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| Topic: Chicago's Magical Past |
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Hi Folks. I live a block away from Magic Inc. in Chicago, and when PT Murphy was working the counter, I'd walk over and we'd spend the afternoon talking about magic. One subject that came up frequently was that, back in the day, Chicago was at the center of magic in the U.S. There were five thriving magic shops in the downtown area, the original Chicago Magic Roundtable was meeting every day, and there were plenty of places throughout the city where magic could be seen. PT and I began searching for a place to create a show that would reawaken a sense of Chicago's magical past. And we finally found it. TMC Partners in association with Victory Gardens Theater Present: THE MAGIC CABARET Magic, Mystery & Mischief at the historic Biograph Theater In the Golden Age of Magic, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, many great magicians lived and worked in Chicago, playing to packed houses at theaters throughout the city. At the same time, a style of performance known as "parlor magic" was enjoying great popularity. Parlor magic provided a unique opportunity: a chance for people to experience the wonders of the magician's art in a more intimate setting -- a setting in which the audience could become a part of the performance! The Magic Cabaret brings back the parlor magic tradition, in a show featuring the finest magicians in the Windy City! THE MAGIC CABARET http://www.magic-cabaret.com Tuesdays, June 5 - July 10, 8:00pm Victory Gardens Biograph Theater: 2433 North Lincoln Avenue, Second Floor Tickets $20, Students and Seniors $15 No one under age thirteen is admitted. Seating is limited, so call the Victory Gardens Box Office at 773.871.3000 or order tickets online at http://www.magic-cabaret.com The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater is located in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, one-half block north of Fullerton on Lincoln Avenue, a short walk from the Fullerton stop on the EL's Red, Brown and Purple lines. Valet parking is available one hour before curtain. Special parking rates are available at nearby Children's Memorial and Lincoln Park Hospitals by providing a Victory Gardens ticket stub. (For the non-Chicagoans out there, the Biograph Theater was the movie house outside of which John Dillinger was ambushed by G-men in 1934. It proved to be Dillinger's last picture show.) |
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Best wishes to you, David, for a successful show. Sincerely, Neil P.S. To help, I've listed it at http://www.magicalchicago.com |
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Hi All- Please show your loyalty to the cause. David and I will require you to donate one pint of blood.You may present it to us AFTER the show. Okay, fine...NO blood. Just visit http://www.magic-cabaret.com and get your tickets. Present your ticket at the theater and David and I will DONATE our blood to the cause...mmmm...sounds creepy! |
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You're a disturbing man, P.T. Of course, I mean that in the kindest way possible. Best, Neil |
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[quote] On 2007-05-21 20:07, Neil Tobin wrote: You're a disturbing man, P.T. Of course, I mean that in the kindest way possible. Best, Neil [/quote] I thought I felt a strange vibe when I shook his hand at the auction. ;) I have given many pints of blood to the chicago magic cause. What's one more! |
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[quote] On 2007-05-20 14:57, David Parr wrote: Hi Folks. I live a block away from Magic Inc. in Chicago, and when PT Murphy was working the counter, I'd walk over and we'd spend the afternoon talking about magic. One subject that came up frequently was that, back in the day, Chicago was at the center of magic in the U.S. There were five thriving magic shops in the downtown area, the original Chicago Magic Roundtable was meeting every day, and there were plenty of places throughout the city where magic could be seen. PT and I began searching for a place to create a show that would reawaken a sense of Chicago's magical past. And we finally found it. [/quote] I think that this is a great idea and a wonderful tribute! After the collector's I was looking at the Roundtable Poster that I got from the Uncle Jay's collection and looked through all the names. I realized that there are only three people still around from the original roundtable. One magician, one assistant and one collector. My dad, Aunt Betty and Dr. Mossey. I wish I could get down to the city to see the show, but its not so easy for me. I wish you both a lot of luck. Tell us how it goes. |
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I know what you mean. It is hard for me to get out to see your performances. What can we do to make things easier for us to travel to each other's shows? It's not getting there, it is getting home AFTER the shows! Hey Neil how about a sleep over at Excalibur? I hear it is haunted!!! |
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Neil and PT, we should think about brining your shows up to the new place I'm working on doing a joint thingy together. Chris and I did Celebrate Watermelon Day! last summer and it didn't seem so bad by the time we finished. This would make it much easier for my parents to attend, so that I don't have to worry about the wheelchair and all that stressful stuff. I got things going on in my head that I want to do with this new space I got approved to work with. I forsee some really great things happeneing in an area that can extend between Chicago/Milwaukee/Madison/Rockford areas. [b][i]I got a storm in my brain![/i][/b] |
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Hi P.T. -- It is, and I have. (The place is open to the public until 4am, so every night at Excalibur is pretty much a sleepover.) Hi Frances -- Don't take it personally; P.T. has trouble visiting my show too (and I'm in the heart of downtown Chicago, for heaven's sake). Doing a collaborative show somewhere in the mid-burbs could be a great opportunity to give the suburbanites enough of a taste to lure them into the city for our respective shows. Tell me more about your new venue once you've really got things rocking. Best, Neil |
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Most definitely when I get my laptop back. this (9 year) old one is driving me nuts!!!! |
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Truth be told I am having trouble making it to my OWN show! Stay tuned for more up to the minute breaking news concerning The Magic Cabaret. Rumor has it that David and I had a BIG fight last night! And that in my place David has substituted another local magical celebrity who performs mind altering illusions using dairy products! This of course is a rumor. Or is it? Buy your tickets NOW to find out! Seating is limited... http://www.magic-cabaret.com |
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Thanks, all, for the good wishes. And thanks, Neil, for including us on magicalchicago.com And PT, stop trying to portray yourself as the Pete Best of magic. You know as well as I do that The Magic Cabaret is lactose intolerant. Also: I am the Walrus. |
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| See! He is trying to start ANOTHER fight! |
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| Interested in learning more? Vist http://www.magic-cabaret.com |
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| PT and I have some exciting news about our first guest performer. The secret will be revealed soon! |
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[quote] On 2007-05-24 08:46, P.T. Murphy wrote: Truth be told I am having trouble making it to my OWN show! [/quote] *shakes head* |
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Best to you both on this. I just wish I could attend, but I'm booked, myself, doing private gigs and such. Lee Darrow, C.H. |
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Here's the news we've been waiting announce. Our first guest performer at The Magic Cabaret is a talented magician and a dear friend: Alba. Alba brings to The Magic Cabaret many years of experience in magic and theater, here in the US and in her native country of Argentina. Alba's career began in her home city, Buenos Aires, where she studied at the Fu Manchu School of Magic. Alba also trained with some of the best acting coaches in her hometown, which led to her landing a lead role in the hit stage play Tamara. Equally adept at performing magic in Spanish and English, Alba's achievements include over 100 shows at Hollywood's Magic Castle, many television appearances, and a long list of corporate clients. For more information about Alba, visit http://www.magicalba.com Alba will be joining us from June 5 - June 26. Stay tuned for further announcements! THE MAGIC CABARET Tuesdays, June 5 - July 10, 8:00pm Victory Gardens Biograph Theater: 2433 North Lincoln Avenue, Second Floor Chicago, Illinois Tickets $20, Students and Seniors $15 No one under age thirteen is admitted. Seating is limited. Call the Victory Gardens Box Office at 773.871.3000 or order tickets online at http://www.magic-cabaret.com |
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A nice article from Friday's Chicago Sun-Times: http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/stage/408635.article |
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I got the email yesterday. great article. |
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I'm looking at going to this tomorrow or next Tuesday. I live right around the corner from the Theater. Neil, I saw your show this last February I think it was. I was the unfortunate young man who "tried to drive Mary home." I like having this connection to Chicago's magic circle. Up until recently, the only magic community I could interact with were the sales people at the local shops. Nice as they are, I felt the conversation was limited because I was viewed through the lense of a potnetial customer. I'm new when it comes to performing magic seriously. Before I knew a handful of card tricks, now I'm getting to the point where I might actually be able to put together a pretty solid little routine. In doing so, I have discovered that by nature, I end up creating a story for most of my effects. That revelation coupled with the fact that I absolutly love Halloween has led me towards bizzarre magic. No question I will be looking to you all for tips and refinement. |
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| Hi udlose. I hope you have an opportunity to see The Magic Cabaret tomorrow or next Tuesday. I think you'll enjoy it. My interest is also mainly in plot-driven, presentation-focused magic. Halloween is my favorite holiday. And the second act of The Magic Cabaret takes a distinct turn for the strange. If you do come to see the show, please do take a moment afterward to introduce yourself and say hi! Considering your interest in weird magic, I'll encourage you to visit my friend Dan Mindo's discussion site: http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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I can't wait to see the show! I know it's going to be great. BB |
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Thanks, BB. See you there! Here's a true story that happened just a few days ago. It's a reminder that magic can turn up in unexpected ways, in unexpected places: I was standing on the train platform on my way to a rehearsal for The Magic Cabaret, when I noticed that a guy standing about twenty feet away from me had a deck of cards and was doing one-handed Charlier cuts with both hands simultaneously. He was listening to his iPod, and oblivious to everyone around him. I happened to be carrying a stack of postcards for the show, so I walked over and handed one to him just as the train was arriving. He gave me a "Why are you giving me this?" look, then he glanced down and read the title of the show. He looked up with an expression of "Oh, I get it!" and we nodded at each other in recognition before boarding the train. |
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| Thank you to all of the magic who made it out last night. We could not have asked for a better opening night crowd. We were OVER sold out! What a great surprise that was! If you are coming to Chicago and would like to see the show please reserve your tickets in advance. For more information please visit http://www.magic-cabaret.com |
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| I saw the show on Tuesdays and it ROCKED! Congrats you guys! |
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Thanks! We made it to the Chicago Readers Short List of Highly Recommended Shows. Here is the link...watch here for the review later this week. http://www.chicagoreader.com/listings/static/listings.html#CRITCHO |
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| ..normally I can take pat murphy (drop the pt..that's the kind of boat kennedy got sunk in) and david parr in small doses.....but at the cabaret show there are large doses of each....and they are both exellent. this causes me great pain to admit this, but hey......i've got to be honest here. murphy was not as loud as usual (when he worked in magic inc he'd ask a customer to take a card and people across the street looked around for someone holding a deck)...and parr is not as patronizing which must cause him physical torment. anyway, it's a superb show, well paced and in an attractive environment. |
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| NICE! Oh man! And this review coming from my mother! Thanks Mom! I love you too! |