Most recently Fred was awarded the recurring role of Santa Claus in the Chicago Company of “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes!”  He originated the role of JP Morgan in the 1^st National Touring Company of the Tony-Award-Winning Musical RAGTIME, and spent two years with the National Tour of SHOWBOAT.  Chicago audiences have seen him in theatres all over town, most recently co-starring opposite Bea Arthur in “Strike Up The Band” and co-starring with Fred Willard and Joann Worley in “Call Me Madam,” both part of the Auditorium Theatre’s Ovation Series.

But how does Fred fit his Magic into all of this?  It happened primarily through expedience, but then blossomed into a full-fledged professional focus.

Since Fred was usually working, he had very little time to pursue his Magical career viz a viz traditional Magical venues, e.g. restaurants, corporate functions, etc.  With most nights and afternoons spent at the theatre, his schedule just didn’t permit it.  However, he found he was being asked to perform quite a bit at theatrical benefits, e.g. Equity fights AIDS, Breast Cancer, Actor’s Fund, etc.  And as any working pro will tell you, when you work specialty shows like this, you tend to customize your material.

Well, since these were the ONLY venues Fred was working, he found that ALL of his material was becoming theatrically themed.  And when this occurred, a very profound thing happened—Fred became happy with his Magic!

“I spent a lot of years, especially in my youth, learning and watching incredibly talented performers all over Chicago ply their trade.” says Fred.  “And of course, like most burgeoning performers, I longed for a `signature’ of my own.  But it was very elusive!  So, like many of us, I began to imitate the people I liked, and of course, that was a dismal failure.” It wasn’t until Fred met two very influential people that his Magic began getting on track. 

First, Fred met and became close friends with Bruce Bernstein, current creator and writer of many classic books and effects in Mentalism.  Bruce was then Chief Magician-in-Residence at Magic, Inc. in Chicago.  Under his influence, Fred discovered the wonderful world of Psychic Entertainment, and the beauty of simple, yet downright sneaky, methods!  (It was also through Bruce’s influence that Fred began working at Magic, Inc.  But those years are a whole `nother story!).

Secondly, Fred met and became close friends with Tony Andruzzi, a.k.a. Tom Palmer, a.k.a. Masklyn ye Mage, a.k.a. Daemon X, a.k.a...well you get the picture.

Tony really opened up Fred’s mind to the world of Magic as a unique personal expression—as an art form that depended primarily on “performance” rather than “method.”  Even though he had been living the life of a professional actor, where day in and day out he was relying on performance and not method (insert your own “Method Acting” joke here), it seemed he just couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

Under Tony and Bruce’s tutelage, the scales fell from his eyes!  “It was like the final scene of `Sibyl!” Fred declaims!  “ My two distinct personalities, Fred the Actor and Fred the Magician, were becoming one, although no one had to clean up under the piano!”

But this was only the beginning. After going out on the road and being asked to perform at several theatrical benefits, Fred began theming his magic around his life and career in Theatre.

“The stories that frame my Magic are usually based in truth, such as audition experiences, show-related incidents, or interesting people I’ve met in towns all across the country. This grounds my stories and makes them feel real for both me and my audience—although I have been known to create material out of whole cloth!”

The result of Fred’s endeavors are now known as “Fred Zimmerman’s Backstage Mysteries.”

“But the important point is that I finally feel like my Magical performances finally ring true.  My persona is not a rip-off. If you take a clear, unbiased view of the Magical performing community today, and over the past 100 years, you’ll probably come to the same realization I did—there are very few “originals” out there.  Most are simply variations on a theme (and I use the word “variation” here guardedly!).”

Smiling Fred adds, “But what is my persona., you may ask?  Good question! In a nutshell, it’s about me, Fred Zimmerman, a professional actor, who has been searching to find truth and meaning in life by exploring the mysteries of our world.  Traveling around the country as an actor has exposed me to some pretty interesting things and I’ve met some incredibly fascinating people.  And since I’m an “actor,”  people often allow me access to certain circles of society that aren’t normally open to the general public, such as fraudulent mediums, crooked gamblers, psychic healers, and the like!  And then I go on from there!”

“The best part is,”  says Fred, “that I can perform a very eclectic show and still stay on message.  After all, I’m an actor who’s picked up some unique talents, not a magician who can be pigeon-holed."

In order to keep true to this vision, Fred has to be brutally honest with himself.  If an effect just doesn’t fit what he wants to accomplish, he shelves it.

“I love all kinds of Magic, but you just can’t do it all.  Working at Magic, Inc. is a lot like working in a candy store.  After a while, it takes an awful lot to thrill me.  My advice for anyone interested in making their Magic special is to concentrate on what they really like and what they do best, (that’s usually the same thing!) and then take it one trick or routine at a time.  Make that one thing truly special, and then move on.  After 10 years of pursuing my quest, I feel that I have 4 or 5 pieces in my show that I REALLY like.  I’m still looking to build and perfect.  Think about that!  10 years to get 5 pieces I really like!  Add to this another 4 or 5 close-up items, and that’s it!  I’ve gotten very picky!”

And so, the next time you see Fred Zimmerman in a Broadway Tour, or on the Chicago stage, ask him to perform something for you--after the show, please!  What you’ll get will be a piece of truly unique Magical theatre called “Backstage Mysteries”.