David Copperfield has — poof! — made a Learjet disappear onstage in front of a live audience, has — presto! — done the same for the Statue of Liberty for television. Over the last 30-plus years, his name has become synonymous with big-budget stage magic in a career outpacing anyone else in the field, maybe his best bit of conjuring of all. Copperfield is performing in Chicago this weekend with three performances of “An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion” at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. The show has the theme of dream fulfillment and relies on audience participation — there’s a chance to be disappeared, and if you’re curious, Copperfield picks his volunteers through apparently random means such as a Frisbee toss or a bouncing beach ball.
We spoke with Copperfield recently in a phone interview and had Chicago magician Dennis Watkins ask the questions. Watkins is an ensemble member of House Theatre of Chicago and recently designed the disappearance effects for “The Illusion” at Court Theatre. Copperfield and Watkins discussed the demands of Vegas-style illusions versus sleight-of-hand, Copperfield’s MTV days and what still fools him.
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‘An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion’
When: 8 p.m. Friday, 4:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.
Tickets: $30-$59 at 800-775-2000 and broadwayinchicago
.com
