Date: May 18, 2003
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Members: $20
Non-Members: $30

David Parr is a winner of the coveted Fool Us trophy on the hit TV show Penn & Teller: Fool Us. There, his skills were put to the ultimate test in front of the television cameras, a live audience of hundreds, millions of TV viewers, and two very savvy Las Vegas magicians. (Spoiler alert…) David fooled them all, taking home the trophy and winning a guest spot in the duo’s stage show in Las Vegas!

David created and costarred in Chicago’s longest-running weekly magic show, which was chosen by the Travel Channel as one of the top nine magic shows in the nation! (Because top-ten lists are so passé.) He was the first artist in residence at the new Chicago Magic Lounge, where his show David Parr’s Cabinet of Curiosities completed a successful yearlong run. His show Dark Magic premiered to a sold-out house soon after that. During the pandemic lockdown, David created and performed The Sorcerer’s Lair, a livestream show that a reviewer for The Linking Ring called “as close to the perfect virtual magic show as I have ever seen.” His latest show is The Magic Hour, named after the time of day when shadows lengthen and the air is charged with magical possibilities.

In a career spanning more than fifty years, David has written some highly regarded books for magicians, been a technical consultant to theatrical productions, entertained visitors to the Magic Castle, given presentations at academic conferences, and provided guidance and instruction to magicians at numerous lecture appearances. He was a featured columnist and editor for MAGIC Magazine, and his thought- provoking writings about the art of magic have also appeared in publications in Germany, France, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, and Sweden. Jon Racherbaumer included David on his shortlist of “notable theorists” in magic, alongside Tommy Wonder, Juan Tamariz, and René Lavand. And today, David’s magical creations are performed by magicians around the world.

In his new lecture, David will teach some old favorites from his published work, along with some new favorites from his current shows. And perhaps more importantly, he will provide insight into the creative thinking that has shaped his magic for decades. Don’t miss it!

“These are perfect lessons for all magicians, in how careful thinking really can improve our magic.” — Eugene Burger
“Great advice, the kind that 95 percent of people don’t think about, but it contains the real secrets of magic as a successful art.” — Andrew Basso
“What I appreciate most is David’s thinking about our art. I am quite taken with his style.” — Robert Neale
“One of the most entertaining, theatrical, intelligent presentations that I’ve ever come across.” — Anthony Owen
“What he has to say will make you think.” — Michael Close