The House Theatre of Chicago Announces Upcoming Season, Including New Works

The House Theatre of Chicago announces its 11th Season creating "Amazing Feats of Storytelling." The five programs in the 2012-13 Season are all written and helmed by Company Members of The House, making for an ambitious and exciting offering from this adventurous company. Building on the high demand for and artistic successes of the smash hit DEATH AND Harry Houdini, The House brings Company Member and Magician Dennis Watkins back for the centerpiece project once more. Additionally, Watkins’ intimate, up-close magic show, THE MAGIC PARLOUR, now announces an open run at The Palmer House Hilton Hotel in downtown Chicago.

In residence at The Chopin Theatre, the season kicks off with Artistic Director Nathan Allen’s return to Trilogy with THE IRON STAG KING: PART ONE. The epic journey begins as a young man seeks to unite his realm in peace. THE NUTCRACKER returns for the holidays, and this year will receive simultaneous productions in Chicago and the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. Company Member Tommy Rapley will lead two casts and the Chicago design team for both productions. Dennis Watkins returns as playwright and star to his deeply personal work, THE MAGNIFICENTS, featuring large-scale magic storytelling. The season concludes with a brand new work from Company Member and composer Kevin O’Donnell. PLOUGHED UNDER: AN AMERICAN SONGBOOK combines American folk tales with O’Donnell’s well-loved song writing for a concert of stories about the growing pains of our early history.

THE MAGIC PARLOUR will run every Friday night throughout the entire season at the exquisite Palmer House Hilton Hotel. Award-winning, third-generation magician Dennis Watkins performs 75 minutes of intimate, classic magic and mind reading in Chicago’s only weekly, late night magic show. Both 8pm and 10:30pm performances will now be available.

Artistic Director Nathan reflects, “This is a season of inspiring ambition. I am personally honored to showcase the talents of our ensemble in programming that exemplifies our continuing commitment to the development and production of new and original work.”

Memberships for the season are now on sale and begin at $75.