The Magic Parlour is an intimate evening of mystery and illusion created by Dennis Watkins, specifically designed to cater to only a few dozen individuals at a time. While the show currently resides at the Palmer House in Chicago (the same venue where his House Theatre of Chicago is held), it wasn’t always that way. In the third part of our interview with Watkins, he talks about the evolution of The Magic Parlour, beginning as a fundraiser for the House Theatre, and eventually blossoming into a nightly, can’t-miss event.

For the rest of our interview with Dennis Watkins, check out the links below:

Part one: Dennis Watkins on the perks of growing up in a family of magicians

Part two: Chicago magic is all about the up-close and personal touch

Part four: The power of performing magic for a small audience

And for more from our visit to Chicago, check out our video interviews with Mark Toland and Nick Roy, and our Magic Anywhere special, focusing on the unique, hands-on approach to Chicago-style magic.