- Supernatural Chicago
Supernatural Chicago, currently in its fifth year of performances, has become a mainstay of the Chicago theater scene that is recognized by at least one large travel site (
TripAdvisor ) as one of the city's top attractions. It opened on the appropriately superstition-tinged date ofFriday the 13th in February 2004, and continues in an open-ended run.Key Features
A
one person show created and starring Chicago "necromancer"Neil Tobin , Supernatural Chicago is the longest-running theatrical magic presentation in Chicago. The show is an example ofinteractive theater , in that there is no "fourth wall" -- two-way communication between performer and audience is a major portion of each performance. It isenvironmental theater , as well: its location, the landmarkExcalibur (nightclub) , is a non-traditional theater space cited as a haunted location in several books and on such broadcasts as "Sightings" (A&E Network ), "Haunted Places" (The Travel Channel ), and "Dead Famous" (The History Channel ). As such, the building is a crucial element of the audience experience.Content
The show centers on Chicago's rich oral history of hauntings and other paranormal events. These stories are brought to life for audience members through interactive demonstrations of the purportedly psychic and magical so that, " [b] y the end, the show isn't about the stories, but about people's experiences with the stories."
In a typical performance, guests may:
* Imagine driving home with Resurrection Mary
* Try to evade the Curse of the Cubs
* Examine the legend of the Devil Baby of Hull House
* Glimpse the spirit channeling of Lurrancy VennumSources
* [http://www.supernaturalchicago.com Supernatural Chicago: Official Site]
* [http://chicago.metromix.com/theater/review/haunting-tales-fill-late/183843/content Haunting Tales Fill Late-Night Haunt] from theChicago Tribune , October 27, 2005.
* [http://www.dailynorthwestern.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/10/06/4344c9037a299 Creep City from the Daily Northwestern]
* [http://archives.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/archives/diversions/2004/op/03-03-04-235976.html Paranormal Performer from the Pioneer Press]
* [http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/events/mmx-050518-cover-darkside,0,4010369.story Sith City from Red Eye/Metromix]
* [http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/stage/mmx-051003-theater-halloween-shows-reader-reviews,0,3202540.story Stage Frights from Red Eye/Metromix]
* [http://www.wjinc.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=9268&TM=47811.29 Isn't It Necromatic? from Wednesday Journal] , October 23, 2007
* [http://www.performink.com/Archives/features/HauntedPerformanceSpaces.htm Ghosts In The Footlights ] fromPerformink , October 26, 2007
* [http://chicago-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g35805-Activities-Chicago_Illinois.html Things To Do In Chicago from Tripadvisor.com]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
