NEWS & PRESS

The Dickens Parlour Theatre has brought the magic back to Ocean City for the seventh year, with shows taking place at the Holiday Inn Oceanfront Hotel on 67th Street.

The magical entertainment kicked off June 26 and will run until Sept. 1, with shows nightly at 7:30 p.m., except for Mondays.

“Each performer has a different act, that’s what keeps it different,” said Jay Read, theater assistant manager. “People want to have fun, and we provide live entertainment.”

Dickens on the Road show came to Ocean City seven years ago when Holiday Inn Oceanfront invited the magicians to perform one night a week. The show was so popular that in the following years the group has performed up to seven nights a week.

Magicians will perform six nights a week this year, which will be filled with sleight-of-hand tricks, comedy and audience interaction.

While the audience enjoys the entertainment of a magic show, guests may not realize the hard work that goes into putting on a production.

As the company presents performances in Ocean City, it also runs shows in Millville, Delaware, where Dickens Parlour Theatre is based.

In addition, magicians must be acutely aware of their audience, and what they seek in a performance.

“Stay up with time,” Read said about the obstacles of being an entertainer. “A performer has to know what plays to what kind of audience. If you have 99 kids in an audience, you can’t do all card tricks. You’ve got to gear your show to be adaptable to young and old [guests].”

Mark Phillips, an award-winning magician, will entertain Ocean City through July 5.

Read will perform July 6-7, 20-21 and 23-28, Aug. 2-7 and Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

Randy Forster, a master of card tricks, will be in Ocean City July 9-14, 16-19 and July 30-  Aug. 1, Aug. 8-13 and 21-29.

Dave Cox, who performs comedic magic acts, will perform from Aug.14-20. Performances are subject to change.

Tickets for the show cost $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.

For more information on the magicians, to buy a ticket or to see updated performance schedules, visit ocmagicshow.com or dptmagic.com.

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