"THE ILLUSIONISTS" SCHEDULED TO BRING THEIR BLOCKBUSTER FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT EVENT TO NBC WITH DEC. 9 HOURLONG SPECIAL

Broadway Sensations Shift to the Small Screen as TV Audiences Discover One of the Most Unique Holiday Hits on the Great White Way

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - Nov. 20, 2015 - One of the hottest shows on Broadway is making its way to TV as "The Illusionists" bring their unique brand of magic with a one-hour special scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 10 p.m. on NBC.

This mind-blowing spectacular, recently filmed at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles and executive produced by John Irwin and Simon Painter, features the jaw-dropping talents of seven of the most incredible illusionists in the world. The stage production has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzled audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.

Broadway audiences have witnessed stunning acts of grand illusion, levitation, mind-reading, disappearance and, for the first time ever in history, a full-view water torture escape. Performed by the acclaimed escapologist Andrew Basso, he holds his breath for over four minutes while attempting to escape from his underwater cell. This group of world-class performers take their cue from the showmanship of the great illusionists of the past - such as Harry Houdini - and pair it with a new and updated contemporary aesthetic, whose set and costume design lend the genre a theatricality and artistry that has rarely been seen before. Collectively, these performers have been seen by millions of people around the world and the stage production showcased their incredible talents together on stage for the very first time.

"The Illusionists - Live on Broadway" broke box office records when it made its debut last year and is currently back on the Great White Way at the Neil Simon Theatre for a limited engagement.

The New York Times calls "The Illusionists - Live on Broadway" "a high-tech magic extravaganza" while the New York Daily News says the show is "jaw-dropping." The London Times proclaimed, "The Illusionists is magic's Cirque Du Soleil! Pure show business, pure showmanship and enormous fun."

The Illusionists are comprised of Jeff Hobson ("The Trickster"), Andrew Basso ("The Escapologist"), Yu Ho-Jin ("The Manipulator"), Kevin James ("The Inventor"), Adam Trent ("The Futurist"), Jonathan Goodwin ("The Daredevil") and Dan Sperry ("The Anti-Conjuror").

Tickets for THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE ON BROADWAY(TM) are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.com, by calling 877-250-2929, or in person at the Neil Simon Theatre box office (250 West 52nd Street). Irwin Entertainment, Inc. is a full-service television production company specializing in scripted comedy, reality and live entertainment programming. Veteran television producer John Irwin founded the Los Angeles-based company in 2004, and has since produced numerous hit shows including Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (seven seasons), Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Reunion Special (2008) and Sober House (2009), as well as Couples Therapy, which 6th season is currently airing on VH1. Additional credits include, Make or Break: The Linda Perry Project for VH1, Coaching Bad for SPIKE, and the newly announced Famously Single for E! and Family Therapy with Dr. Jenn for VH1. In addition to reality television, Irwin Entertainment has extensive experience producing specials for live television, including NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly. Irwin's comedy projects include specials for Comedy Central and Netflix with dozens of famed comics including; Kevin Hart, Chris D'Elia, Tracy Morgan, David Spade, Patton Oswalt, Artie Lange, Daniel Tosh, Demitri Martin, Norm Macdonald, Chris Hardwick, and Patrice O'Neil to name a few.