After decades of performing his blend of magic and comedy at casinos around the country and on cruise ships around the world, Houston-based entertainer Harry Maurer is launching a new magic series in Conroe.
The series is called “Conroe Conjuring” which will feature world-class magicians from television, casino showrooms, cruise-ship stages and comedy clubs around the country presenting clean and fun evenings of comedy and magic entertainment.
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The first shows are set for Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 at the Owen Theatre in downtown Conroe, 225 Metcalf Street.
Here are several things to know about Maurer and the upcoming magic series:
About Harry Maurer
As a child, Maurer was determined to be a magician and performed his first of many nightclub shows when he was 13.
By the time he reached high school, with the permission of his teachers and principal re-arranged his class schedule so that he could leave school early each day to perform the matinee and evening shows at a nightclub at the New Jersey shore.
Throughout his college years he continued juggling school and work by learning from professional Broadway acting coaches and scenic and lighting designers during the day at the “Mason Gross School of the Arts” at Rutgers University while entertaining onstage nightly at the New York Playboy Club breaking a record for the most performances of any solo entertainer in the circuit at 1,300 performances.
He’s gone on to perform for U.S. presidents, celebrities and international royalty and has opened for stars such as the Supremes, Rita Rudner, Ray Romano, Joey Bishop, Jason Alexander, Rich Jeni, Rosie O’Donnell and Frankie Avalon.
Magic Island years
While he was previously based in Atlantic City, for eight weeks a year Maurer would come to Houston to preform at the former Houston nightclub Magic Island.
“During its time it brought magicians in from all over the country — including myself, and it was packed with audiences on a nightly basis. I remember times when we were presenting up to five shows a night in their main showroom,” he said. “I loved the club, the city and the people I met and my wife and I decided to move here.”
After a fire, Magic Island closed in 2008.
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“When Magic Island finally closed its doors, magicians have been talking about bringing an experience like that back to Houston, but up until now, no one has been able to do that,” he said. “Audiences loved seeing magic performed by professionals at that iconic nightclub and this is my way of bringing that magical experience back to the Houston area and doing it in a way that is affordable to audiences of all ages.”
Branching out to Conroe
Before the pandemic, Maurer had been performing monthly shows in banquet rooms across Houston. He also performed at a 50-seat banquet room at Pallotta’s Italian Grill in Oak Ridge North but he was looking to expand.
“I was exploring different venues in Houston and was introduced to The Owen Theatre in Conroe and everyone I met from the theater staff to the local merchants, to those in City Hall loved the idea of bringing people into the newly renovated downtown area and everyone we met was excited about the prospect of this show,” he said.
About the first shows
As an “Atlantic City Entertainer of the Year Award” nominee, Maurer will present the first shows at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17-18. Ticket are $30 and maybe purchased at the Conroe Conjuring website.
He’ll take a break during the busy month of December and then return in January and February. Maurer will perform again in January then he’ll bring in magician Scott Pepper from England for the February show. Pepper was one of the stars of the show “Masters of Illusion.”
“After that, I am honored that some incredible stars that I have reached out to would love to perform in Conroe Conjuring and are equally as excited about this project as I am,” he said.
