Chopin Theatre Launches Magic, 'Live Movies'

Magic is the name of the game at Wicker Park's Chopin Theatre this winter.

The House Theatre company launched its latest play, "The Magnificents," on the Chopin's upstairs stage on Jan. 18, and Screen Door Productions will premiere its latest "live movie," "Night of the Magician," on the downstairs stage on Jan. 31.

'The Magnificents'

"The Magnificents" tells the story of a 1930s travelling circus family taking a young boy under its collective wing, with each member—a clown, an aerialist, a strongman and Magnificent the magician—teaching him his or her respective trade. It's about the aging magician passing the torch as he approaches the end of his days.

"The story is really about him passing on the trade before he passes away," said Chelsea Keenan, the House Theatre's director of audience development. "And once the boy is able to perform the tricks, he's sort of able to let go of life."

The show, written by the company's resident magician Dennis Watkins, was inspired by his experiences growing up and learning magic from his grandfather, sleight-of-hand artist Ed Watkins. In addition to writing the script, Watkins also stars in the show as Magnificent and performs the majority of the magic tricks and illusions onstage.

In fact, each circus act used in the show will be the genuine article, according to Keenan. Actress Lucy Carpetyan will perform acrobatic stunts on aerial silks in her role as Honeydew the aerialist, Jeff Trainor will perform feats involving a bed of nails as strongman Harley and Michael E. Smith will perform as Chase the clown.

The show will also feature live animals—including doves and a bunny—as well as a rare illusion called "The Blooming Orange Tree," which was originally designed by 19th-century illusionist Robert Houdin.

"There are only six in the country, and we have one on our stage," Keenan said.

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'Night of the Magician'

"Night of the Magician" is the latest production from Screen Door, and its creators call it a "live movie" because it blurs the line between traditional film and live theater. It was shot as a film, but performances will also include elements such as a live score from a band at the theater, live sound effects, shadow puppetry and live actors supplementing the performance on the screen.

"The goal is really to get people out of the comfort of watching movies on small screens like iPhone and computer screens in the comfort of their own home and actually creating a spectacle that must be seen live, with an audience, as a communal event," said David Milton Brent, the film's writer and one of Screen Door's co-founders.

Brent described the film as a gothic horror story about a young woman searching for her missing brother in a post-industrial factory town.

"The movie sort of tells the story of her quest through this town, and as she's searching for her brother, she uncovers a lot of town secrets along the way," Brent said.

Brent said there would be live music and other entertainment before and after the movie each night. Since it wouldn't be a night at the movies without previews, preshow entertainment before each showing of the "live movie" will include "live previews" by various Chicago theater companies. The House Theatre's "The Magnificents" and Buzz22's "She Kills Monsters" will be among the productions featured in the previews, according to Brent.

"The Magnificents" will run Thursdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. until March 10. "Night of the Magician" will run at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays from Jan. 31 to Feb. 24. See the Chopin Theatre website for tickets and more information.