Merlin opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on February 13, 1983 and closed on August 7, 1983 after 199 performances and 69 previews. It was directed by Ivan Reitman and choreographed by Christopher Chadman and Billy Wilson. The cast included Henning as Merlin, Chita Rivera as an evil sorceress and, in supporting roles, newcomer Nathan Lane and a young Christian Slater.
Canadian born Doug Henning (1947-2000) was a stage illusionist who revitalized the world of magic in the mid 1970s. A student of both Dai Vernon and Slydini, he started his magical career at the age of 14. After college, he developed a musical with a magic theme (Spellbound) with the assistance of college friends Ivan Reitman (later to direct Ghostbusters) and Howard Shore (later to compose the music for Lord of the Rings). That musical went to Broadway as The Magic Show and brought Henning international fame as its star. Henning's new wave brand of magic proved very popular, and he was given several TV magic specials as well as a number of successful road tours. His next musical, Merlin, was less successful. Henning then started his own production company, creating special effects for music videos and concert tours. He also became involved in a project with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a spectacular special effects theme park based on the teachings of Transcendental Meditation. Veda Land was never more than a plan on paper before Doug Henning died of liver cancer in February 2000. His cremated ashes were scattered at sea.
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