The Goodman Theatre presents the world premiere of Andrew Hinderaker’s The Magic Play, officially opening November 1, following previews that began October 21, in the Owen Theatre.
Directed by Halena Kays, the production stars critically acclaimed magician, illusion designer, and actor Brett Schneider alongside Francis Guinan (Father) and Sean Parris (Diver). Performances continue through November 20.
According to the Goodman, “Though a good magician must always be in control of his show, his offstage life may be as fragile as a house of cards. When a rising young magician must take the stage just hours after his partner has left him, his performance begins to unravel.”
“I am both an actor and a magician—so naturally, the project immediately appealed to me,” said Schneider, who collaborated with playwright Hinderaker on The Magic Play for four years, including the show’s debut in the Goodman’s 2014 New Stages Festival, also directed by Kays. “The Magic Play has challenged me as an artist, and opened me up to ideas I never thought possible in the theatre. Usually, when I create new material as a magician, I draw from skills and knowledge I already have about the craft. Andrew flipped that process on its head. Instead of writing toward my strengths, he purposefully explored uncharted territory, writing new magic pieces that didn’t yet have solutions or pushing me to take risks on stage. The Magic Play is about taking real risks—taking a leap of faith to try to capture the truly miraculous.”
The Magic Play was originally commissioned by Roundabout Theatre Company and produced in a developmental production at Goodman Theatre’s 2014 New Stages Festival.
The creative team includes Lizzie Bracken (set designer), Alison Siple (costume designer), Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (lighting designer), Christopher Kriz (sound designer), John Boesche (projection designer), and Kim Osgood (production stage manager).
For more information and tickets, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Magic or call (312) 443-3800.
(Updated November 1, 2016)
