Resurrecting Houdini

Somewhere between a DIY seance, a magic show, a comedy and a history lesson sits Instructions for a Seance, a 60-minute one-woman-show written and performed by Katie Bender under the direction of Lily Wolff. Developed through immersion in the Harry Houdini archives at The Harry Ransom Center, the intimate show has drawn a diverse following, from historians and magic enthusiasts to spiritualists and families, all gathered to witness a modern feminist artist grapple with the legacy of the world's most famous escapologist!

In the show one woman seeks to resurrect the spirit of Harry Houdini through a series of increasingly daring feats. What begins as a practical, "how-to" guide for a seance quickly evolves into an examination of the escapes many of us yearn for in everyday life, whatever our background. Without giving away too much, the show invites the audience to participate in a recreation of Houdini's first escape, ultimately shifting from a mock seance into a personal and relatable experience shared by artist and audience.

Resurrecting Houdini

Somewhere between a DIY seance, a magic show, a comedy and a history lesson sits Instructions for a Seance, a 60-minute one-woman-show written and performed by Katie Bender. Developed through immersion in the Harry Houdini archives at The Harry Ransom Center, the intimate show has drawn a diverse following, from historians and magic enthusiasts to spiritualists and families, all gathered to witness a modern feminist artist grapple with the legacy of the world's most famous escapologist!

In the show one woman seeks to resurrect the spirit of Harry Houdini through a series of increasingly daring feats. What begins as a practical, "how-to" guide for a seance quickly evolves into an examination of the escapes many of us yearn for in everyday life, whatever our background. Without giving away too much, the show invites the audience to participate in a recreation of Houdini's first escape, ultimately shifting from a mock seance into a personal and relatable experience shared by artist and audience.