(AGENPARL) – mar 03 ottobre 2023 Logo
Description automatically generated
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2023
A red and black logo with glasses
Description automatically generated
STRAIGHT FROM DISASTROUS WEST END & UK TOUR PERFORMANCES
Kevin McCollum, Kenny Wax, and Stage Presence
present
the Mischief Production
A purple and yellow text
Description automatically generated
MIND MANGLER: A NIGHT OF TRAGIC ILLUSION
STARRING HENRY LEWIS & JONATHAN SAYER
By Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields
Limited Off-Broadway Engagement
From the creators of the Tony® and Olivier® award-winning
The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong
First Performance November 10, 2023
Opening Night November 19, 2023
at New World Stages
Following Mischief’s critically acclaimed Broadway run of Peter Pan Goes Wrong and the ongoing production of The Play That Goes Wrong Off-Broadway, Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion will begin performances on Friday, November 10 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) for a limited 16-week engagement through March 3, 2024. The official opening is set for November 19, 2023.
Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion stars original company members Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer and is based on a character originally created in Magic Goes Wrong by Penn Jillette, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields and Teller.
From the minds that brought The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong to Broadway comes the hilarious new comedy by Mischief. Join the “Mind Mangler” as he returns to the stage following a disappointing two-night run at the Scranton, PA Holiday Inn Conference Center, suite 2B. His new two-man show solo spectacular is predicted to spiral into chaos as he attempts to read your MIND…
Direct from a UK Tour including sold-out West End performances, Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion is a guaranteed night of “laugh-filled, mind-bending silliness” (BroadwayWorld) that will leave you gasping for breath. Not to be missed!
“We’re absolutely delighted to be heading back to Manhattan, and not just to collect the belongings Jonathan left in his dressing room at The Ethel Barrymore,” said authors Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields. “We’re thrilled to be taking over another theatre at New World Stages. Having two shows at the same theatre complex is amazing and having three shows in New York in 2023 is simply unbelievable! In fact, we’re slightly worried someone is pulling our leg. We can’t wait to get back to New York and continue making audiences laugh and hopefully amaze them too with some magic!”
The Mind Mangler himself said: “I really hope people come. I’ve had to sell my house and all my possessions, including my magic tricks, to pay the venue deposit. I still need to pay for my plane ticket. The costs are really spiraling to be honest.  If anyone has any spare cash or any spare magic tricks, please do get in touch– Actually, don’t use that quote it sounds a bit desperate. Let’s keep that off the record. Just say ‘I can’t wait to take my show to New York. I’m feeling very positive about it!’”
The “Mind Mangler” persuaded the following producers to back this Off-Broadway production – Kevin McCollum, Kenny Wax, and Stage Presence (They regret it). 
Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion is directed by Hannah Sharkey, with set design by Sara Perks, costume design by Roberto Surace, lighting design by David Howe, sound design by Helen Skiera, and video design by Gillian Tan. Ben Hart serves as magic consultant, Steve Brown is the composer, and Tom Nickson is the UK production manager.
Mind Mangler made its premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022 and was developed into a two-act show for a major UK tour that ran from January 2023 through April 2023, including sold-out West End performances.
Mischief’s other stage successes include The Play That Goes Wrong which can currently be seen in London and New York, with productions globally having been performed in over 49 countries with productions staged on every continent – with the exception of Antarctica (where producers fear a frosty reception), Peter Pan Goes Wrong which is currently playing in Los Angeles after a hit run on Broadway, and is on a UK Tour with a limited West End Christmas engagement, Magic Goes Wrong, A Comedy About A Bank Robbery and Mischief Movie Night. Their ‘Royal Television Society’ award-winning BBC series The Goes Wrong Show can currently be watched on Broadway HD.
Mind Mangler: A Night of Tragic Illusion is presented in arrangement with Mischief Worldwide Ltd.
BIOGRAPHIES:
Henry Lewis (The Mind Mangler, Writer) is an Olivier Award and Drama Desk Award winning writer, actor, director and producer and is the Artistic Director of Mischief. Henry’s work has been produced in over 45 countries worldwide. Theatre – Broadway: The Play that Goes Wrong (Lyceum), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Ethel Barrymore). West End: Mind Mangler (Prince of Wales/Garrick), Magic Goes Wrong (Apollo/Vaudeville), Groan Ups (Vaudeville), Mischief Movie Night (Vaudeville/Arts), The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (Criterion), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Apollo), The Play that Goes Wrong (Duchess & UK/International Tour) & Austentatious (Arts). Off West End/Regional: Peter Pan Goes Wrong (Ahmanson, Los Angeles), Mind Mangler (UK Tour), Good Luck, Studio (UK Tour – as director), Mercury Fur (Trafalgar Studios), The Play that Goes Wrong (UK/International Tour), Superior Donuts (Southwark Playhouse – as producer) Beasts & Beauties (Hampstead), Showstopper! The Improvised Musical (various). Live streamed: Mischief Movie Night-In (Immersive LDN/Riverside Studios). TV: “Riddiculous” (ITV1), “The Valiant Quest of Prince Ivandoe” (Cartoon Network), “The Goes Wrong Show” (BBC1), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (BBC1), A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (BBC1), Royal Variety Performance 2015 & 2019 (ITV1), We are Most Amused and Amazed: Prince Charles’ 70th Birthday Celebration (ITV1), Children in Need 2020 (BBC1) and Comic Relief 2022 (BBC1). Henry’s first book Mystery Agency: The Museum Heist comes out in November 2023. X: @henrywlewis Instagram: @henrylewis
Jonathan Sayer (The Stooge, Writer) is an Olivier Award-winning writer, actor, producer and Director of Mischief. His work has been performed in over 45 countries worldwide. Theatre credits include: Peter Pan Goes Wrong (writer/actor- Broadway/LA/West End/UK/International tours); Mind Mangler (writer/actor – West End & UK Tour), Mischief Movie Night In (co-creator/actor/producer – live stream); Magic Goes Wrong (writer/actor – West End/Lowry/UK Tour co-created with magicians Penn & Teller); Groan Ups (writer/actor – West End/UK/International tours); Mischief Movie Night (cocreator/actor/producer- West End/UK tours) The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (writer/actor- Criterion Theatre/UK/International tour); The Play That Goes Wrong (actor/writer – Lyceum Theatre, Broadway/Duchess Theatre, West End/UK and international tours; Lights! Camera! Improvise! (actor, improviser, producer). Television credits include: “The Goes Wrong Show” Series One and Two, (BBC1, writer/actor); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (BBC1, writer/actor/associate producer); The Royal Variety Performance: The Play That Goes Wrong (ITV, writer/actor); A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (BBC1, writer/actor). Jonathan has also appeared in We are Most Amused and Amazed (ITV1); Keep it in the Family (ITV1); Children in Need 2020 (BBC1) and Comic Relief 2022 (BBC1). Jonathan is a trustee for Go live Theatre Projects and is the co-chair of Ashton United Football Club. His new book Nowhere to Run came out in August 2023 and is currently on the Amazon Best Sellers list. X: @jonathansayer1 Instagram: jonathan_sayer1
Henry Shields (Writer) is an Olivier award-winning writer and actor, best known for his work with the highly renowned theatre company Mischief, co-writing and appearing in their hit international productions of; The Play That Goes Wrong (winner 2015 Olivier award and WhatsOnStage award for Best New Comedy); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2016 Olivier award nominee for Best New Comedy); The Comedy About a Bank Robbery (2017 Olivier award nominee for Best New Comedy); Magic Goes Wrong (co-created with magicians Penn & Teller – 2020 Olivier award nominee for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play); Groan Ups (West End); Good Luck, Studio (UK Tour) and Mischief Movie Night (2018 Olivier award nominee for Best New Comedy).
Tom Wainwright (u/s The Stooge). Theatre Credits Include: Mind Mangler (UK Tour), Magic Goes Wrong (Apollo Theatre, West End), Frankenstein (TrueStory Theatre), Dracula (TrueStory Theatre), A Christmas Carol (The Core), The Three Musketeers (Kenton Theatre). Film & TV Credits Include: Royal Mob (Sky TV), Doctors (BBC), Dirty God (BBC Films). Tom trained at The Academy of Live & Recorded Arts.
Kevin McCollum (Producer) received the Tony Award for Best Musical for Rent (1996), Avenue Q (2004) and In the Heights (2008). Current: SIX (Broadway, North American tours); Mrs. Doubtfire (UK); Peter Pan Goes Wrong (U.S. tour); Olivier Award-winning The Play That Goes Wrong (Off-Broadway). Past Credits Include: Mrs. Doubtfire (Broadway); Motown: The Musical (Broadway, West End, U.K. and U.S. tours); The Drowsy Chaperone (Broadway, UK); Something Rotten! (Broadway, U.S. tour); Hand to God (Broadway, West End); Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème; [title of show] (Broadway); and the 2009 revival of West Side Story (Broadway, tour). McCollum also produced the West Side Story film (2021) directed by Steven Spielberg. Upcoming: The Notebook, The Devil Wears Prada, Night At The Museum.
Kenny Wax (Producer) recently completed a three-year term as President of the Society of London Theatre. He is one of the producers of the Tony Award-winning and Olivier-nominated production of SIX, produced Top Hat (winner of three Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical), Once on This Island (winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Musical), the world premiere of Identical based on Erich Kastners novel The Parent Trap and most recently Tom, Dick and Harry based on the true story of the Great Escape. Productions with Mischief Theatre include The Play That Goes Wrong (winner of the Olivier Award® for Best New Comedy which is currently playing Off-Broadway), Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Comedy About a Bank Robbery and Magic Goes Wrong, in collaboration with Las Vegas magicians Penn & Teller. Family productions include Hetty Feather, The Worst Witch (Olivier Award® for Best Family Show) and Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World.
Stage Presence Ltd. (Producer) is delighted to be part of the team presenting Mischief comedies in New York and across the United States.
Mischief Theatre Ltd. was founded in 2008 by a group of acting graduates of LAMDA and began as an improvised comedy group. Mischief performs across the UK and internationally with original scripted and improvised work and also has a programme of workshops. The company is owned and controlled by its original members and is led by a creative group and its directors Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer.
Mischief shows can currently be watched all over the globe with their award-winning smash hit The Play That Goes Wrong currently playing in London and New York. Following its West End premiere Peter Pan Goes Wrong was nominated for Best New Comedy at the Olivier Awards, and in 2022 made its North American premiere in Canada at the Citadel Theatre, Edmonton. Peter Pan Goes Wrong played a limited engagement on Broadway from March-July 2023 starring the original Mischief company, before transferring to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. PPGW begins a UK Tour in September 2023, with a West End engagement over Christmas at the Lyric Theatre. Other hit stage comedies include The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, which played in London for four years, and Groan Ups, both currently performing across Europe. Mischief’s latest West End production Magic Goes Wrong closed in London in March 2022 after a limited engagement, continuing to wow critics and audiences across the UK until the UK tour ended in May 2022. Returning to their comedy roots Mischief took 3 shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2022, Mischief Movie Night and 2 new shows Mind Mangler and Charlie Russell Aims To Please. Following sold out success in Edinburgh Charlie Russell Aims To Please performed in London for one night only in December 2022. Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle toured the UK until March 2023, including dates in the West End. A new production Good Luck, Studio opened October 2022 in the UK at the Mercury Theatre, Colchester before a short tour to Salisbury and Guildford.
In 2017 Mischief Theatre, Kenny Wax and Stage Presence, the producers of all the company’s West End productions, formed Mischief Worldwide Ltd. to manage the rights to all Mischief projects in all artforms. Mischief Worldwide Ltd., based in London, licenses copyrights, trademarks and other Mischief properties to producers, distributors, publishers and others around the world.
Mischief was first seen on television in the Royal Variety Performance of 2015 and subsequently in two BBC One Christmas specials, Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2016) and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (2017). In 2018 Mischief Worldwide Ltd. and the Anthology Group formed Mischief Screen Ltd., an independent TV production company headed by CEO Hilary Strong. Their Royal Television Society award-winning BBC One series, The Goes Wrong Show, aired in December 2019 with a Christmas special, further episodes in early 2020, and a hit Nativity Goes Wrong Christmas special in 2020. The second BBC series aired in September 2021 on BBC One and iPlayer where the gang tackled a Downton-esque family saga and a US-style prison break drama, with predictably disastrous results. All shows can be watched on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
All the companies develop, create and perform under the single name of Mischief. Mischief is developing new works of comedy for theatre, TV, film and other media.
# # #
______________________
BoneauBryanBrown1, 1501 Broadway Ste 1314, New York, NY 10036-5505 United States