The wire/press service photo and article below give us a glimpse into the animals, and their fearless trainers, used in “Merlin.” It’s a quick piece, but a good one. On a side note, the panther trainer featured here, Rick Glassey, worked with Doug once again on Broadway in 1984’s “Doug Henning and his World of…
Category: Merlin
Chita Rivera (1933-2024)
Right up against the 24th anniversary of Doug’s passing this week, I wanted to acknowledge the recent death of theater titan, Chita Rivera. While, “Merlin” may have been a footnote in Rivera’s illustrious career. It is a production she still spoke about fondly, and, of course, her time with Doug. As the evil Queen, Rivera…
Nathan Lane: Fergus’ Dilemma (Audience Footage)
Hello Everyone, and welcome to 2024! I just wanted to apologize for the long gap since my last post. Life, the holidays, and a 1 1/2 year old make things a bit hectic sometimes. But, moving forward I’ll be more regular in my posts. First up, this clip appeared very recently on You Tube, and…
“Merlin” Closing Anniversary
And I’m back… I just wanted to briefly note that today, August 7th, marks the 40th anniversary of “Merlin” closing. While, commemorating closing anniversaries isn’t as popular as openings, “Merlin” is in a class all its own, and any date is worth a mention. The trials and tribulations of the show are well documented, and the…
“Merlin-Magic To Don’t” New Article
I just wanted to bring to your attention a relatively new online article that came out in February regarding “Merlin.” Or the history of it to be more precise. Some of it you may already know. But, it’s always good to read an article written by someone with fresh eyes, and Ron Fassler does not…
Nathan Merlin Costume Close-Up
I came across these close-up photos of Nathan Lane’s costume from Merlin. They seem to be the costume today, however where it resides is a mystery to me. However, it is good to see that the costume apparently still exists, and is in great condition. Barbara Matera went on to design hundreds of costumes for…
Ivan Reitman Directing Doug Photo
The above photo is unique in the sense that it’s not very common to find photos of Doug being directed, let alone by Ivan Reitman. Standing on the far left is designer and author extraordinaire Jim Steinmeyer. A unique and rare photo of three creative giants of their fields to be sure! Special Thanks to…
1,000th Post: “Merlin” Commercial BTS Photo
Well, today is my 1,000th post. I know right? When I think about that I’ve posted on this site 1,000 times, it’s a little mind boggling. But, Doug has always been worth the effort, and it’s an honor to do it whenever I can. Here’s to another 1,000! Anyway, I recently came across this behind…
“Merlin” Opening Night Photo
The above marquee photo is from the opening night of “Merlin” which “officially” occurred on February 13, 1983. I say officially because the show had 69 previews before this “official” opening night…which was postponed 3 times by the way. All of this was unheard of at the time. Not least of which was never formally…
Nathan Lane Discussing “Merlin” on Playbill.com
This newly filmed video for Playbill.com is a must for Doug fans. At the 1:33 mark, Lane reminisces about his time on the “Merlin,” and hints at the drama that ensued during its production. Other than a few jokes in other interviews, I’ve never heard Lane talk about the show so much. It’s fascinating getting…
Original “Merlin” Contract
Today I thought I’d present something not really magical. But, very necessary in the creation of “Merlin,” one of its original contracts. The tumultuous tale of “Merlin” has been told many times elsewhere on this blog. It’s a long cautionary one of a revolving door of talent that made its way to Broadway in 1983….
“We Haven’t Fought a Battle in Years”-Nathan Lane in “Merlin”
The above song was featured in Doug’s great, lost musical, “Merlin.” Sung by Nathan Lane, the audio quality of the recording is lacking, but gives you a taste of the comical and fun nature that the show had. Lane, over the years, hasn’t been very kind on his time spent on the show. In fact,…
Jim Steinmeyer Reflects on Ivan Reitman and “Merlin”
Esteemed Author/Illusion Designer Jim Steinmeyer graciously agreed to share his thoughts on working on “Merlin” with Ivan Reitman and Doug in today’s post. “Merlin” turned out to be the last collaboration between Doug and Ivan. While the production’s troubles are well known, Jim reminds us of how Reitman brought joy to the rehearsal process, and…
1983 Merlin Fan Letter
The above fan letter was sent to me recently by Steve Schlanger who had no idea of its origins. But, as you can clearly see, Harriet Weston of 19 Willits Road throughly enjoyed her time at Merlin. So much so, that she put pen to paper to tell Doug about it. This letter is a…
John Gaughan “Merlin” Instagram Photos
Hey everyone! If you weren’t aware already, I wanted to direct you to illusion designer extraordinaire John Gaughan’s extensive Instagram account. While the account by itself is a sight to behold, recently they have been posting unseen photos of “Merlin” on stage and behind the scenes. I’d love to post them all here on the…
“Merlin” Times Square Billboard
“Join the Crowds who are Cheering!” So started this billboard that hung above Times Square in the early 80s. If it wasn’t evident already, “Merlin” was heavily promoted during its relatively short run on Broadway. There was a lot on the line and at stake for Doug’s second appearance on Broadway, and the producers weren’t…
Christian Slater on Merlin
In the almost four years I’ve been doing this website I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned that Christian Slater was in “Merlin” as a child actor. Yup, that Christian Slater played the young “Merlin” in this infamous and fabled production. As he’s had a rich and varied career since, I’ve always wondered what he had to say…
“Fergus’ Dilemma” from Merlin
The above song, of course, comes from “Merlin” and features one of Nathan Lane’s musical numbers from the show. While the sound quality is lacking, it does give you a “representation” of what the music was like. Over the years, Nathan Lane hasn’t talked about “Merlin” all that much. When he has, it always hasn’t…
Merlin-Original Marc Hellinger Theater Photos
Due to a pinched nerve in my shoulder, I’m not able to write extensively until it heals. However, I wanted to give a special thanks to writer Michelle Ainsworth for sharing these original photos taken by her father during the original run of “Merlin.”
Genii: “Merlin Crusade” Article by Jim Steinmeyer-Final Part
All photos shown in this article are from the original Genii Magazine article, and are the property of Jim Steinmeyer and their respective copyright holders. Special Thanks to Jim Steinmeyer
Genii: “Merlin Crusade” Article by Jim Steinmeyer-Part Three
All photos shown in this article are from the original Genii Magazine article, and are the property of Jim Steinmeyer and their respective copyright holders. Having fun yet? I certainly hope so! Be sure to come back tomorrow for the exciting conclusion to Jim Steinmeyer’s “Merlin Crusade!” Special Thanks to Jim Steinmeyer
Doug and Chita Rivera-Merlin Stage Door Photo
As everyone knows right now, things have been a little crazy around the world. In times such as these, it’s important to tend to our own loved ones and personal health. However, when possible I feel it’s important to post when I can. Hopefully, Doug’s perpetual positivity can shine a little love and light onto…
From the Playbill Archives: (New) Merlin Interview
Well, it’s not often that you get some new Doug Henning news in your Google feed. However, that’s exactly what happened today when Playbill.com dug into their archives for this vintage article from the opening of “Merlin.” As you would imagine, Doug talks enthusiastically about the show and its illusions. What else would you expect?…
Unseen Merlin Production Publicity Photos: Part Two
Special thanks to Michelle Ainsworth These photos are from the collection of Michelle Ainsworth. Any unauthorized usage of them for profit or personal promotion is in violation of copyright laws.
Unseen Merlin Production Publicity Photos
These pictures were given to me by writer Michelle Ainsworth and really showcase the scope and scale of “Merlin” very nicely. The top color photo was taken by photographer Peter Cunningham and is a real stunner if you ask me. While there is no documentation as to who took the second photo, I suspect it…
Merv Griffin Show- Chita Rivera Performing “Merlin”
Finding existing performance clips of “Merlin” is a lot like finding Sasquatch or seeing a UFO. They tend to be very fleeting, and you have to look hard. Well, as luck would have it I recently came across this excerpt from the “Merv Griffin Show” where Chita Rivera performs “I Can Make it Happen.” As…
THE DOUG HENNING PROJECT 