Artist Bio

After studying theater at Meadows School of the Arts and the British American Drama Academy in London, Watkins moved to Chicago to create The House Theatre alongside cohorts from school.

The fledgling company launched on Halloween of 2001 with a bold portrayal of Harry Houdini’s life, featuring Watkins in the title role. To date, Death and Harry Houdini has enjoyed 8 sold-out productions.

Watkins performed Houdini’s infamous Water Torture Cell escape in each and every performance.  He won a Joseph Jefferson Award for his work on the show in 2012.

Watkins has collaborated as an actor, writer, director and/or designer on more than 30 world-premiere plays with companies like The House, Lookingglass, Steppenwolf and The Goodman.