Joining Gulan, who has performed on Broadway in Blood Brothers and toured in Carousel and Les Miserables, are Barbara Andres ( The Boyfriend, On Golden Pond, Kiss of the Spiderwoman) as Mrs. Samelson has been working magic for more than 35 years in film, theatre and on cruise ships, with a goal to "travel around the world to find magic in different locations." He said his job is to choreograph the magic and added, "There is a real training period" for Timothy Gulan, who will play Houdini, "We're actually teaching the actor to pick locks." Samelson stressed the importance of all aspects of an actor's training and said actors draw on all their previous experience when performing magic tricks. Samelson said that in this production, "Magic weaves the story as a melody would," and he is "excited about merging music and magic." Director Barre said "The magic will serve as a storytelling function," used to illustrate plot changes and move the story along. Those illusions will be seen on-stage thanks to magic and illusion designer Peter Samelson, who told Playbill On-Line, "The magic is not being used presentationally, although Houdini will perform some tricks," like needle swallowing, the water torture cell and handcuff escapes. Director Gabriel Barre, who just directed Goodspeed's revival of Finian's Rainbow, told Playbill On-Line, "It explores the relationships between the legendary magician and his wife Bess, and his brother Theo," who Barre said helped Houdini first develop several of his illusions. In development for the past two years, Houdini had a three week workshop at Goodspeed last year. East Haddam, CT's Goodspeed Opera House presents the world premiere of Houdini, a new musical with music by William Scott Duffield, book by James Racheff ( Abyssinia) and lyrics by Duffield and Racheff, opens Oct.
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