Lockwood Restaurant & Bar and The House Theatre of Chicago's The Magic Parlour Create "Magic Menu"

CHICAGO – Lockwood Restaurant & Bar Executive Chef Mathew Wiltzius and Magician Dennis Watkins have created an exclusive “Magic Menu” available before and after performance of The Magic Parlour presented by The House Theatre of Chicago at The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, 17 E. Monroe in an open run. Regular performances take place Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. with added performances Sundays at 2 p.m. Special holiday performance dates and times are also available (see below*). Tickets are $79 each, which includes wine and beer selections. In addition to the regular ticket price, the cost for the Magic Menu is $39 inclusive of tax and gratuity and can be added to The Magic Parlour ticket price. Tickets may be purchased at www.themagicparlourchicago.com, www.thehousetheatre.com or by calling The House Theatre of Chicago Box Office at 773.769.3832. The Magic Parlour is recommended for audiences ages 10 years and older. Dressy attire is highly recommended.

*NOTE: Added Holiday Performance Times Are: Sunday, Dec. 20 at 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 4 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 27 at 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Always check http://themagicparlourchicago.com for any schedule updates.

Lockwood Restaurant & Bar Magic Menu includes:

First Course

French Onion Soup - croute, swiss and smoked gouda

or

Autumn Greens Salad – shaved pear, candied hazelnuts, radish, herb and buttermilk vinaigrette

Second Course

Salmon – BBQ, asparagus salad, pickled parsley root, pine nut

or

Spaghetti alla Chitarra – wild mushroom, fine herb, parmesan

or

Flat Iron Steak – parsnip puree, Tuscan kale, knob onion crispy gremolata

Third Course

Smoke & Mirrors – Bertha’s Brownie served in a smoking cigar box.

Since moving to the Palmer House on New Year’s Eve 2011/12 and now currently in its fourth year at the historic hotel, Dennis Watkins’ 75-minute show has entertained guests from all over the world looking for an extra-special performance in Chicago. Only 40 seats are available for each performance of this intimate, sophisticated, close-up magic show in one of the hotel’s private event rooms. Guests gather at Potter’s Lounge in the hotel’s lobby level and are escorted to the performance space, where they will enjoy mind-blowing magic and mind reading. The audience participates in much of the performance as Watkins wows the room with disappearing decks, swallowed razor blades, unbelievable mentalism and age-old stories passed down from his grandfather. Third-generation magician Dennis Watkins regularly incorporates new pieces of magic into this long-running production, giving returning audiences brand new feats to fathom.

Watkins is a classically trained actor, playwright and director and also works as a corporate entertainer, magician, mentalist, and event speaker, He is a company member with The House Theater of Chicago, and in Summer 2016, he will reprise his role as Harry Houdini in Death & Harry Houdini, written and directed by The House Theatre of Chicago Artistic Director Nathan Allen. The highly-acclaimed show, by audiences and critics alike, was originally written and performed by Allen and Watkins in 2001, then revived in 2003 and 2011. Because of this show, Watkins has become one of the very few performers worldwide who performs Harry Houdini’s infamous Water Torture Cell Escape. Death & Harry Houdini returns to Chicago in the summer of 2016.

ABOUT LOCKWOOD RESTAURANT
Located in the beautiful lobby of the historic Palmer House Hilton, Lockwood Restaurant & Bar is praised for its seasonally-influenced modern American cuisine featuring the freshest locally grown ingredients including items from the rooftop garden and apiary. With extensive wine and cocktail lists and the staff’s dedication to superior service, Lockwood is a Chicago dining experience unparalleled in the Loop. The award-winning restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner. In addition, Lockwood also is available for private events, meetings and receptions.

ABOUT THE MAGIC PARLOUR
Originally created by House Company Member Dennis Watkins for a House Theatre benefit in 2010, The Magic Parlour was so popular that The House produced a sold-out weekly main stage production for 15 months at the Chopin Theatre before moving to the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in 2012. Since its move, The Magic Parlour has played to numerous audiences for more than three years and has enjoyed continuous extensions.

Additionally, The Magic Parlour has hosted several private groups and corporate events, three New Year’s Eve events, a special fundraiser for The House Theatre of Chicago in the Empire Room and many special occasions including anniversaries, birthdays, family gatherings and three marriage proposals.

The House Theatre of Chicago has partnered with Dennis Watkins to produce many magical theatrical experiences in its 14-year history. Most notably The House’s hit show Death & Harry Houdini (with multiple sold-out runs in Chicago and a production at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, FL), The Magic Parlour, and Watkins’ original play, The Magnificents. Having enjoyed two successful Chicago runs, The Magnificents has just played a critically acclaimed run at the Arsht. Watkins and The Magic Parlour return with this expanded schedule following this hit run in Miami.

ABOUT THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO
The House is Chicago’s premier home for intimate, original works of epic story and stagecraft. Founded and led by Artistic Director Nathan Allen and driven by an interdisciplinary ensemble of Chicago’s next generation of great storytellers, The House aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular artform.

The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has been nominated for 60 Joseph Jefferson Awards (21 wins) and became the
first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007, and was awarded a
2014 National Theatre Company Grant by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. Now in its 14th year of original work, The House continues its mission to unite Chicago in the spirit of Community through amazing feats of Storytelling.

ABOUT THE PALMER HOUSE, A HILTON HOTEL

The legendary AAA four-diamond rated hotel has been hosting visitors to the Chicago Loop for more than 140 years. Today, the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel continues to thrive in the heart of the theatre and financial district, just steps from the Art Institute, Millennium Park and State Street shopping. A short walk away is Grant Park where summer festivals take place. Family attractions like the Chicago Children’s Museum and Navy Pier are just a quick cab ride away. The hotel features 130,000 sq. ft. of function space with more than 77 meeting rooms, seven ballrooms and two exhibition halls. Lockwood Restaurant & Bar, located just off the lobby, is open throughout the day serving modern American cuisine. Small plates and classic cocktails are served in Potter’s. Balance Spa features 14 treatment rooms including hydrotherapy services for the ultimate pampering. The fitness center offers over 10,000 sq. ft. of cardio and free weight equipment, an indoor pool, whirlpool, and saunas.

The House Theatre of Chicago presents The Magic Parlour starring Dennis Watkins, at the Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, 17 E. Monroe in an open run. Regular performances take place Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. with added performances Sundays at 2 p.m. Special holiday performance dates and times are also available (see below). Tickets are $79 each, which includes wine and beer selections. In addition to the regular priced tickets, magician Dennis Watkins and Lockwood Restaurant & Bar Chef Mat Wiltzius have created an exclusive “Magic Menu”. This prix fixe menu is available in the restaurant exclusively for performance guests before or after any shows of The Magic Parlour. The cost for the Magic Menu is $39 inclusive of tax and gratuity and can be added to The Magic Parlour ticket price. Tickets may be purchased at www.themagicparlourchicago.com, www.thehousetheatre.com or by calling The House Theatre of Chicago Box Office at 773.769.3832. The Magic Parlour is recommended for audiences ages10 years and older. Dressy attire is highly recommended.

*NOTE: Added Holiday Performance Times Are: Sunday, Dec. 20 at 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 4 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 27 at 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Always check http://themagicparlourchicago.com for any schedule updates.

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