The Show
Parlor magic, a seance, and the room as the stage
The original Astonify Show was a theatrical recreation of a Victorian parlor magic performance, combined with a full light spirit seance. Both were popular in the nineteenth century. The combination is rarely seen today.
The show has grown since then. It is no longer strictly a period piece, but the heart of it is the same: stage magic, sleight of hand, mental mysteries and grand illusion, performed close enough to touch, for a small audience who become part of the evening.
Some routines the whole room does together. Others need a guest or two to step forward. Nobody is pushed into anything, and everybody ends up closer to the magic than they expected.
It is a very unusual and pleasant evening of entertainment, with a slightly spooky edge. And yes, the theatrical seance is still part of the show.
History you can feel
Woven through the evening are true stories from the age of the parlor and the seance. Audiences regularly tell us they did not expect a history lesson, and came away smarter as well as amazed.
Not a show for children
Astonify is designed for ages sixteen and up. It is a sophisticated evening of marvels and mysteries for adult minded people. (In December there is a family version, The Ghosts of Christmas Past.)
Where it works best
Astonify is built for a room rather than a theatre: about fifty guests, close enough to see everything. It has played a purpose built parlor theatre, a history museum housed in an old county jail, and a fifty seat theatre Dean Carnegie ran himself. Historic houses and museums, private clubs and private homes, and intimate performance spaces all suit it.
Venues and hosts hire the show for the evening. Tell us the date, the room and roughly how many guests, and we will take it from there.
Questions people ask
What is The Astonify Show?
An immersive evening of Victorian parlor magic and thought reading, followed by a theatrical seance. It is created and performed by Dean Carnegie, a Nashville, Tennessee illusionist and magic historian, for an intimate room of about fifty guests.
Who is it for?
Adults. Astonify is designed for ages sixteen and up. In December there is a family friendly version, The Ghosts of Christmas Past.
Will I have to go on stage?
Only if you want to. Some mysteries involve the whole room at once, and others need a guest or two to step forward. Nobody is pushed into anything.
Is the seance real?
It is a theatrical seance, performed in the style of the nineteenth century parlor and presented as entertainment. It is slightly spooky, and it is part of the Astonify evening.
Is Astonify only in October?
No. The show is available all year, and different versions are offered through the year, including The Ghosts of Christmas Past in December.
Where is it performed?
Astonify is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and is available to travel. Venues, museums, historic sites, clubs and private hosts hire the show for an evening in their own room.
How do I book it?
Use the form on the Book the Show page, or call 703-404-8902. Tell us the date, the room and roughly how many guests.