The Grand Illusion Show

by Emily Dendinger

In 1896 New York, Adelaide is a recent widow. Her husband was the famous magician, Alexander Herrmann, and now she – his long-time assistant – wants the rights to perform his illusions herself. The trouble is no woman has ever performed this kind of magic before. To prove she’s qualified to carry on her husband’s legacy, Adelaide will perform the most dangerous trick of all: the infamous Bullet Catch. Based on a...

In 1896 New York, Adelaide is a recent widow. Her husband was the famous magician, Alexander Herrmann, and now she – his long-time assistant – wants the rights to perform his illusions herself. The trouble is no woman has ever performed this kind of magic before. To prove she’s qualified to carry on her husband’s legacy, Adelaide will perform the most dangerous trick of all: the infamous Bullet Catch. Based on a true story, The Grand Illusion Show blends Adelaide’s story with real illusions as it examines the limitations of the glass-ceilings we’ve broken, and those we must still work to shatter.

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The Grand Illusion Show

Recommended by

  • Samantha Marchant: The Grand Illusion Show by Emily Dendinger
    “

    Enjoyable, concise and full of magic! Would love to see multiple productions to see how they each run with the ideas Dendinger generously offers.

    Enjoyable, concise and full of magic! Would love to see multiple productions to see how they each run with the ideas Dendinger generously offers.

    ”
  • Playwrights Foundation: The Grand Illusion Show by Emily Dendinger
    “

    Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play THE GRAND ILLUSION SHOW, as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.

    Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play THE GRAND ILLUSION SHOW, as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.

    ”
  • Samantha Cooper: The Grand Illusion Show by Emily Dendinger
    “

    Who knew the world was in such bad need of a mystically play about a female magician fighting for her legacy in the boys club of grand illusions? Well, Dendinger knew, that's who! This play clips along at a fantastic pace, mirroring the twists, turns, and misdirections of the world of magic it explores all while exploring questions of female histories and how we take control of our own stories when the world is doing everything it to make our contributions disappear.

    Who knew the world was in such bad need of a mystically play about a female magician fighting for her legacy in the boys club of grand illusions? Well, Dendinger knew, that's who! This play clips along at a fantastic pace, mirroring the twists, turns, and misdirections of the world of magic it explores all while exploring questions of female histories and how we take control of our own stories when the world is doing everything it to make our contributions disappear.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations

Development History

  • Reading, Orlando Shakes PlayFest, 2019
  • Workshop, NJ Rep, 2017
  • Workshop, TimeLine Theatre, 2017
  • Reading, TimeLine Theatre, 2016

Awards

  • Bay Area Play Festival
    Playwrights Foundation
    Semi-Finalist
    2020
  • New Works Festival
    Kitchen Dog Theatre
    Finalist
    2020
  • Ingram New Play Lab at Nashville Rep
    Finalist
    2019
  • PlayFest
    Orlando Shakes
    Finalist
    2019