DelGaudio weaves together vulnerable personal anecdotes—including stories of his upbringing and his time as a professional cardshark—with illusions that serve to illustrate the "super-real". A Collective Epiphany
The stage featured six recessed windows, representing the chambers of a gun in a game of Russian roulette, each containing a symbolic object linked to a personal story from DelGaudio's life. Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself (2020)
Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself (2020), directed by Frank Oz, is a transformative cinematic record of a singular off-Broadway performance that ran for 552 shows. More than a typical magic special, it functions as a "theatrical existential experience" and a "modern allegory" that explores the profound and often painful nature of identity. More than a typical magic special, it functions
While the stories are deeply personal to DelGaudio, reviewers from Variety note that the performance's true feat is how it shifts the focus back onto the audience, creating a collective feeling of being truly seen. 'In & Of Itself' Is A Study Of Identity And Magic - NPR More than a typical magic special
Upon entering the theater, every audience member was required to choose a card from a wall of hundreds of options, each beginning with "I AM," such as "I AM a teacher," "I AM a skeptic," or "I AM a dreamer".