Demand for the longest-running magic show in Chicago history continues as The Magic Parlour extends its 4th year into Spring 2027. Dennis Watkins, “Chicago’s premiere resident magician” (Chicago Tribune), opens a new block of tickets, including the return of guest magician Derek Hughes, following his sold-out limited engagement earlier this year—an announcement that comes on the heels of guest magician Steve Valentine’s sold-out engagement this month. On October 31, Watkins marks the major milestone of performing magic for 25 years in the Windy City, including his 17-year run of The Magic Parlour, which has served nearly 100,000 guests over nearly 2,500 performances. In celebration, 
his Halloween spooktacular, The Spirit Cabinet—where unseen forces move objects and spirits deliver messages from beyond—reappears by popular demand, for five performances only. The Magic Parlour, now on sale through May 2, 2027, takes place Thursday through Sunday with tickets ranging from $99 - $136. Watkins performs The Spirit Cabinet on October 28 (sold out), October 29 at 7:30pm, October 30 at 6pm and 8:30pm and October 31 at 8pm; tickets range $99 – $148. Guest artist Derek Hughes appears April 15-25, 2027; tickets are $84 - $119. All tickets include a complimentary beverage. To purchase, call The Goodman Box Office at 312.443.3800 (12 Noon – 5pm) or visit TheMagicParlourChicago.com.
“After 25 years practicing magic in Chicago, it's thrilling to watch The Magic Parlor only become more and more magical every year. I couldn't be more excited to share new magic, new shows and new experiences with our guests as we launch into the fall and the holiday season of magic,” said third-generation magician Dennis Watkins. “With our fourth full season now underway at 50 W. Randolph, we will deliver a full season of The Magic Parlor every week, while continuing to host private and corporate events and presenting more phenomenal guest artists like the great Derek Hughes. I’m enormously grateful to Chicago audiences for their unparalleled enthusiasm for close-up magic. This artform, including my practice, would not have the presence it does today without their support over these decades.”
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 this 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, 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 26 guests are escorted to a private space where Watkins performs up-close magic.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS AND PARTNERS
Dennis Watkins’ singular career spans world-class close-up magic, theatrical performance and corporate entertainment for audiences around the globe. For the past 25 years, he has made Chicago his artistic home, where he has become one of the city's most enduring and celebrated performers. Since 2009, Watkins has starred in his critically acclaimed show, Dennis Watkins' The Magic Parlour, performing it nearly 2,500 times for almost 100,000 guests—making it the longest-running magic show in Chicago’s history. In 2023, the show moved into its permanent home in the heart of the city's theater district, in partnership with The Goodman Theatre and Petterino's. The Magic Parlour has also found a home outside of Chicago at performing arts centers and entertainment venues from coast to coast. In 2018, Watkins consulted with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to design and launch its evergreen project, Liberty Magic, a parlour magic theater in the heart of Pittsburgh. The Magic Parlour served as one of the first headlining engagements, selling out a three-week run. Most recently, Dennis appeared at the Adrienne Arsht Center and Maltz Jupiter Theatre. After studying at Meadows School of the Arts and the British American Drama Academy in London, Watkins moved to Chicago and co-founded The House Theatre. As a playwright, actor, director and designer, he has collaborated on more than 30 world-premiere plays. Among his most celebrated roles was as Harry Houdini in The House Theatre's Death and Harry Houdini, an award-winning production that sold out eight separate runs. Additionally, Watkins is a sought-after corporate speaker and entertainer, helping companies and organizations around the world make their most important events unforgettable. He combines business acumen and a natural gift for engaging audiences with world-class magic, crafting corporate presentations that are strategically entertaining from beginning to end.
The live performances of celebrated conjurer, “Stand Up Magician” Derek Hughes, have been lauded by audiences and critics alike—with The New York Times calling him “thoroughly entertaining.” Hughes has performed his magic on MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, CW's Penn & Teller: Fool Us and the Ellen DeGeneres Show. He's a consulting producer on TRUtv’s hit magic series The Carbonaro Effect and was a top ten finalist on NBC's America’s Got Talent.
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.
ABOUT THE GOODMAN
Since 1925, The Goodman has been a theatrical home for artists and a gathering space for Chicagoland, where bold stories spark connection, conversation and change. Now, as it enters its second century, The Goodman builds on that legacy with an eye toward the future. Under the leadership of Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater continues to champion new work—following hundreds of plays developed and a national reputation for commissioning and premiering original stories by living writers—while reimagining classics and producing large-scale musicals.
But The Goodman’s reach today extends beyond its home in the heart of the Loop. From the intimate magic of The Magic Parlour, now in its third year, to the boundary-pushing world of Theater of the Mind—an immersive experience that blurs the lines between science, storytelling and sensation—and from citywide initiatives like 100 Free Acts of Theater to partnerships with artists and companies across Chicago and around the world, The Goodman is expanding what theater can be, and where it can live.
At its core, The Goodman is driven by a belief that a more empathetic, more connected city is built one story at a time. Generation-spanning productions and programs offer theater for a lifetime—from babies and young children to teens, adults and seniors—including Theater for the Very Young (ages 0–5) and the beloved annual A Christmas Carol, which has welcomed audiences for five decades. Education and Engagement programs, led by Clifford Director Jared Bellot and based in the Alice Rapoport Center, use the tools of theater to spark imagination, reflection and belonging—reaching thousands each year, the majority from underserved communities.
With nearly 200 world or American premieres, two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and nearly 200 Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Goodman remains a defining force in American theater—and the first to produce all 10 plays of August Wilson’s American Century Cycle. The theater also frequently serves as a production partner—from national and international companies to Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters—to help amplify a wide range of theatrical voices.
Founded by William O. Goodman and his family in memory of playwright Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, the theater carries forward a legacy of artistic ambition and civic generosity. With the help of Mr. Goodman’s descendants—Albert Ivar Goodman and his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton—that spirit continues to shape its future as The Goodman expands its impact across Chicago and beyond. Marsha Cruzan is Chair of the Goodman Theatre Board of Trustees; Diane Landgren is Women’s Board President; and Christoher Way is president of the Scenemakers Board for Young Professionals.
The Goodman stands on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations—and acknowledges the many other Nations for whom this land now called Chicago has long been home, including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo, and Mascouten. The Goodman is proud to partner with the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum (Gichigamiin-Museum.org) and the Center for Native Futures (CenterForNativeFutures.org)—organizations devoted to honoring Indigenous stories, preserving cultural memory, and deepening public understanding.