Photo from Contacting the Spirits: Magic and Mentalism in the 19th century
Photo from Contacting the Spirits: Magic and Mentalism in the 19th century

Contacting the Spirits: Magic and Mentalism in the 19th century

Presented by DCA Theater & The Strange Tree Group

Wednesday, October 26
7:00 PM — 8:30 PM

Storefront Theater
FREE; Limited seating, please arrive early! Doors open at 6:30pm.

Join us to explore the cultural history of the Victorian era, the rise of spiritualism in the U.S., spirit mediums of the time, and their tricks of the trade.

Featuring the expertise and talents of author/historian Ursula Bielski and magician Brett Schneider!

Ursula Bielski is the founder of Chicago Hauntings, Inc. A historian, author, and parapsychology enthusiast, she has been writing and lecturing about Chicago’s supernatural folklore and the paranormal for nearly 20 years, and is recognized as a leading authority on the Chicago region’s ghostlore and cemetery history. She is the author of five popular and critically acclaimed books all published by Lake Claremont Press.

Additionally, Ursula has been featured on television documentaries by the A&E Network, The History Channel, The Learning Channel, The Travel Channel, and PBS. She also appears regularly on local Chicago television and radio and lectures throughout the year at various libraries, historical and professional societies. She is currently filming with Chicago’s PBS station, WYCC, to host a pilot which will air October 29th, “The Hauntings of Chicago.” Ursula has also authored numerous scholarly articles exploring the links between history and the paranormal, published in the International Journal of Parapsychology. Ursula is a past editor of PA News, the quarterly newsletter of the Parapsychological Association, a past president and board member of the Pi Gamma Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, and holds membership in the Society of Midland Authors.

A graduate of St. Benedict High School in Chicago, Ursula holds a B.A. in history from Benedictine University and an M.A. in American cultural and intellectual history from Northeastern Illinois University. Her academic explorations include the Spiritualist movement of the 19th century and its transformation into psychical research and parapsychology, and the relationships among belief, experience, science, and religion.

Brett Schneider is an actor, professional magician, and illusion designer based in Chicago. Recently, Brett has proudly joined The Strange Tree Group as an Artistic Associate. In addition to his work on The Spirit Play, Brett has designed illusions for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lookingglass Theatre, Strawdog Theatre (Jeff Award nomination - artistic specialization), Chicago Children’s Theatre, Provision Theater, and Northwestern University. As an actor, Brett has performed with Lookingglass Theatre, the SiNNERMAN Ensemble, the side project theatre, Provision Theater, and the House Theatre among others, and he is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf and Northwestern University. Brett is a member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, and his magic has received numerous awards and distinctions, including San Francisco Stage Magician of the Year, World Magic Seminar Finalist, and Dwyane Wade’s Chicago Has Talent Finalist. More info can be found at brettschneidermagic.com.

This event is presented in conjunction with The Spirit Play playing October 5 - November 6 at the Storefront Theater.

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