He transformed the Beast into a prince at the end of the stage version of Beauty and the Beast. Winnipeg-born Henning fell in love with magic as a child. Thats the point of my visitIm here to understand what Steinmeyer does and how he does it. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Henning exploded onto the magic scene in the 70s, bringing a modern touch to classic magic routines. But after some back and forth, he had agreed to let me inside his world under an ill-defined agreement to stick to the basic principles of building magic tricks. See the article in its original context from. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Taking its name from basketball star LeBron James, the work comes to New York after runs at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Center Theatre Group. There are two walls of reference materials: books about magic, of course, but also books about furniture, graphic design, screenplays, and antique apparatus. He married Debby Douillard in 1981. Then simultaneous with that, theres the script of what youre actually doing, so theres a divergent thing where youre saying one thing and youre doing something else. After I borrow a tie at reception to pair with my sport coat and meet the dress code, the manager greets us. Doug Henning was previously married to Barbara DeAngelis, a self-help author. Part of the challenge is that a trick has to tell a story, because magic above all is about storytelling. Copyright 1991-2023 Playbill Inc. All Rights Reserved. Shackled hand and foot and encased underwater in a steel canister, he broke free in under a minute, emerging wet and beaming. In further support of the maharishi, Henning also ran (unsuccessfully) for political office in England and Canada as a member of the maharishis Natural Law Party. knew I did Magic as an Ad-Vocation and had me go over to the United Kingdom Unit to asst Doug the day he was there - Don't exactly remember what he did -though did remember Doug was like a Big Kid. But heres a list of everything inside.. I decide this is where Im going to make my stand and try to extract a secret. May 2, 2023, By Despite his enormous success in the US, Henning always considered Canada his home and was proud to tell people that he was Canadian, Nancy says. He was 52. The production, with songs by Stephen Schwartz and book by Bob Randall, earned Henning a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and, says McNally, a reputation as a legitimate Broadway star. A version of The Magic Show was also mounted at Torontos Queen Elizabeth Theatre in 1980, where it was filmed and aired on CBC. No one is sneaking a look at their phone, and no one resists the timeless astonishment that has come from magic audiences for decades, from Charles Morritt to today. So as one of historys greatest conjurers of magic continues to explain and not explain the safe trick, I find myself wondering: If anyone can dig up the secrets behind many of Steinmeyers tricks, why is he so intent on hiding them? When Steinmeyer was 13, his father died, leading to what he describes as a hell of a year. As the family wrestled with grief, his mother encouraged him to attend a magic convention in Michigan with his friends, to plug into something that might distract or excite him. Doug Henning, the ebullient, shaggy-headed magician who sparked a renewed interest in the craft and breathed new life into some of history's most famous illusions, died on Monday in Los Angeles. Henning returned to Broadway in 1983 for the Tony-nominated musical Merlin, and the following year Doug Henning and His World of Magic toured across North America. Henning sees no one at any. The reason I can give wonder, Henning told The Times in 1980, is that I feel wonder about the world: the stars, a tree, my body--everything.. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. There are three scripts in a magic show, he explains. WebWith Tenor, maker of GIF Keyboard, add popular Doug Henning Magic animated GIFs to your conversations. The illusion has been around for more than a century, and Steinmeyer has mentioned its timelessness and layers of innovation. Magician Doug Henning, who popularized magic and illusion on Broadway in such shows as The Magic Show, which earned him a Tony Award nomination, died of ), He got his first professional job at 14, performing at a family friend's house. In each case, he stunned audiences with a seemingly impossible array of disappearing assistants and levitating ladies. He was married to Debby Douillard and Barbara De Angelis. Doug Henning . He died on 7 February 2000 in Los Angeles, California, USA. When their mother was diagnosed with cancer, he spent several months caring for her in Toronto. Well, if the town of Appleton, Wisconsin means anything to, Today I thought Id feature a four minute vintage clip of Doug and Debby on the classic 1980s program Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Whats cool about it is that it gives us a glimpse not only into Dougs home, but his famed workshop where many of his illusions were developed. Though his thinning hair and beard have gone gray, at 61 Steinmeyer retains a striking youthfulness that manifests in an easy grin, a cheerful chattiness, and eyes that seem lit from behind. You want that thing where people go, Ohhh, theyre about to divide a person into three pieces, Steinmeyer says. He was always pleasantly surprised by the reception, Nancy says. Doug Henning - IMDb Nobody else is working at this level. Sign up for reopening news, announcements, and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows! So I press: But theres no room for her to., He smiles and shrugs as if to say, What more do you expect? This couple stayed married until Hennings death. Here is a miniature version of the cabinet used in the Disappearing Donkey illusion, a once-lost trick that Steinmeyerafter years of reconstruction via dusty tomes and informed intuitionunveiled to a roomful of confounded performers (Magicians are actually pretty easy to fool, he says). He was previously married to Debby Douillard and Barbara De Angelis. Debby also married Mexican artist Jose Carcamo, whom she divorced in 1980. During the early days, he practised at home for hours, says his sister, Nancy Henning. His shows led to a general resurgence of interest in magic, said Phil Willmarth, editor of The Linking Ring, a magic magazine. https://geniimagazine.com/wiki/index.php?title=Debby_Henning&oldid=85761. Will Self-Driving Cars Out-Smart Human Drivers? May-be. Only when I press does he finally relent. Davis' Death of a Salesman co-star Wendell Pierce hosted a screening and talkback for the new film. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us. Steinmeyer sees Im not going to let the sawing-in-half trick go, and maybe against his better judgment, he relents. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Blocking belongson the stage,not on websites. Because Zig Zag was so fresh in the 70s, things that felt like that were attractive.. Beverly Hills [213]. Known for his curly locks and crooked smile, Mr. Henning was a familiar face on TV in the 1970s and early 1980s, and was the star of Broadway's The Magic Show (with a score by Stephen Schwartz), Merlin with Chita Rivera (and a score by Elmer Bernstein) and Doug Henning's World of Magic. Steinmeyer does it all. Secrecy is the coin of the realm here, and Steinmeyer is an open secret himself: Most people who see magic shows assume the performers invent their own tricks, but its illusion designers like Steinmeyer who conjure most of the magic offstage. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. WebMini Bio (1) Doug Henning was born on May 3, 1947 in Fort Garry, Manitoba, Canada. Henning In college, he started pitching tricks to Doug Henning, arguably the worlds most famous illusionist during the 1970s. That led to his role in The Magic Show. Doug Henning, the ebullient, shaggy-headed magician who sparked a renewed interest in the craft and breathed new life into some of history's most famous Inspired by Federico Garca Lorcas The House of Bernarda Alba, the play takes on gentrification and social strife in New York. I remember something Id read in one of Steinmeyers books: Magicians dont protect their secrets from the audience, they protect the audience from their secrets. As one of the first illusionists to incorporate elaborate sets, Henning changed the way magic was presented. ''It was like being a folk singer before Bob Dylan. Discover Doug Henning's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. He abandoned his illusion magic for what he saw as real magic--the transcendental meditation and levitation ability of his friend and guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, with whom he began to study in the early 1970s. ", "After the show," she continued, "he came over and tapped me on the shoulder and asked if we could talk later. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. "When I perform, I could love a million people, but I had trouble loving one person Debby's helped me overcome my fear of intimacy.". Doug Henning was born on May 3, 1947 in Fort Garry, Manitoba, Canada. People Magazine Interview: Part Three Broadway. Thats when I became interested in stage magic, Steinmeyer says. By almost any estimation, Steinmeyer is the greatest creator of illusions in the history of magic and theater, but describing Morritts idiosyncratic piece of stagecraft still animates and energizes him. | Mr. Henning stood atop the chest and counted to three. Had he lived, Henning would have surely become an elder statesman of magic, McNally says, one who would have consulted for other performers, possibly work on effects for movies and TV shows (or) lectured., Like the world of illusion, Hennings life had been full of possibility. Only when Steinmeyer finishes speaking do I realize weve barely moved from my starting point. Its cool enough, but somehow learning the answer isnt as exciting as Id expected. The escape literally made him the worlds most famous magician (overnight). | He was 52 and lived in Los Angeles. He conquered Broadway with his smash rock musical, The Magic Show, which ran for more than four years at the Cort Theater. He treasures the wonder that comes with being fooled in an artful way. His wife is Debby Douillard (6 December1981 - 7 February2000)( his death), Barbara De Angelis (20 December1977 - 1981)( divorced). In honor of that special day, I thought it would be appropriate to post the above photo of Doug and Debbie in May, 1986. The truth of how magic works is that most of us dont know because we dont wantto know. He was also the first to re-attempt Harry Houdinis dangerous 1912 Water Torture Cell, in which the magician, restrained at the feet, escaped after being lowered into a glass tank of water. We say hello to Steinmeyers wife, television producer Frankie Glass, whose many documentary credits include Ancient Aliens and a series called History vs. Hollywood. The feet are fake, he explains. Theres the script where you ostensibly say whats happening, which is often a lie. You want that thing to be very clear.. In the Magic Castles showcase room, the Palace of Mystery, Greg Otto performs a comedy-laden routine (When a heckler pipes up, Otto looks toward the crowd and replies, I thought I told you to stay in the truck.) before Kyle and Mistie Knight deliver a classic big-stage performance heavy on audience participation. The two actors join the cast of the international hit musical in St. Louis, Missouri. They havent been touched by cynicism. He also tried to help the maharishi develop a series of theme parks to be known as Vedaland with pavilions devoted to enlightenment and transcendental meditation--first in India, then in Orlando, Fla., then in Niagara Falls, Canada. This is a man who changed an art form forever. The Los Angeles-based McNally, who launched the Doug Henning Project online archive in 2017, is currently wrapping up a feature-length documentary on Hennings life and art. Most illusion creators stay in a lane: big-stage illusions, escapes, mind reading, theater productions, or close-up magic. rights reserved. The Magic Castle rules call for people to stow their phones, and there are no TVs. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Steinmeyer heads to his board meeting and leaves me to roam the castle, still only occupied by staff hustling to prepare for the first dinner seating. Doug Henning (1981 - 2000) his death. He earned a Best Featured Actor (Musical) nomination for his work in the conceptual tuner, The Magic Show, in the 1974-75 season. In college, he started pitching tricks to Doug Henning, arguably the worlds most famous illusionist during the 1970s. When he watches performances, he tunes in not just to the magic but the way people respond to it. entertainment in the 1970s and popularizing it on television. Andrew Gans He was a writer and actor, known for The Magic Show (1983), I realize Steinmeyer has been trying to lead me to this point all along. Then we cross their yard to his studio followed by Albert, their doddering but ebullient 13-year-old dachshund. The cause was liver cancer, according to The Associated Press. Republication or distribution of this content is If you know of a past magician not listed in MagicPedia, start a New Biography for them or Email us your suggestion. I mention this to Steinmeyer on the drive backhed been in his meeting for the durationand he nods. May 1, 2023, By He was all over the newspapers, magazines, talk shows, and (had) yearly television specials. Andrew Gans Debby Henning - Magicpedia - Genii His wife is Debby Douillard (6 December 1981 - 7 February 2000) ( his death), Barbara De Angelis (20 December 1977 - 1981) ( divorced) Doug His answer, at first, is that he doesnt really like the question. He is survived by his wife of nearly 20 years, Debby. Henning left the magic business in 1986. In the studio with us are two of the trick tables. He starred on Broadway, toured with a large stage show, and popularized magic in his own television specials. Henning died Magicians of Our Time For magic to accomplish the impossiblemaking something disappeara flaw in the magic has to be hidden, like a trick mirror or special compartment. She was born and raised in Huntington Woods, Michigan, and is the daughter of Lorelei (Frygier), a nurse, and He also made guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and The Muppet Show.. People like Jim come along once every two or three generations.. In that Ahmanson show, for example, he turned a woman into a black panther, sawed two women in half and reassembled them on each others legs, walked through a mirror, suspended his wife in midair before making her vanish and reappear in a box hanging over the stage, escaped from a chained trunk like Houdini and conjured up the Bengal tiger.
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