Chicago’s Magic Parlour Extends Run Into 2027 as Dennis Watkins Marks 25 Years of Magic (Chicago, IL) — The Magic Parlour is extending its current Chicago run into spring 2027, giving audiences additional opportunities to experience the intimate close-up magic show while marking a major milestone for its longtime performer, Dennis Watkins.
Watkins, a third-generation magician who has made Chicago his professional home for 25 years, is opening a new block of tickets for performances of The Magic Parlour through May 2, 2027. The announcement also includes the return of guest magician Derek Hughes, who will appear for a limited engagement next spring.
The Magic Parlour is based at 50 W. Randolph St., in the lower level of the space associated with Petterino’s and adjacent to the Goodman Theatre. The production combines traditional sleight of hand, mind-reading and audience participation in an intimate setting designed to put spectators close to the performance.
Watkins will also celebrate his 25th year performing magic in Chicago on October 31. The milestone coincides with the return of his Halloween-themed production, “The Spirit Cabinet,” which will receive five performances this fall.
“The Spirit Cabinet” incorporates supernatural themes into Watkins’ close-up magic, with the performance featuring objects that appear to move through unseen forces and messages purportedly delivered from spirits. The Halloween production has become a recurring part of Watkins’ work and is returning following audience demand.
One of the five performances, scheduled for October 28, is already sold out. Additional performances are scheduled for October 29 at 7:30 p.m., October 30 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and October 31 at 8 p.m. Tickets for those performances range from $99 to $148.
The Magic Parlour’s regular performances are scheduled Thursday through Sunday, with the newly announced ticket block extending through May 2, 2027. Regular ticket prices range from $99 to $136, according to the announcement. All tickets include a complimentary beverage.
Watkins said the upcoming season will allow the production to continue presenting its regular performances while also bringing in guest artists and offering other events.
“After 25 years practicing magic in Chicago, it’s thrilling to watch The Magic Parlor only become more and more magical every year,” Watkins said. “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.”
Watkins has performed The Magic Parlour nearly 2,500 times since the show’s launch in 2009. According to the production, nearly 100,000 people have attended the show over that period, making it the longest-running magic show in Chicago history.
The show originally operated at the Palmer House for more than a decade before moving to its current location in 2023. Its current home is part of a partnership involving Watkins, the Goodman Theatre and Petterino’s.
The performance generally runs about 90 minutes and relies heavily on close-up magic and interaction with audience members. Watkins draws on techniques and traditions passed down through his family, including magical knowledge he learned from his grandfather.
For guests seeking a more private experience, The Magic Parlour also offers an upgraded Encore Room option. Following the main performance, as many as 26 guests can be escorted into a private space where Watkins performs an additional 25 minutes of close-up magic.
The spring 2027 schedule will also feature Derek Hughes, a magician and performer whose television credits include appearances on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, The CW’s “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Hughes was also a finalist on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and has worked as a consulting producer on truTV’s “The Carbonaro Effect.”
Hughes is scheduled to perform at The Magic Parlour from April 15 through April 25, 2027. Tickets for his engagement range from $84 to $119.
His return follows a sold-out limited engagement earlier in 2026. The Magic Parlour’s announcement also comes after a sold-out engagement by guest magician Steve Valentine earlier this month.
Watkins’ career extends beyond his work as a magician. He studied at the Meadows School of the Arts and the British American Drama Academy in London before moving to Chicago and becoming a co-founder of The House Theatre. He has worked as a playwright, actor, director and designer on more than 30 world-premiere productions.
Among his notable theatrical roles was his portrayal of Harry Houdini in The House Theatre’s “Death and Harry Houdini,” which sold out multiple runs.
The Magic Parlour’s partnership with Petterino’s also gives audiences the option of pairing the performance with dinner. Petterino’s, a longtime downtown Chicago restaurant, offers Italian fare before or after the show and is also available for private and corporate events.
The Goodman Theatre, which has partnered with Watkins on the Magic Parlour’s current location, has been a Chicago theatrical institution since 1925. The theater has produced hundreds of plays and has been involved in nearly 200 world or American premieres, according to the organization.
The Magic Parlour is currently scheduled to continue its regular performances through May 2, 2027, giving Chicago audiences an opportunity to see Watkins’ long-running production well into next spring.
Tickets can be purchased through The Goodman box office at 312-443-3800, between noon and 5 p.m., or online at TheMagicParlourChicago.com.
The Magic Parlour’s regular performances are held Thursday through Sunday at 50 W. Randolph St. in downtown Chicago. The Halloween performances of “The Spirit Cabinet” are scheduled for October 28 through October 31, with the October 28 performance already sold out.
Chicago’s Magic Parlour Extends Run Into 2027 as Dennis Watkins Marks 25 Years of Magic
