There’s a Houdini-centered musical in the works called The Impossible Man. It stars Broadway veteran Ryan Silverman as the famous escape artist, and the show had its world premiere this April at the Ariston Theatre in Sanremo, Italy. We have a trailer from that event, which gives quite a glimpse to the look, feel, and sound of the production. In it, we see Silverman performing several of Houdini’s famous routines, such as the Chinese Water Torture Cell.
Watch the trailer for the magic musical about Houdini's life, The Impossible Man
According to the show’s website, The Impossible Man “takes inspiration from modern TV Shows, where the narrative bounces between the present (1926, on the day of the celebrity’s last performance) and various episodes from his past, while the music, Broadway style, is influenced by Houdini’s Hungarian origins.” It also features more than 20 stage illusions, including, again according to the musical’s website, “a new appearance of an elephant on stage.”
The production was written and directed by Fede Bellone, with music composed by Gio Lori. Paolo Carta was the magic consultant for the play, with Gillian Bruce overseeing choreography. In addition to Silverman as Houdini, the cast also includes Alice Mistroni as his wife Bess, Lewis Griffiths as his brother Theo, and Russell Spellman as the presenter of the annual séance for Houdini.
The Impossible Man is currently scheduled to make its New York City Broadway debut on Halloween night, 2026.