Houdini Speaks to the Living
by Hidden Room Theatre
Oct. 28 - Oct. 31
Wednesday-Saturday
Step into a world where illusion, belief, and the battle for truth collide into one unforgettable evening! Following productions in New York, Philadelphia and most recently the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Houdini Speaks To The Living is coming home. Originally staged by Austin’s innovative Hidden Room Theatre and praised by critics for being "thrilling, haunting, and masterful” this intimate, dramatic spectacle will play a special Halloween weekend engagement (October 28th-31st) culminating on the centennial of Harry Houdini’s death.
Set in 1924, during the height of the world’s obsession with Spiritualism, this gripping 60-minute performance plunges audiences into a high-stakes public showdown between two towering cultural forces: The Great Houdini (Patrick Terry), famed illusionist and relentless debunker of fraudulent séances, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Robert Matney), literary legend and outspoken champion of Spiritualism—who believes this movement represents “a great philosophy” that will usher in a new era for mankind.
What unfolds is an electrifying debate over science, illusion, grief, and the afterlife, with the audience caught directly in the crossfire. From levitating tables and séance-era phenomena to the grandeur of Golden Age magic, the production blends historical portraiture with live illusion while asking questions that still resonate in an era shaped by misinformation and competing versions of truth.
Fresh off Edinburgh, where the show recently garnered strong reviews for both its theatricality and its sleight of hand. World Magic Review awarded the show four stars, praising Patrick Terry as a “skilled magician” who “does justice to Houdini’s reputation,” while calling Robert Matney’s Conan Doyle “legitimately moving.” FringeReview likewise praised the show’s “dexterity on both the magic and drama.”
The run then culminates on Halloween night, October 31st—exactly 100 years to the day since Harry Houdini’s death—offering audiences a uniquely fitting way to celebrate the holiday while honoring the enduring mystery, influence and legacy of the world’s most famous illusionist.
A century after Houdini’s death, central questions remain at the heart of his famous divide with Conan Doyle: What is real, what is illusion — and what happens after we die?
Creative Team:
Robert Matney | ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
Rob is the founder and co-Artistic Director for Whirligig Productions and the Technology Director for Hidden Room Theatre. Also a director, actor, and voice over artist, he has worked on stage productions across the US and in the UK, as well as in animated series and video games that have received a variety of artistic awards and nominations.
Patrick Terry | HARRY HOUDINI, Co-writer
A Brooklyn-based actor and magician, Patrick has worked with Classic Stage Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Disney Theatrical, and The York Shakespeare Company. His performance in Houdini Speaks To The Living was described as “Magnetic and Commanding” by BroadwayWorld. He is also the creator of WONDERSHOW, which Time Out New York hailed as “a beloved vaudeville experience.”
Beth Burns | Director, Co-writer
As founder and Artistic Director of Austin’s award-winning Hidden Room Theatre, Burns has directed productions across the US and abroad, including at Shakespeare’s Globe, Oxford University, and the Shakespeare Institute. A longtime teacher and performer at the Groundlings Theatre, she has also appeared in Saturday Night Live, American Crime, and Friday Night Lights. An NEA-award-winning playwright, Burns creates innovative, research-driven work that bridges historical practice with contemporary performance.
The Hidden Room | Theatre Company
The Hidden Room engages scholars, technologists and theatre-makers to create accessible, immersive, entertaining and educational theatre experiences, specializing in work that bridges early modern classics and tech-forward new works.
Houdini Speaks to the Living
by Beth Burns and Patrick Terry
Hidden Room Theatre
October 28 - October 31, 2026
October 28 - 31, 2026
Hidden Room Theatre
311 W 7th Street, Austin, TX, United States, 78701
Running time: approximately 60 minutes
