DATES MAY 3 at 1pm & 7:30pm

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“Right from the start of Bruce Glen’s entertaining show “The Gentleman Magician”, you feel welcomed and put at ease by his genial, affable presence, impeccable manners and easy charm. His magic plays with the simplest of materials, embedded with tales of Houdini, Conan Doyle and Lewis Carroll. Sometimes you are almost unaware of the stunts he is pulling off in front of you, but it’s a slick, polished performance, that manages to astound.”

The Edinburgh ReporterBruce Glen – The Gentleman Magician features extraordinary magic, together with “tall tales and true” inspired by the charm and wonder of some of our greatest storytellers.

This is a truly enthralling one-man show, with not a single top hat nor rabbit in sight! Bruce is a member of The Magic Circle in London, the world’s most exclusive magic society, with less than 1400 members worldwide.“Magic isn’t just for children - why should they have all the fun?” he says.

American magician Andrew Mayne’s interest in magic was ignited as a little boy when his grandfather showed him a trick that involved making a coin disappear.“He was able to spin it on a table, snap his fingers and make the coin vanish. It would then re-appear, sometimes in my shoes, or I would look up my shirt and it would fall out of my belly button,” the 41-year-old bachelor says. “I was just amazed by that and I wanted to know how to do that.”As a teenager, he worked behind the scenes for a David Copperfield TV special. After high school, the Alabama-born magician started working on a cruiseship, performing an illusion show. He later headlined shows in resorts and casinos around the world.Some other big-name magicians he has worked with behind the scenes are David Blaine and Penn & Teller. He has also written mystery and thriller books. One of his books, Angel Killer, which involves a female FBI agent with a background in magic, was the sixth best-selling Kindle Direct Publishing book in Britain in 2012.

A disabled 15-year-old had an inspiring encounter after his mum arranged for him to meet his hero, the magician Dynamo.The illusionist, whose previous stunts include walking on water, turning lottery tickets into cash and levitating comedian James Corden, attended an event for youngsters in London this week organised by the Rays of Sunshine children’s charity.Among the nine youngsters invited was Declan Spencer from Syston, who has Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy but dreams of being a magician himself.He got an up-close performance and came away feeling inspired by the Bradford-born magician, who was diagnosed with Chron’s disease aged 13.Declan’s mum, Alex, said: “It’ was fantastic and Declan was so happy to meet him.

Hoopla Interview

How did you first discover your love of magic? Who or what inspired you?

I grew up on a small farm just outside of Canberra. As a young boy, I loved science and pulling things apart to see how they worked. I also dreamt of exotic places and adventure, and these itchy feet and a natural curiosity lead to my interest in magic.I certainly didn’t have any encouragement – no one in my family was involved in the arts, let alone the entertainment industry. My mother was a real estate entrepreneur and my father was a diesel mechanic, so they found it hard to comprehend my interest in being an entertainer! I’ve just discovered recently though that my father in law’s father was a magician, which is really exciting for me! His name is Harry Rug, and he was a member of the Magic circle in London (his membership certificate is now hanging in my office).

When you were 21 you decided to pursue magic as a full-time career. What did your family and friends think?

I was working as a full-time software developer at the time and living comfortably. But I was also going out to perform magic any chance I got, and it was like I was leading a double life. I would come to work exhausted from being out performing the night before, and little things about office work really started to get to me.I knew that I couldn’t keep living like that, but when I brought the subject up with family and friends they would actively discourage me, so it was confusing. My relationship also broke down – it was a hard time. In the end I just knew it was a “now or never” moment and I just had to take the leap.  What was the worst thing that could happen?It took my family a while to “get it”, but I now have their full support. My dad often works for me as a prop builder and roadie, and mum is an amazing business mentor and inspiration for me.

Teller is widely known as a great magician, but he has just pulled off a feat that is without equal among his peers. He has prevailed in a lawsuit against another magician who put up a copycat illusion on YouTube.Technically speaking, magic tricks aren’t copyrightable. In a ruling by a Nevada federal court on Thursday, U.S. District Judge James Mahan states that explicitly.What is protectable under copyright law is pantomimes, the art of conveying emotions, actions and feelings by gestures. The theatrical medium where magicians work has some of the flavor of pantomimes, and Teller has used it to his advantage.Teller’s magic performance was called Shadows and is described as such:“Shadows essentially consists of a spotlight trained on a bud vase containing a rose. The light falls in a such a manner that the shadow of the real rose is projected onto a white screen positioned some distance behind it. Teller then enters the otherwise still scene with a large knife and proceeds to use the knife to dramatically sever the leaves and petals of the rose’s shadow on the screen slowly, one-by-one, whereupon the corresponding leaves of the real rose sitting in the vase fall to the ground, breaking from the stem at exactly the point where Teller cut the shadow projected on the screen behind it.”In 1983, Teller even registered Shadows with the U.S. Copyright Office in 1983.More at : http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/teller-wins-lawsuit-copied-magic-690347

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LONDON — The first time I meet David Blaine, he is weird. Really weird. Zoned out, distracted or high on something, I can’t tell. It’s a private dinner in an upstairs room at a London hotel and he enters without small talk. Dressed all in black with a black baseball cap, the American illusionist is big, bulky and intimidating.His eyes are droopy but his gaze wanders the room constantly, until he has something he really wants you to know, when he stares at you like the snake in the Jungle Book. “I’m going to try something new,” he says quietly, in a New York hipster drawl. “Would you like to see it?” Of course. We expect to be astonished. So a card goes missing and is found under a wristwatch. Another is chosen at random and its suit and number appear written on the side of a pen. He makes a pack vanish from under our noses, by riffling it in one hand.People gasp and wow and ask, “How do you do that?” As if he was ever going to say. Some of these tricks are familiar to those who know magic, but the execution is breathtaking. Blaine practises with the cards for eight hours at a time and astonishes people every day of his life. He seems to find it easier than talking to them.“I am obsessed with magic,” he says. And besides making him peerless at close-up tricks, this obsession has led him into danger in a series of death-defying stunts that would make his hero Houdini proud. Getting buried alive for a week. Being encased in a block of ice. Going without food and hanging in a locked box over London for 44 days. Holding his breath underwater for 17 minutes, so long that brain damage should have been a certainty. This isn’t just magic, it’s a kind of madness.

His father was a costume designer and his mother a professional dancer, so it’s almost as if Mio Rodriguez was destined to be a performer.His father also dabbled in magic, y’know, the occasional trick.“When I was seven years old, he would sit me on his lap in the kitchen and teach me magic with cards,” Rodriguez said. “He would take me to magic shows, and he always told me how things were done.”Pops should be proud, because unlike haphazard TV illusionist Gob Bluth, this guy is getting love from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He was just named Magician of the Year by the south Florida chapter, and he has his own television series in the works. Clearly, his development is anything but arrested.Despite his upbringing, Rodriguez fought the initial urge and pursued a career as an actor. It wasn’t until his late 20s that he was reintroduced to abracadabra. He was living in Dallas, Texas, and his next-door neighbor taught him the basic fundamentals of a new style that would rekindle the fire.“He said, if I could learn these seven moves of close-up magic, I could be a magician.” With those moves added to his dad’s tricks, he was confident he could make a living out of it. “I discovered that close-up magic was something I was really good at.”Rodriguez has successfully worked as a magician for the last 24 years. He’s an entertainer for hire. You may know him as Mio the Magician, and he’s finally getting the recognition every magician wants.Mio the Magician specializes in close-up magic and mentalism. Close-up magic, as the term implies, is when a magician performs magic tricks before an intimate audience. To be clear, there’s no “far away magic,” but the closest thing would be stage magic.When you have a magician on a grand stage in front of a large audience, “it may look like a woman is really being cut in half, but that’s an illusion that looks good due to all the money they spend on props and lighting and taking the distance into account.”With close-up magic, there is less spectacle, so it comes off as more authentic.“In my magic, the card really does rise out of your hand,” he said. “The card you think of appears in your hand or in my deck upside down – those are things that actually happen in front of your eyes. That’s close up magic; it’s more so to the point and interactive.”Rodriguez also practices a relatively new brand of magic. He can read your mind.“Mentalism is like grown-up magic,” he said. Children are easily fooled by a slight of hand, but adults are usually harder to trick.“An adult may think mentalism is real because people do agree people can read other people’s minds,” he said, a belief mentalists take advantage of.When Rodriguez discovered he was to be honored by his peers as Magician of the Year, he was happy, but not shocked.“Though I’m surprised that they gave it to me, I’m not surprised that I got it,” he said. “In other words, I feel like I’ve earned it, and I’m just happy that they also felt that way.”The International Brotherhood of Magicians, Rodriguez explained, is the largest organization of magicians in the world. The organization divides into local sections, Ring 45 being the South Florida chapter.“Technically speaking, the award is not for the nation, it’s not even for the entire state of Florida, but it is for our half of South Florida.”It seems the timing is perfect. Aside from his usual gigs as an entertainer (he’s performed at private parties for Madonna, Barbara Streisand, and the Miami Heat), he is currently working on filming the pilot for a possible television series.With the help of WPBT, the local PBS station, Rodriguez is working on Life is Magic, a show that “helps people become aware of the magic around them.”“We go to magical places, meet the people in those places, and do magic for them.” For instance, he might visit scientists working with a partial accelerator, and he would amaze them with his magi. In turn, they would blow his mind with science, and both amaze the audience at home. It’s all about getting that wow-factor, something a magician knows all about.“It’s about these magical places as seen through the eyes of me, the magician.”Of course, before letting him go, we had to ask: How does he do it?“Can you keep a secret?” he asked. “So can I.”Source :http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/cultist/2014/02/local_magician_named_performed_madonna_magician

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Magician Russell Davis’ prop of choice for coin routines is an Eisenhower dollar, because, as he puts it, “the bigger the better.”“They’re also called Ikes,” Davis says, “and they’re the size of a silver dollar but my understanding is there’s no silver in them. They’re mostly copper and nickel-clad.” The United States Mint issued Eisenhower dollars from 1971 to 1978, in honor of the late, 34th President of the U.S., Dwight D. Eisenhower.Davis will use “Ikes” in at least three routines during Feb. 23′s “Magic Show 2: Old & New,” the next in his “4th Sunday” series at Flying Monkey Arts, located on the second floor of Lowe Mill (2211 Seminole Drive). Show times for each show in the series are 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Call 256-479-7863 to purchase tickets, which are $10.Seating is limited to 18 per show. “Almost of all of it is close-up magic,” Davis says, referring to old-school routines typically using smaller props, “and we want people to see almost everything … If they see everything, it’s not going to be as magical, because, you know, that would include the secrets. And the way the Flying Monkey Theatre was set up we were able to set up two rows of chairs: Ten seats on risers about two-feet high and eight seats on the floor. The people in the back are only a few feet from the people up front, who are about three feet away from me.”While Davis’s “4th Sunday” shows are “not 100 percent different,” he says, “they’re 90 percent different” in terms of the routines performed in them. On March 23 he’ll unveil the invisibility-themed “Magic Show 3: Now You See,” and April 27′s “Magic Show 4: Magic Door” will feature tricks performed with door-shaped objects.Davis, who is Huntsville-based, says “Old and New” is a theme that helps him connect the routines to each other. “Also some of the routines are an old maneuver and a new maneuver, both them as part of the same routine.”“What can make for the toughest crowd is a bunch of skeptical 10-year-old kids,” Davis says. “The best thing to do – I freely admit I’ve done this before – is have the kids turn to each other before the show and say out loud, ‘Magic’s not real.’ And then after the first routine, that hopefully is very real looking, the same kid turns to the other kid and says, ‘But this guy’s real magic.’” While “Old & New” is geared towards adults, it’s also OK for “well behaved children” 10 and up, he says.At any given time, Davis has one pack of playing cards on his person – and six more in his briefcase. “If I drop the cards or if the cards get wet or if anything happens to the cards, I don’t want to spend much time picking them up, I’d rather do that after the show. I’d rather unwrap a fresh pack and move on.” Davis also uses playing rubber bands and a 10-foot long rope in “Old & New.” Of the latter prop, he says, “It’s just easy to cut, highly visible and that particular routine fits perfectly into the ‘Old and New’ scheme. There is a routine that’s about 50 years old by a British magician, and that segues into a routine that’s about 25 years old by a master Japanese magician.”Source : http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/02/russell_davis_by_the_numbers_m.html

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Not for nothing was New Mexico nicknamed the Land of Enchantment. Magic often seems to inhabit the landscape, and during the coming week it will completely overtake the Jean Cocteau Theater, thanks to screenings of magic-related films and three live performances by Misty Lee, a leading practitioner of theatrical magic. As a student, she trained her sights on dentistry, but the allure of magic soon sunk its teeth into her. She put down roots in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband, Paul Dini, an animation producer and comic book author, and got busy with a career that has included voice-over acting, improvisational comedy, and, especially, theatrical magic.In 2010, she achieved a signal success when she was named staff séance medium in the Houdini Room at the Magic Castle, a Hollywood institution she described as “‘magic central’ not just for Los Angeles but for the whole world.” “It’s a huge mansion built in 1908,” she explained, “on what used to be ‘millionaire’s row,’ but by now all the other mansions are long gone. In 1961, brothers named Milt Larsen and Bill Larsen Jr. decided to develop it into a center for magic to honor their father, who had been the editor of a respected magic magazine and dreamed of opening an Academy of Magical Arts. It became a renowned club for magicians, a nurturing place. To gain access, you have to be a member of the private magic club or come as a guest of one. No fewer than six magicians perform every night, and the roster changes weekly. The exception is the séance room; those of us who are séance mediums are there on request, and we could be there every night. Every time I walk through the door I feel so lucky. Who goes to work and has that job?” One of her colleagues will have to handle the Houdini Room on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22, though, because Misty Lee will be in Santa Fe confounding viewers from the stage of the Jean Cocteau Theater.

Source- http://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/performance/intent-on-enchantment-magician-misty-lee/article_e88aa0d1-5cc3-560b-9122-859350a22b02.html?mode=image&photo=1

Derren Brown is, as he once joked, a borderline national treasure. The hypnotist, illusionist and magician has dominated both stage and screen for over a decade. I caught up with him, still in his slippers, just before he heads out on his latest tour.You don’t speak out on gay issues as much as some celebs. Do you find it difficult?“Well I’m quite quiet anyway, and also I’m so hopeless with topical events. I’m terrified of going on panel shows and things like that because I feel like I don’t know anything!“Unlike someone like Stephen [Fry], I don’t feel best placed. I tend not to want to upset people, so I end up keeping quiet on a lot of things. So a combination of general shyness and a feeling of ignorance.”Equal marriage is coming in next month in England and Wales. Do you and your partner have any plans?“No, no plans at the moment! I’ve never really made plans for the future, but who knows? Nothing on the horizon. One of the nice things about being gay is there’s a bit less pressure to do those things, where for a straight couple there’s a little bit of ‘so, getting married? Having a baby yet?’, and then it happens and you don’t see them for sixteen years!“Clearly this is something we will look back on and go ‘when grandpa was little gay people couldn’t get married?’, in the same way we’ll probably look back one day and go ‘we used to keep animals in zoos and look at them in cages?’”Have you paid much attention to the stuff happening in Russia?“I tweeted a video about Russia this morning, and someone replied ‘Britain’s its own worst enemy, just let people get on with their own values system, we shouldn’t tell other people what to believe’, and part of me almost believes that. Are we just marching in not knowing what we’re talking about? But I think sometimes you have to take a less relativist approach, and a slightly more value-laden approach.“One of the things for me about coming out in our culture, is you realise to your slight surprise and disappointment that people just don’t care, and it’s very easy to believe that really nobody cares at all and that all the anxiety you create is just in your own head.“But seeing how it is in Russia, realising how different and horrendous it is, is a good wake up call. You end up becoming a little bit complacent.“It’s awful, and it affects people’s lives in a really horrendous way. I know there are other places around the world that are probably worse than Russia, and you just hope that this is just a period of change.”“I’ve got zero interest in sport, sadly, and zero interest in the Olympics generally!

”More at : http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/02/11/interview-derren-brown/

Travel Channel has greenlit production for two magic-related pilots.

“Great Escapes” (wt) showcases escape artist and history buff Steve Santini as he explores iconic locations and tourist destinations often visited for their notorious confinements.  Santini will meet with experts and examine historical facts to see how a breakout could have changed the course of history.  Driven by his curiosity, Santini – who holds a 2010 Guiness World Record for slipping blindfolded from police handcuffs – will attempt to free himself using expert techniques. “Great Escapes” (wt) is a half-hour pilot produced by Paper Route Productions.

“Street Cred” (wt) is a hidden camera talent show searching America for the best street performers.  Unlike any other talent series on television, the contestants on “Street Cred” didn’t sign up for anything, and have no idea they’re even on TV!  A former street performer himself, comedian and magician Penn Jillette will travel the country with his team of undercover experts to find and reward the best street performer with a $10k tip.  “Street Cred” is a half-hour pilot produced by High Noon Entertainment.

“Travel Channel continues to explore the world through fresh hosts and provocative programming,” said Andy Singer, General Manager, Travel Channel.  “Our clever formats, fascinating personalities and unique points-of-view provide viewers with entertaining and exciting spins on the travel category.”

TRAVEL CHANNEL (http://www.TravelChannel.com) is a multiplatform travel lifestyle brand with the core mission of providing inspiring and compelling programming that takes viewers beyond their everyday destinations, making the unfamiliar familiar, whether it’s around the world or around the block. A dual feed network that is also available in HD, Travel Channel is the world’s leading travel media brand, and is available in over 94 million U.S. cable homes.

A once shy and retiring teenager is now wowing the crowds with his tricks and illusions after discovering he has the magic touch.

Up-and-coming magician James Tombling, 18, is taking the world of magic by storm with his amazing card and mind reading tricks.

But less than two years ago 18-year-old James was so lacking in confidence he rarely left his bedroom at his home in Kersal, Salford.

Youth worker Tommy Lever convinced James to get involved with the Lower Kersal Young People’s Group (LKYPG) and he has never looked back.

James now volunteers his time every week helping with the junior sessions and his confidence has soared.

James is studying plumbing at Salford City College, but his real passion lies with magic and he aspires to become a professional magician. Now thanks to Salford based-housing provider Salix Homes, James is one-step closer to pursuing his dream after successfully securing funding through its Dream, Aspire, Reward, Excel (DARE) fund.DARE provides grants for young people to help them achieve their goals and the grants are administered by the Salix Homes Youth Panel, made up of 16 to 24 year olds.Self-taught magician James is the latest recipient of the DARE fund after he applied for £450 to buy himself some new professional tricks and a smart suit for his act.James said: “I first got interested in magic when I was 11 years old. My uncle showed me an elastic band trick, but he wouldn’t tell me how he did it, so I spent ages trying to figure it out and it went from there.“I’d like to say thank you to Salix Homes for the DARE grant. I’ve been able to buy a new suit and some professional tricks which I wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. It’s given me much more confidence to perform in public.”Youth worker Tommy is thrilled at James’ transformation from shy teenager to talented illusionist.He said: ”When I first met with James he wouldn’t say boo to a goose, but now his confidence is soaring.“Last year he was involved in a play we did at The Lowry and when he came off stage he said to me ‘I can do anything now’. It’s been a remarkable transformation.”With his sharp suit and new bag of tricks James is already securing professional gigs and has performed at the Cube Art Gallery in Manchester.Sue Sutton, director of customer and neighbourhood services at Salix Homes, said: “James managed to cast a spell over our Youth Panel and they were delighted to grant him the money so he could pursue his dream.“James is a very talented young magician and he should be proud of all he’s achieved at such a young age. We hope this DARE money will go some way towards helping him achieve his dream of becoming a famous magician and we hope James’ story will inspire other young people to apply for DARE funding.”Funding is still available for young people through the DARE fund. If you are a Salix Homes’ tenant aged 16-24 and would like to apply for a DARE grant, call Sian Sharples on 0161 7798849 or email sian.sharples@salixhomes.org

In a well-appointed suite within the Waldorf Towers Hotel, Steve Cohen is proudly in charge of one of New York City’s best-kept secrets. He might not have the same name recognition as Penn and Teller or the Davids (Copperfield and Blaine), but Cohen, a master of the sleight-of-hand, and his weekly show Chamber Magic, routinely manages to boggle the minds of the rich, famous, and powerful. Dubbed the “millionaires’ magician,” his work spans unique card tricks to what looks like the impossible: pouring a variety of beverages, from Long Island Iced Teas to chocolate milk, from an empty tea pot.

TheaterMania sat down with Cohen following a recent performance to discuss Chamber Magic and how the chance to delight skeptical audiences is his dream come true.

Welcome to the utterly thrilling latest instalment of The Illusionists.

Tagged 2.0, the new show follows the success of the first Illusionists, which showcased the world’s foremost practitioners in the ambience of the Opera House.

Same venue, same idea, but with six brand new illusionists. And what a show they deliver.

The six in the spotlight are Portuguese star Luis de Matos, Brit James More, Belgian Aaron Crow, American Adam Trent, Korean Yu Ho-Jin and our own Raymond Crowe. All are superb.

The night is hosted by the utterly charming de Matos, a superstar in Europe and the veteran of the group. Besides introductory duties, de Matos wields some eye-popping illusions of his own, several of which are bound to provoke some pretty robust interval discussion, particularly given that one involves the audience actually doing the work. But enough spoilers.

Among this cast of amazing performers it was Crowe who stole the audience’s heart. Although he’s a local, it’s a rare treat to have him perform here and his extensive array of skills across ventriloquism, parlour magic, clowning, mime, comedy and shadow puppetry were unleashed to brilliant effect.

More’s shrinkage of self, followed by a flaming impaling was an eye-watering, confounding contribution. The 2012 world champion of magic, Yu Ho-Jin, just 22 years old, wowed by plucking cards out of thin air, his nimble act enhanced by brilliant use of close-ups on the big screen.

Crow’s weapon-based stunts can’t be topped. This is a spectacular outing, one that all ages will enjoy to the fullest.

Despite the tragic death of performer Dr Scott Lewis, the illusionists decided that the show must go on and it did, seamlessly, following a tribute to their colleague.

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House; until January 16, $46.88-$119, 9250 7777, sydneyoperahouse.com

Source : http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/the-illusionists-20-the-show-goes-on-despite-the-death-of-performer-dr-scott-lewis/story-fnkltfm0-1226800563227

A renowned American stage hypnotist has died after plunging several storeys from an apartment balcony in Sydney.

The body of Dr Scott Lewis, who was performing in The Illusionists 2.0 at the Sydney Opera House, was found on a fourth-floor balcony in Pyrmont on Saturday morning.

Police say the 50-year-old fell from his 11th storey apartment while trying to climb to another balcony on Friday night.

A clinical hypnotist, Dr Lewis had performed around the world and had headlined a show in Las Vegas for nine years.

The Illusionists 2.0, which features seven performers from around the world, uses 3D projections to enhance the show’s illusions.

Saturday’s 2:00pm show was cancelled due to Dr Lewis’s death, but the 7:00pm show went ahead as scheduled.

A statement from the Opera House said the Saturday night show was dedicated to the hypnotist.

“We wish to express our deepest sympathies to Dr Lewis’s family and friends, as well as to the cast and crew of The Illusionists 2.0,” the statement said.

“Dr Lewis was a wonderful performer and he will be greatly missed.”

The show’s co-producer Tim Lawson says the company is “deeply saddened” by Dr Lewis’s death.

“The entire company has decided to continue the show in his honour, and [we] send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” he said.

The hypnotist’s website said he had been hypnotising people for more than 25 years after having used self-hypnosis techniques to lose weight.

A report is being prepared for a coroner.

Watch this and see what Sorcerers Safari Magic & Performance Camp is all about – mentalists battling, card flourish showdowns at the Magic Camp Corral and famous magicians all over the place.

After watching this documentary you’ll see what makes magic camp so special and why campers keep coming back year after year. While the grounds are amazing, the teaching is top quality and the nightly shows are stellar, magic camp is much more than the sum of its parts – this documentary helps explain why.

2013 Sorcerers Safari Magic Camp Documentary can be seen here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?

Sorcerers Safari Magic & Performance Camp runs at Camp White Pine in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada for one awesome week every summer.
For more information, or to join in the fun this August 15th – 20th, 2014, visit http://sorcererssafari.ca/

FARMINGTON — “I am 98 percent retired from show business,” said James Locke, aka James LaDini, The Great LaDini and Zing the Clown, as he looked back on his lifetime career as an entertainer. Disappearing venues, health complications and advancing age are all contributing factors.

Now approaching his 69th birthday, Locke can still recall his first paid performance. It was in the Rochester Opera House and he was a 9-year-old kid opening the show for a Nashville Country singer and his band.

“I did seven or eight minutes and got paid $5. That was a lot of money in those days and it was a great experience,” he said.

There was a gap of 58 years before Locke played the Rochester Opera House again, closing the season in 2012 with a magic show. Between times, he performed all over the country, including Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and even bought a circus, in which he was ringmaster for many years and, on occasions, was a magician and illusionist, fire eater, low wire balancer, and more.

Following the success of specials from Dynamo and Cosentino, Seven announces more magic and illusion for 2014, including two new series and a returning favourite.

Seven has secured the rights to hit new British series The Happenings and Tricked, which will join a fourth series from Dynamo: Magician Impossible in primetime on Seven in 2014.

The Happenings stars BAFTA-nominated magicians Barry and Stuart, as they attempt to make the unbelievable believable. Quietly slipping into four unsuspecting towns in the UK and US and through magic, illusion and sleight of hand, the pair create events so strange for the residents, no one would usually believe them. As the phenomena builds Barry and Stuart use their magic to create a stunning finale, so that when the time comes, the strange happenings will have no other explanation.

In Tricked, mischievous magician Ben Hanlin goes undercover using sleight of hand, mental powers and misdirection to pull epic magical pranks on members of the public and celebrities

Abracadabra! It’s Disney Live! presents Mickey’s Magic Show! 

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and a host of Disney friends come together with a world-class illusionist to perform magic from legendary Disney films right before your eyes. 

See the Fairy Godmother transform Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful ball gown in a split second; the spectacular levitation of Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine; and the enchanted dancing brooms of Fantasia. 

Join Donald Duck and Goofy, Alice and the Mad Hatter, and many more for a one-of-a-kind stage show you’ll never forget. Mickey’s Magic Show is a whole new way to experience Disney magic with your family these summer school holidays! 

For more information visit www.disneylive.com.au

TOUR DATES*:
27-29 Dec - Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre 
04 Jan - Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
15 Jan - WIN Entertainment Centre
19 Jan - Adelaide Entertainment Centre 
*Ticketek is selling for the above venues only

Not to be confussed with the Sydney Magic Festival. The Sydney Festival is showcasing some spectacular magic acts this year and Bullet Catch is just one of them! 

THE ARCHES AND ROB DRUMMOND | UKAUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE

"Remarkable, multilayered and utterly gripping" The Guardian

A stunt so dangerous even Houdini refused to attempt it, the bullet catch has claimed the lives of many since its conception in 1613.

In this acclaimed piece of theatre, writer, co-director and performer Rob Drummond plays William Wonder who, with the help of his audience, explores the life and death of a famed magician who died 100 years ago undertaking the trick onstage.Using spectacular illusion and psychological magic – along with a whole box of clever theatrical tricks that include storytelling and audience interaction, Drummond presents a unique theatrical magic show.Bullet Catch features storytelling, mind reading, levitation, games of chance and, if you're brave enough to stay for it, the most notorious finale in show business.

Captioned performance 20 January at 7.30pm.Photo: Niall Walker

Welcome to ‘The Amazing Magic Club’, a wonderful world of astonishing tricks and marvelous magic. Join us for two weeks of fun, mystery and illusion as our world-renowned magicians, Bruce Glen and Sam Angelico, teach you how to become a magnificent magician. Friends and family will be astonished as you wow them with your newfound skills!

This innovative two-week workshop program is designed for young people with hemiplegia. Based on thorough research by UK Breathe Arts Health Research Magic Camps, this program significantly improves bimanual hand/arm movement. Occupational Therapists have worked alongside our Magicians to ensure specially adapted magic tricks and performance skills are used to improve the physical and mental health of your child.

Contact-  amy.eastwood@artshealthinstitute.org.au

MAGIC is in the air.

The Illusionists 2.0 executive producer Simon Painter says the producers had to field 2000 magicians applying for their latest show, which opens at Her Majesty's Theatre on December 27.

They selected just seven.

"There is no shortage of people, just a shortage of very, very good people," said Mr Painter.

After the enormous and continuing success of their first Illusionists' show, which celebrated a steampunk vision of magic, he said The Illusionists 2.0 was a futuristic view of the craft.

"That was a reinvention of the last hundred years of magic, whereas this is a reinvention of the next 100 years of magic," he said.

"For example an act that is happening on a table we will film in 3D and the audience will wear 3D glasses and they will see a dimension they would not normally see.

"It is a dimension that has never been tried before."

While The Illusionists Mark I prepares to open on Broadway in 2014, Simon Painter has been beavering away in Los Angeles, using Hollywood special effects experts to create the new show.

Small magic is made big by technology, and big illusions are made spectacular by taking over the whole stage.

Read more: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/arts/the-illusionists-explore-the-future-of-magic/story-fni6um7a-1226790287110

From the creator of the biggest magic show on the planet, comes the world’s boldest and cheekiest magic show.

They’ve performed to audiences on televisions and stages across the globe now Christopher Wayne & Mike Tyler; two of Australia’s biggest names in magic take to the stage for the first time ever with their sleeves up and pants down.

This boisterous R-rated magic show strips away the top hats and capes, promising full frontal illusions. Good magicians don’t need sleeves. Great magicians don’t need pants.

“They’re hot, mind blowing and seriously hilarious. Five Stars!”

                                               - Stav Davidson, Radio & TV Personality.

In keeping with the historical design of the annual Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson, organizers added a vintage magic show in 2007 that has captivated audiences ever since. “The Great Wizard of the North Magic Show” will make its seventh appearance this year, offering five shows over the weekend at the Masonic Lodge, 312 Main St., Port Jefferson.

Barbara Ransome, director of operations at the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce stated, “They have supported the Charles Dickens Festival almost from the very beginning. It is a very well-attended show and everybody loves it!”

“The Great Wizard” pays homage to a real-life, Scottish magician named John Henry Anderson, who traveled the world in the mid-19th century and was known for his lavish and creative stunts.

The trickery behind Derren Brown's promo photos for his new one-off special, The Great Art Robbery, has been revealed in an exclusive new video for Digital Spy.

Brown's latest special will feature the popular TV star using a group of senior citizens to pull off an incredible art theft.

The twist to the show is that Brown actually tells the owner of the artwork who will be stealing the art, when they will be doing it and what they are going to steal.

Watch the video to see how Brown created the 'This Is Not a Painting' stunt:

Read more: http://www.digitalspy.com.au/british-tv/news/a536273/derren-brown-this-is-not-a-painting-stunt-revealed-video.html#ixzz2mxppaenS 
Follow us: @digitalspy on Twitter | digitalspyuk on Facebook

No, it’s not an illusion - Bradford magician Dynamo is now a doctor.

“If I go on an airplane, what do I do?” asked the new honorary graduate of Bradford University.

“Do I change my name? What if they ask if there’s a Doctor Steven Frayne on board?

“I remember learning that mouth to mouth stuff and I know a little bit to get me by... but I hope that never happens!”

The 31-year-old, who grew up as Steven Frayne on Bradford’s Delph Hillestate, could never have imagined he would end up standing in front of a group of academics at his home city university, giving a speech urging them to believe in magic.

However, it is reality - the Magician Impossible star was today awarded a degree for his commitment to Bradford, improving opportunities for young people and his charity work.

“Being back in Bradford is amazing,” said Dynamo, dressed smartly in a black suit shortly after the ceremony.

“I haven’t actually been back here since last Christmas, I’ve been so busy, so it’s great to be here for such an amazing reason.

“I’m so humbled and honoured and, to be honest, giving my speech was the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve ever done.

A Performance film of Teller and Todd Robbins' live horror show.
Directed for the Off-Broadway stage by Teller.

Famed silent magician Teller (of Penn & Teller) and Coney Island showman Todd Robbins thrill a live audience with gory ghastly spectacles based on real-life killers and psychic pranksters in this film of their off-Broadway show PLAY DEAD, caught live at The Players Theatre on Manhattan's historic MacDougal street.

"Play Dead" is inspired by the American spook show, an underground entertainment that thrived from the 1930s to the 1970s. It was quite an experience for fans of Grand Guignol, and we've been told we've done a fair job of conveying that onscreen. Expect brutal onstage beatings, nubile nudity, and chunks of the show performed in absolute darkness. Even the exit signs go off! Be welcome, and BEWARE!

In the live show, the audience is frequently plunged into total darkness. For the film, we shot what went on in the dark in infrared, and, from time to time, we let filmgoers glimpse some of the secrets the live audience never got to see.

This means you.To Find out more head over to the PLAY DEAD website!

Unfortunately not a part of the AIMF but we are still super excited!

One year ago, four of the hottest young magicians of the moment met for the first time and the world's first magic supergroup was born. Natural showmen, Justin Willman, Nate Staniforth, Justin Flom and Australia's own James Galea are the faces of modern magic. Working together they have created an act loaded with outstanding illusions, dazzling deceptions and astounding artistry. Each member's fierce sense of one-upmanship drives the whole Band of Magicians to new, increasingly impossible feats, creating magic that draws on their collective talents, far surpassing what one magician can accomplish alone. Keep your wits about you for this one. It's awe-inspiring entertainment from the finest magic specialists around. A Soft Tread, James Galea and Barbara Meyer production.

To find out more, check dates and buy tickets please head to The Sydney Festival Website Here

Project Magic is a program, designed by David Copperfield, where magicians and occupational therapists work together to teach sleight of hand therapy.

In support of Project Magic Australia David Copperfield and his Australia associate Jack Daniels promoted Project Magic through an interview on Sydney radio station Mix 106.5 and on Channel Seven's Sunrise.

You can see David Copperfield and Jack Daniels' Magic to Believe on Sunrise this morning...http://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/watch/20051418/project-magic-to-heal-down-under/

Illusionist Cosentino has won this year’s Dancing with the Stars championship.

He defeated Home and Away‘s Rhiannon Fish after Tina Arena was eliminated earlier.

“To be in the top three is unbelievable and to be in this position is phenomenal,” he said.

The win followed Cosentino finding a new professional dance partner in episode two after Jessica Raffa sustained a serious back injury. “We look like we gel so much on the dance floor, because we do in real life. It’s been an honour to dance with him every day,” she said.

The finalists competed in three rounds of dancing including a redemption dance, sudden death Cha Cha and a final Freestyle. Conspiracy theorists will note the final went down to two Channel Seven personalities vying for the title.

But this season has been notable for some surprisingly strong dance talent, despite being Seven’s 13th season.

Judges scores:
Tina Arena & Damian Whitewood 38 (Tango) + 36 (Cha Cha face off) = 74
Cosentino & Jessica Raffa 34 (Samba) + 31 (Cha Cha face off) + 39 (Freestyle) = 104
Rhiannon Fish & Aric Yegudkin 35 (Viennese Waltz) + 32 (Cha Cha face off) + 36 (Freestyle) = 103

On Friday Sep 27th the world became a little less magical.

John Calvert, a man who was regarded in many entertainment industry circles as "a real-life Indiana Jones," passed away on September 27, 2013, at the age of 102.

Read more about the amazIng life of John Calvert Here on the IBM Website

Mr. Calvert, thank you for your impact on the art of magic. Thank you for being one of the world’s great performers, but more than that, thank you for being one of the world’s greatest gentlemen.

Rest well.

The next generation of magic is coming to town! A stunning sequel featuring seven masters of mental and optical illusion, The Illusionists 2.0 follows the outstanding success of the original show that has taken the world by storm.

This brand new production propels the audience into the future of magic and illusion using cutting-edge visual effects including giant 3D interactive projections. A fast-paced, high-energy powerhouse performance, The Illusionists 2.0 gives you the chance to witness the magical genius of seven of the world's greatest stars of their genre, each with a unique skill that has won them countless fans globally.

Whether it's the comedic talents of The Hypnotist, the deadly arts of The Warrior or the high-risk tricks and stunts of The Deceptionist, The Illusionists 2.0will leave you rubbing your eyes in disbelief. Edgy, exciting and most of all fun, it's the perfect family summer entertainment.

FROM 9 JAN 2014
CONCERT HALL
KIDS & FAMILY TICKETS AVAILABLE (AGES 5+)

BOOK ONLINE

In a world full of reality TV and lacklustre entertainment, Bizzaro, The Optical Illusionist, strives to open people's eyes and prove that "normal" is just the setting on a dryer.

     Bizzaro has performed from coast to coast and appeared on FOX, NBC, America's got Talent, and the Travel Channel's Extreme Conventions. He has even been seen at the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA.

     From lighting himself on fire to getting attacked by snack chips, a Bizzaro show is unlike anything else in the world. Using various types of music as his frame, he creates a unique picture with visual comedy and off the wall illusions that combine a neo-vaudeville style with silent movie antics. 

 He has also created much of his own magic that is sold across the world to performers of varying types. The products range from DVDs to "one of a kind" magic props. Bizarro specialises in fabricating magic for other entertainers and is a creative director and lecturer.

See Bizzaro only at the Brisbane Magic Festival in 2014! Subscribe now to be notified when tickets go on sale!

That's right! Sean Taylor who is known to be one of Australia’s top corporate entertainers will be joining us for the Sydney Magic Festival in 2014! 

Sean Taylor has over 25 years of performing experience in more than 15 countries and is one of the most sought-after entertainers and speakers in Australia. Sean's Comedy, Magic and Mindreading presentations are a unique and hilarious combination of wit, intuition, audience interaction, psychology and pure magic.

You can see Sean Taylor's amazing family magic show on Saturday 27th September 2014 5.30pm- One Show only !

• Magicians - As a special treat for the magic community Sean Taylor will be lecturing on Sunday the 28th of September- 2014 11am- Booking essential (100 seats only)

Sean Taylor and his amazing wife Diana Taylor are the owner/operators of Sydney's finest magic shop which has been operating for over 20 years- Taylor's Magic . Taylor's magic products will be available for purchase during the festival so be sure to check out their amazing products! 

The current members of the board are: 

Bill Evans - International President

Shawn Farquhar - International President-Elect

Joe M. Turner - International Vice President

Donald E. Wiberg - International Secretary

Roger Miller - International Treasurer

Bob Patterson - Executive Committee Member - 2013-16

Ken Cook - Executive Committee Member - 2013-16

David Sandy - Executive Committee Member - 2011-14

Daniel Herron - Executive Committee Member - 2011-14

Oscar Munoz - Executive Committee Member - 2012-15

Becki Wells - Executive Committee Member - 2012-15

John R. Browne III - I.B.M. Legal Advisor

http://www.magician.org

That's right ladies and gents! Australia's no. 1 Lady Magician is back with her AMAZING "I Dream of Jeannie Tribute Show”.

Every single time she appears as Jeannie her clients and fans exclaim at the remarkable likeness to the character.

Sue-Anne's likeness goes as far as having the exact same height as Barbara Eden and she has been told by Jeannie experts that her bubbly character and voice both on phone and in real life is so similar to the real Jeannie and Barbara Eden that it sends chills down the spines of Jeannie fans. Jeannie fans have had tears in their eyes when they see their favourite TV character come to life right in front of their eyes.

They are thrilled and delighted when Jeannie performs magic not only on stage, but right up close and personal. 

             ONE Jeannie show only - Don't miss out.... 

             Friday 26th September 2014 @ 6pm - Main Auditorium

Ladies and Gentlemen it's with great excitement and honour that I can announce to you all that the amazing World champion of magic and President of the IBM Mr Shawn Farquhar himself will be flying to Australia to be a part of the festival.

A little more info for our "non- magical" members of the community: Shawn is arguably Canada’s most famous and most recognised magician. He has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians and the Vancouver Magic Circle, Magician of the Year by the Canadian Association of Magicians – Twice, Grand Prix D’Honneur by the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians, Both Stage Magician of the Year and Sleight of Hand Magician of the Year by the International Brotherhood of Magicians – the only person to win both of the top categories in the history of the organisation, and has won the highest award in magic the Grand Prix World Champion of Magic at the Olympics of Magic in Beijing China. 

Shawn will be holding a special lecture for magicians and touching base with the IBM members in Sydney Australia. You will be able to purchase merchandise from the man himself and he will be performing some wonderful shows naturally. Subscribe today to keep ahead of the rest. :)