It's a great time to be a Houdini fan in Chicago. There are currently TWO stage productions playing in the city featuring Houdini as their subjects.
Starting today is The Houdini Box, a musical adventure from The Chicago Children's Theatre based on the book by award-winning children's author Brian Selznick. The Houdini Box plays at Chicago's Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave, through March 3. It then moves to North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. The Chicago Tribune named it as one of the "Top 10 shows to see in early 2012."
Over at The Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division St.) you can find an "all-new re-imagining" of The House Theatre of Chicago's first hit, Death and Harry Houdini, with escapes performed by Dennis Watkins. Death and Harry Houdini opened January 21 and runs through March 11th.
By the way, The Houdini's Box's Brain Selznick also wrote The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The film adaptation, HUGO, received 11 Oscar nominations this morning. Might this inspire Hollywood to make a film version of The Houdini Box?
UPDATE: Death and Harry Houdini extended to April 15.
The Houdini plays in Chicago are both receiving some sweet reviews.
ReplyDeleteTried to get tickets, but Death and Harry Houdini sold out the run, however I was told to stay tuned because there's an extension in the works.
The House Theatre of Chicago's
Death and Harry Houdini
http://www.theatreinchicago.com/playdetail.php?playID=5309
Chicago Children's Theatre's
The Houdini Box
http://www.theatreinchicago.com/playdetail.php?playID=5248
Thanks for the report, Frone. Glad to hear they are so popular. :)
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