Hawkinsville Opera House Presents Evan Dupree’s ‘The Great Escape’ 

HAWKINSVILLE – A local magician with decades of dedication to his craft and appearances on national television will soon make a stop in Hawkinsville. The Hawkinsville Opera House presents master illusionist Evan Dupree’s “The Great Escape” Saturday, May 11 at 7 pm. 

“This event should be a fun night and fun for the whole family,” Hawkinsville Opera House office manager Mona Sinyard said. 

Born in Warner Robins, Evan Dupree has practiced magic for almost 25 years. The International Brotherhood of Magicians has nominated him twice as the Magician of the Year. 

At the age of 14, he appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno after winning Young Magician of the Year. Dupree also has made a guest appearance on America’s Got Talent and The Huckabee Show. He has been mostly touring the Southeast. 

Dupree said his performance is different from a typical magic show. 

“In my show, I try to make the magic about the audiences’ experience, and I put a lot of storytelling and inspiration into the shows,” he said. “When you leave the show, not only are you leaving amazed, in awe and in wonder, but you’re also motivated and you got some encouragement from the show.”

Dupree has performed at the Hawkinsville Opera House before. He highlighted the late Michael King, a former manager of the Opera House who found him through a network of friends. 

“He wanted a show,” he said. “I got real close with him and the community of Hawkinsville as I did a couple of festivals.” 

Wanting to serve the community, his last gig at the Opera House was a benefit show for the Hawkinsville Fire Department. 

“I try to make it very clear that it’s not all about me, it’s about you and about people,” he said. “That’s the magic in our lives is people.” 

Dupree will participate in a series of dangerous escapes, including locking himself in handcuffs, an authentic straight jacket and, for his grand finale, a padlocked water tank. 

He considers the upcoming show faith-based and said the escape symbolism makes the performance uplifting and inspiring. 

“The show is not about the magic and the escapes; it’s a metaphor of what we go through in life because we find ourselves in our own personal struggles,” he said. “When people are seeing me escaping, they say, ‘If he can get out of that, I can get out of my own problems, insecurities or fears.’” 

Along with a powerful show, Dupree mentioned a prized giveaway. A name will be drawn out of a hat, and the lucky winner wins a free meal for a family of four at the Hawkinsville SteakHouse. There will also be a merchandise table and magic kits available. 

“We got grand illusions, escapes, comedy and interactions with the kids,” he said. “We do a little bit of everything.” 

“The Great Escape” starts at 7 pm on Saturday, May 11. Tickets are available at hawkinsvilleoperahouse.com Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors 60 and above and $12 for kids 12 and under. For more information about Dupree, visit evandupree.com