Dennis Watkins is a renowned magician and the founder of the Dennis Watkins' Magic Parlour. This intimate and interactive magic show is held in downtown Chicago and has garnered rave reviews for its captivating performances. The Magic Parlour offers a unique and immersive experience for its audience. The show is hosted in an elegant and cozy setting, allowing guests to feel like they are stepping into a mysterious and enchanting world. Dennis takes the stage as a masterful magician, wowing his audience with mind-bending tricks and illusions. One of the highlights of the Magic Parlour is its intimate atmosphere.
Dennis watkins magic parlour
Friday nights at 7:30 and 9:30pm, Saturdays at 4:30, 7:30 and 9:30pm.
Award-winning, third-generation magician, Dennis Watkins delivers an evening of sophisticated tom-foolery unlike anything else in Chicago. The Magic Parlour is replete with mind-blowing magic and mind reading in an intimate venue at The Palmer House Hilton.
Guests gather in Potter’s, our new age throwback to the days of prohibition, prior to the magical performance. You’ll be escorted to the secret performance venue for 75 minutes of unbridled amazement of Dennis Watkins’ mysterious magic and mentalism.
The Magic Parlour is best for adults and children 12 and up. Cocktail attire is suggested for this magical night.
Tickets to The Magic Parlour include a keepsake program and letter-pressed ticket, as well as wine, beer, and soft drink selections. Reservations may be made & tickets may be purchased at themagicparlourchicago.com.
Private Event packages for groups are also available. You can create a truly special and memorable event by booking your own, private performance of The Magic Parlour. Inquire about Private Event bookings here.
Make your reservations online through The House Theatre of Chicago or dial 773.769.3832.
“The Magic Parlour is a simple entertainment in the Ricky Jay Mold: Old-fashioned trickery performed very well in an ideal setting by a man with a heart and a story.”
– The Chicago Tribune
“This magic show is exactly what it should be: funny, lively, intimate and utterly baffling.”
– Chicago Reader
Potter's Chicago Burger Bar
Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel
Lobby Level, 124 South Wabash Ave.
Chicago Magic Company
Dennis Watkins built the Chicago Magic Company to provide magical entertainment to companies, organizations and individuals hosting special events in Chicago, the Midwest and across the country.
The Chicago Magic Company holds a carefully curated roster of top-notch magicians serving clients from coast to coast. The company only books full-time, professional magicians and entertainers who Dennis personally endorses.
Dennis Watkins
“Chicago’s Official Magic Man!”
-Chicago Sun Times
Dennis Watkins grew up with magic. His grandfather, Ed Watkins, ran a small storefront magic shop in Dallas, TX for 30 years. From the age of 7, being a magician is the only job he ever wanted.
Today, Dennis is one of those people who is lucky enough to be living his childhood dream.
Dennis moved to Chicago in 2001 to start The House Theatre of Chicago with a handful of his cohorts from Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of The Arts. In the years since, he has partnered with The House to create a slew of magical theatrical experiences, including 8 sold-out runs of the company’s hit show, Death and Harry Houdini. Dennis played the title role in all 8 runs and performed Houdini’s infamous Water Torture Cell Escape live onstage every single night. He won a Joseph Jefferson Award for his work on the show.
Dennis is the creator and star of The Magic Parlour, Chicago’s longest-running magic show. He currently performs 5 shows weekly at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in the heart of downtown Chicago.
Dennis’s work has been seen on ABC, FOX, WGN the A&E Network and the CW. Additionally, he was recently a featured performer on the CW Network’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us.
Quicker Than The Eye: Dennis Watkins Brings Close-Up Magic to The Magic Parlour
The term "Magic Show" most often calls to mind a series of elaborately-structured and lavishly-staged illusions. Rarely did these exhibits include a connective narrative providing continuity—until the House Theatre of Chicago made its debut in 2000 with Death and Harry Houdini, Nathan Allen's play combining the real-life biography with a fictional examination of the reasons behind the legendary magician's determination to defy the Grim Reaper.
The portrayer of this heroic luminary in that premiere production, along with its many subsequent revivals, is company member Dennis Watkins, himself a prestidigitator with the expertise to re-enact not just spectacular stunts like the "Water Torture Cell" (involving an escape from padlocked chains while immersed head-to-foot in a tankful of water), but also intimate feats of manual dexterity involving cards or everyday objects, the latter performed under the title of The Magic Parlour in a spacious, brightly-lit gold-and-mauve chamber at Chicago's landmark Palmer House hotel.
"My grandfather was a magician, and my uncle, Jeffrey Watkins, as well." Watkins recalls, "My hands were still too small to do what I wanted to do when I started learning the trade, but for thirty years, my grandfather had his own shop in Dallas, so I began with the kind of gadgets that he sold there—containers that made things disappear, and that kind of thing."
When a scripted play calls for someone to perform some magic tricks, the role is usually cast with an entertainer whose primary skills are as a sleight-of-hand artist. Watkins is a bona fide actor, with a degree in theater from Southern Methodist University, but he sees no problem with doing double duty.
"A magician is always concentrating on more than one thing at a time. He's telling a story, first, and he's engineering the false reality that supports the story. He wants the audience to remember the story, but not the moves he's spent thousands of hours learning to conceal. When the magic is working in service of the story—like in Aaron Posner's recent adaptation of The Tempest at Chicago Shakespeare—the role of the magician within that story determines the way the magic is performed. I do the trick with the razor blades in Harry Houdini and also in Magic Parlour, but the execution is completely different. It's always a blessing when you have a strong character to help you hide the mechanics"
Several Florida critics, in attendance at a recent conference of the American Theatre Critics Association in Chicago, recalled seeing Watkins in the touring production of Harry Houdini and proceeded to pile into taxicabs one night to rush downtown for the Magic Parlour, where he plays—well, himself. Watkins smiles modestly, "That particular persona has evolved over the years, but essentially, it's just me. I may change my tone to suit the occasion, but I think the character is pretty much the same.
"My grandfather always felt that the best magic occurs with small audiences. He'd say that if 500 people see you put somebody in a box and cut that person in half with a sword, they figure it's a special kind of box, but when they see you shred a piece of paper with their name written on it—that they wrote there themselves—and then restore it without even a crease, all this happening only a few feet in front of their eyes, then that is an experience they never forget."
What happens when he gets sick? Do winter sinus infections or throat ailments derail certain tricks? Watkins is quick to note that he has never canceled a performance, but admits, "My show is extremely verbal, so a sore throat can be brutal, and a cold can make me feel really sluggish. Like any other job, though, you soldier through it."
He pauses, "Unless you're escaping from locked chains while holding your breath underwater for the Water Torture stunt and you have a cough. Then you stay home!"
The Magic Parlour is in an open run at the Palmer House, tickets now available through January 2017. (Check out the special prix fixe menu on show nights at the on-site Lockwood restaurant, too.)
Mary Shen Barnidge
Contributing Writer
One of the highlights of the Magic Parlour is its intimate atmosphere. The limited number of seats ensures that each audience member gets an up-close and personal experience, with plenty of opportunities to participate in the magic. Dennis has a charming and engaging stage presence, making everyone feel like a part of the show.
The magic tricks performed by Dennis are a delightful blend of classic illusions and original routines. From card tricks to mind-reading, Dennis's repertoire is diverse and captivating. He seamlessly weaves storytelling into his performances, creating an immersive experience that leaves the audience in awe. What sets Dennis Watkins' Magic Parlour apart from other magic shows is the interactive nature of the performances. Guests are encouraged to participate in the magic, whether it's assisting onstage or having their minds read. This level of engagement adds an extra layer of excitement and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Overall, the Dennis Watkins' Magic Parlour offers a magical and memorable experience for both visitors and locals in Chicago. Through his incredible talent and captivating performance style, Dennis brings the art of magic to life in a way that delights and amazes audiences of all ages..
Reviews for "Dare to Believe at Dennis Watkins Magic Parlour"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I didn't enjoy my experience at Dennis Watkins Magic Parlour. The magic tricks were quite basic, predictable, and didn't surprise me at all. The magician seemed more focused on his stage presence rather than the actual tricks. The overall atmosphere felt underwhelming as well, with dim lighting and a lack of engagement with the audience. I expected more excitement and astonishing illusions, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
2. Mike - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with the Dennis Watkins Magic Parlour show. The magician lacked charisma and his tricks were easily exposed with a bit of observation. The performance felt amateurish and poorly executed, which made it difficult to engage with the show. Additionally, the seating arrangements were uncomfortable, and the venue was poorly lit, making it hard to see what was happening on stage. I would not recommend Dennis Watkins Magic Parlour to anyone looking for a captivating and mind-boggling magic experience.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I attended Dennis Watkins Magic Parlour expecting to be amazed and entertained, but unfortunately, I left feeling disappointed. The magic tricks were average and lacked the wow factor. The overall pacing of the show was slow, and it felt as if the magician was buying time between tricks. The venue itself was cramped and made it difficult to fully appreciate the performance. I was hoping for a more immersive and exciting experience, but Dennis Watkins Magic Parlour fell short in delivering that.
4. Tom - 1 star - I had high hopes for Dennis Watkins Magic Parlour, but it turned out to be a letdown. The magic tricks were predictable and lacked innovation. It felt like I had seen them before at other mediocre magic shows. The magician's stage presence was lacking, and there was little interaction with the audience. The performance felt stale and unengaging. I would not recommend attending this magic parlour if you're looking for a truly mesmerizing and thrilling experience.