This July, Crystal Skillman’s play, Open, is full of magic. It centers on a woman called The Magician, who, as the production’s synopsis explains, “appears to pantomime a myriad of tricks, but there’s no illusion. Her act reveals she is attempting the impossible—to save the life of her lover, Jenny. Open is a magic act that reveals itself to be a resurrection. The clock is ticking, the show must go on, and, as impossible as it may seem, this magician’s act may be our last hope against a world filled with intolerance and hate. Sometimes the only magic we have is hope.”
“Open has such a playful and magical way of telling a story of true love,” Skillman said in a statement. “As LGBTQIA+ rights continue to be threatened, I wrote Open in response to our current times. The response globally to [the magician’s] journey that I’ve experienced across the world, and the response to seeing a female magician on stage, has made it clear how impactful this show could be.”
The play had its off-Broadway premiere on July 8, 2025, and in conjunction with that run, also hosted a series of post-show events, some of which feature magicians you may have heard of. On July 23, Rachel Wax performed as a guest of one of Adam Rothenberg’s “magical chats,” where he talks with others about “queer love, magic, and more.” And on July 10, 17, and 24, Sara Crasson performed her Flavors of Magic act with her partner, Bamberg, the bear magician.
Open, which stars Megan Hill as The Magician, will have shows at least through the end of July at the WP Theater.