Appeared on Fool Us

Chicago, Illinois

Dennis Watkins

Award-winning third-generation Chicago magician

Dennis Watkins is a close-up magic and comedy magic and corporate events artist based in Chicago. Television appearances include featured guest performances on Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Rather than playing to distant balconies in cavernous theatres, Dennis Watkins created the intimate salon experience The Magic Parlour in Chicago, welcoming guests to witness masterclass sleight of hand within arm’s reach.

Dennis Watkins

See 129 upcoming shows → Enquire on their own site ↗

Career overview

Dennis Watkins at a glance

Dennis Watkins is a close-up magician and mentalist based in Chicago, Illinois, specializing in psychological illusions and thought prediction. Dennis Watkins's career includes appearing on Penn & Teller: Fool Us 1 times. Dennis Watkins headlines a residency at The Magic Parlour in Chicago.

Magic: Close-Up Magic, Comedy Magic, Corporate Events
Based in: Chicago, Illinois
Next public show: Oct 22, 2026
Public dates: 129
Booking: Accepts private bookings
Page updated: Oct 19, 2026

The performer

About Dennis Watkins

Award-winning and third-generation, Chicago magician Dennis Watkins has spent more than a decade running his critically acclaimed one-man show, The Magic Parlour, in downtown Chicago. It is now presented in partnership with The Goodman and Petterino's at its own speakeasy venue at 50 West Randolph, in the heart of the Loop.

The evening pairs classic magic with impossible mind-reading, performed in a well-honed and surprisingly funny style that has drawn a feature in American Theatre Magazine. Away from the Parlour, Watkins builds custom entertainment for companies, organizations and private clients: corporate events, trade show exhibits and meetings, galas and upscale private celebrations, presented across the country and worldwide.

129

Upcoming dates

5

Signature disciplines

Penn & Teller: Fool Us

Television Appearances

One appearance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

Season 4 · Episode 8
I Dream of Genie Tube

Aired 7 September 2017

Did not fool Penn & Teller
Search YouTube We haven’t confirmed a clip of this performance yet.

Every magician who has been on Fool Us

Performance history · Past shows

Performance History

FindMagic has documented 168 individually dated public performances at The Magic Parlour in Chicago from 2012 to 2027. With 130 documented performances at The Magic Parlour, Chicago serves as an enduring artistic home, drawing magic enthusiasts night after night to witness world-class deception.

168 Performances

1 Venue

1 City

Shows recorded across FindMagic listings. Tour dates and earlier appearances are actively being backfilled.

1700 performances · 31 December 2011 – 18 October 2026

The Magic Parlour

The Magic Parlour · Chicago, Illinois

Archive Methodology & Provenance: FindMagic’s performance archive is compiled from confirmed box office inventories, venue calendars, and historic festival programs. It documents verified public appearances and is not intended to represent an exhaustive lifetime career log.

The repertoire

Magic Style & Disciplines

Close-Up Magic

Sleight of hand at intimate distance — cards, coins, and sleight of hand.

Comedy Magic

Stand-up comedy integrated with high-level deception.

Corporate Events

Tailored entertainment for corporate events, conferences, and celebrations.

Mentalism

Mind reading, psychological predictions, and telepathy.

Parlour Magic

Intimate salon theatre and storytelling for small gatherings.

See Dennis in action

Featured Performances

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Next Up

The Magic Parlour — Thu OCT 22 · 7:30 PM · The Magic Parlour

Where to see Dennis

Upcoming Shows

At The Magic Parlour, Chicago. Six performances weekly; performances available through August 31, with September–December 2026 booking available. Age guidance: Recommended for ages 12+.

The Magic Parlour

Chicago, Illinois resident

OCT 22, 2026 – APR 15, 2027 129 dates

The Magic Parlour

Select date for tickets:

OCT 2026

Thu227:30 PM Fri237:30 PM Sat244:30 PM Sun252:00 PM Thu297:30 PM

Fri30 6:00 PM 8:30 PM

Sat318:00 PM

NOV 2026

Sun012:00 PM Thu057:30 PM

Fri06 7:00 PM 9:30 PM

Sat072:00 PM Sun082:00 PM Thu127:30 PM

Fri13 7:00 PM 9:30 PM

Sat14 4:30 PM 7:30 PM

Sun152:00 PM Thu197:30 PM

Fri20 7:00 PM 9:30 PM

Sat21 4:30 PM 7:30 PM

Sun222:00 PM Tue247:30 PM Wed257:30 PM

Fri27 4:30 PM 7:30 PM

Sat28 5:00 PM 8:00 PM

Sun292:00 PM

129 upcoming performances Next dates: OCT 22 – NOV 29 in Chicago

View all 129 dates →

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Coming to Chicago on other dates? See everything playing while you’re in town →

Enquiries

Booking

Enquiries for Dennis go through their own site.

Visit their website →

Stay with the act

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Trust & Provenance

Data Sources & Archive Verification

Verified Performance Archive

Performance history and engagement logs are compiled from historical box office records, primary venue playbills, Ticketmaster, AXS, AudienceView, and verified artist itineraries.

Official Honours Rolls

Competition rankings, fellowship titles, and career honours are verified against published institutional ledgers from FISM, the Academy of Magical Arts, The Magic Circle, and Magicana.

Independent Curation

FindMagic independently aggregates and validates magic listings. Performers cannot buy placement, alter verified records, or remove critical editorial review notices.

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