize, Best Costume Design – Midsize, Best Sound Design – Midsize, and Original Incidental Music.

A ringmaster leads us through the events of Harry’s life, all told through stunning magic, poignant dialogue and original music. We travel from the untimely passing of his father, through his first tent shows with his younger brother Theo, meeting his wife Bess, and beginning a journey towards fame on the vaudeville circuit. All the while, Harry feels Death close on his heels and he won’t rest until he’s conquered him once and for all. Harry will walk on broken glass, swallow razor blades and risk his life in the Water Torture Cell, but will he pull off an escape from Death?

Company Member, actor and award-winning magician Dennis Watkins brings a lifetime of creating magic to the character of Harry Houdini. Watkins has designed a magical landscape for The House to play in that includes many of Houdini’s original creations, as well as an onslaught of classic magic driving the story’s narrative.

For the 2013 production, Allen and Watkins have incorporated additional magic into the story, including a full-body levitation and an appearance of an entire school of fish.

Additionally, Watkins performs Houdini’s most infamous stage escape, The Water Torture Cell, in which he is locked upside down in a tank of water, with only as much time to escape as he has air in his lungs. The Water Torture Cell, as performed by Houdini, is a rarely-seen stage escape. Furthermore, The House boasts the first-ever recorded performance of The Water Torture Cell in the round. This escape gives the audience the one-of-a-kind opportunity to witness magical history from inches away!