DelGaudio Returns to Geffen Playhouse With ‘In & Of Itself’

John Turner

“Metaphoric labyrinth.” “Allegorical illusions.” “A single paradoxical truth.” These are just a few phrases in the seemingly intentionally vague show “In & Of Itself.” This new production by wunderkind magician Derek DelGaudio has performances May 3-June 26 at Geffen Playhouse’s Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater. The show, for which tickets are already scarce, was created and is performed by DelGaudio himself and is directed by entertainment icon Frank Oz.

Even at the age of 31, DelGaudio has made quite a name for himself – albeit an enigmatic one – in the annals of magic and entertainment. In addition to being an absolutely astounding sleight-of-hand artist, a skill for which he has been twice named Close-Up Magician of the Year by the Academy of Magical Arts, DelGaudio is lauded for his conceptual creativity. In 2014, he spent several months as an Artist in Residence for Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s development and design arm. DelGaudio’s previous production at Geffen Playhouse, 2012’s “Nothing to Hide,” was directed by Neil Patrick Harris (who is himself an accomplished magician and a former president of the Academy of Magical Arts Board of Directors). “Nothing to Hide” celebrated an extended five-month run at Geffen before moving to New York the following year where it garnered fantastic reviews during its three-month Off-Broadway run.

“In & Of Itself” director Oz, meanwhile, has become practically a household name as a puppeteer and voice actor for “The Muppets” and “Sesame Street” (Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Grover, Cookie Monster and many others), the voice of Yoda in the “Star Wars” franchise and as the director of more than a dozen feature films.

“In & Of Itself” is produced by conceptual artist Glenn Kaino and veteran TV producer Tom Werner, the duo that also produced “Nothing to Hide” in 2012. And the entire production team has been quite secretive about the show. During a recent press conference, DelGaudio, who was interviewed along with Oz and Kaino, revealed almost nothing about the show, only saying that it is “purely conceptual . . . half of this show is about your agency as a witness.” Quite a paradoxical description – like the production itself promises to be.

“In & Of Itself” is at Geffen Playhouse May 3-June 26. For information and tickets, see the Geffen event page.