From the Dark: an interview with Juan Esteban Varela and Michael Weber

From Cadence Canada:

Cadence recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Juan Esteban Varela and Michael Weber, the incredible mind and director behind the astonishing illusionary production From the Dark, which makes its North American debut this weekend as part of the sixth annual Luminato Festival of Arts and Creativity. As part of the third joint venture between Luminato and the Canadian magic non-profit group Magicana—this year titled Mind over Matter—Varela’s show is one of the most unique magical productions to ever be staged, a production that involves blindfolding both the performer and the audience, to experience a wide breadth of classic magic tricks from a sightless perspective. A novel show and celebration of magic unlike any other, Varela’s show debuted in 2010 at the National Magic Congress in Madrid, Spain, and has since been spellbinding audiences around the world. Stemming from an idea that pegs the question of whether a person truly needs the sense of sight to reason, imagine, and be amazed, Varela’s From the Dark is a conceptual behemoth and an experience that will surely tanzilize the senses—minus those involving the eyes, of course—and promises to give the audience a show unlike any they’ve experienced before.

Read more.

Visit Magcana's website for more information about The Luminato Mind Over Matter magic series.

Welcoming a new patron: Magic Information Canada

Welcome to our newest sponsor, Magic Information Canada!

For those of you who aren't familiar with Magic Information Canada, it is a fabulous repository of links helpful to Canadian magicians.  Established near the end of the 1990s, the site has fabulous lists of Canadian magic:

• shops (complete with contact information, map location, and identification of whether it's a virtual or bricks and mortar shop)
• clubs,
• tutors (lists of those willing to teach individuals and / or groups) and
• events (location, price and contact information are provided). 

I especially like the events section, which primarily includes lectures and workshops, because the events are listed sorted by date and are also entered into Google Calendar!

The site is maintained by magic enthusiast Doug Cuff from Ottawa, Ontario.  Doug is proud of the fact that he has attended every CAMaraderie since 2001.  (That's eight in total!)  In his own words, he's "downright smug about it."

Thank you Doug, for all of the work you put into the Magic Information Canada website and for your sponsorship!

Vernon and Henning at the Magic Castle

Watch 1972 CBC footage of Dai Vernon coaching Doug Henning at the Magic Castle:



[h/t: The Magic Newswire]

Remembering Gary Ouellet

Last Friday I sent out a tweet, remembering the anniversary of Gary Ouellet's passing in 2002.  Imagine my surprise to see this in the twitter-stream:

@CanadasMagic - Magicians of the World... please share your memories of Gary Ouellet who we remember today. fb.me/1KdHuivGG #Magic
— HamnerBarber (@HamnerBarber) June 8, 2012

Go on over and have a visit at the Hamner Barber Theater website.  From their post Gone For A Decade, But Still Influential:

Ten years ago today, the world lost one of the greatest influences in the world of magic when Gary Ouellet passed away unexpectedly at the age of 58.

Gary succumbed to a heart attack while in the midst of producing a television special in Portugal, and his untimely death sent a shock-wave through the magic fraternity around the globe.  Although the name Gary Ouellet (pronounced wal-let) may not be recognized by most people, nearly everyone who has ever watched a network television magic special has witnessed the influence that this talented man had on a multitude of magicians and illusionists from around the world.

Read more.

Darcy Oake at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

From the Winnipeg Free Press:

For the first time in his 15-year-career, Winnipeg illusionist Darcy Oake will literally be playing with reality.

He'll hang by his ankles five metres above the ground, bound by a straitjacket. Reality will be waiting -- with giant metal jaws held open by a piece of burning rope -- to devour him if he doesn't get out in time.

"It's a race-against-time type of effect," says Oake, 24, who will perform the stunt at three shows at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre this Thursday and Friday.

Escaping Reality is his first full-scale solo show in his hometown. It's also a benefit to raise money and awareness for the Bruce Oake Memorial Fund. 

Read more.

Winners of Sorcerers Safari scholarships

From the Sorcerers Safari Facebook page (requires a FB account):

The Society of American Magicians Magic Endowment Fund Scholarship Chairman, Warren J. Kaps, is pleased to announce that two young magicians have been awarded scholarships to Sorcerer’s Safari Magic Camp in Toronto, Canada.

Read more to find out who the winners are.

Congratulations to the winners!  I have no doubt that you'll have a fabulous time at camp this summer!

Richard Turner on The Morning Show

Watch this Global Toronto video of Richard Turner on The Morning Show:



Did you catch Richard at Luminato's Mind Over Matter?  There's still time!

David Copperfield talks about Doug Henning

In his Reddit Q&A, David Copperfield answers the question "What is your favorite memory of Doug?"

Doug Henning opened a lot of doors for us in magic. He was someone I admired since I was a teenager. Amazing.

Read more.

[h/t: iTricks]

Seventeen secrets

Prior to Ring 17's annual banquet, this tweet came through the stream:

We have Seventeen Secrets to share at our Banquet on June 7th. Hope to see you there: bit.ly/nXk5mm
— Hat & Rabbit Club (@IBMring17) May 31, 2012

What could that possibly mean?


There was a good sized crowd at the banquet and I very much enjoyed the company at my table.  Paul Wildbaum did a wonderful job of entertaining us -- I always look forward to watching him perform!

Lifetime membership to the club was bestowed by Gordon Precious:

Congratulations to Sig Kusatz, our newest Lifetime Member.
— Hat & Rabbit Club (@IBMring17) June 8, 2012

Congratulations Sig!  Well deserved!

Apparently, this was also the 70th Anniversary of the Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit Club!  Happy anniversary to us!

But what about the Seventeen Secrets?

Since last September, the executive complied secrets from the talent that had particpated in this year's calendar and published them under the title Seventeen Secrets*.  Here is the table of contents:

• James Alan - Psycho Psychometry
• James Biss - Password Projected
• Matthew DiSero - Hold the Prosciutto
• Richard Forget - Fear and Loathing in Hong Kong
• Murray Hatfield - Musical ESP
• Will Houstoun - Guestimation
• Joshua Jay - Inflated (Canadian) Transposition
• Michael Weber - Band-Aid
• Tyler Wilson - That's What Key Said

From James Alan:

There is a mix of tricks ranging from informal close up magic, to close up, parlour and stage material for formal performances. The tricks use cards, bills, iPads, and SpongeBob Band-Aids. (Seriously!) There are also true stories from life on the road with performing professionals. The material is eccentric, irreverent annotated with credits unusual and obscure.

The book is 8.5" x 5.5", 56 pages with photos, saddle sewn. It was printed in a limited edition of 100 numbered copies which are available for sale through the Hat & Rabbit Club.

The proceeds of the book are being put to good use. With the assistance of David Ben and Julie Eng at Magicana, we were able to acquire several sets of the Ibidem Reprints which were gifted to the junior members of the club so that they can spend the next several years devouring their contents and learning about Toronto's rich magic history. 

--
*Seventeen comes from IBM Ring 17. There aren't actually seventeen items in it. It just sounded nice.

I haven't read it cover to cover yet, but what I've read I've quite enjoyed!

Las Vegas: The Amaz!ng Meeting 2012

From The Amazing Meeting:

The Amaz!ng Meeting (TAM) is an annual celebration of science, skepticism and critical thinking. People from all over the world come TAM each year to share learning, laughs and the skeptical perspective with their fellow skeptics and a host of distinguished guest speakers and panelists. Make sure follow @jref on Twitter for the latest #TAM2012 news and announcements.

Read more.

This year offers a special presentation by Penn and Teller as well as appearances by magicians Max Maven, James Randi and Jamy Ian Swiss.

Banachek: prediction results and show reviews

From The Star:

The surprise retirement of I’ll Have Another was there. The out-of-the-blue bid for the 2024 Olympics was there. The story on gang violence? There. He even had the feature article on Australian Aboriginals.


Read more.

From Torontoist:

For someone who makes his living performing feats of mentalism (telepathy, psychokinesis, hypnotism, seances, and dermaoptics, a.k.a. “the magic of sensing without sight”), British-born performer Banachek’s entire backstory is pretty unique. And given that the audience at last night’s opening night show was not short on skeptics—a handful of whom we spoke to during intermission, or casually eavesdropped on, and a number of whom were volunteers on the stage itself—it is the highest praise to say the entire audience left looking absolutely baffled, but also delighted.

Read more.

From Mooney on Theatre:

A lot of people believe in telepathy, psychokinesis, past life regression and ghosts. These people go to a magic show ready and willing to believe. Others, like me, are skeptics who go simply for entertainment. Banachek’s The Alpha Project, playing as part of Luminato, is a great show for the latter. I suspect it might be a bit confusing for the former. For both kinds of people (and those in between) it’s still a fun night.

Read more.

Halifax: Norman Beck lecture

From the Conjurers Court:

Hi Folks,

Just a note to let you know that Norman Beck is confirmed and will be lecturing in Halifax on August 21.

It will be sometime in the evening – probably 7:00. 

Location, price and other particulars are yet to be determined but I’ll let you know as soon as the details are firm.

Read more.

Got Talent: second season

Because it's a FAQ:

#Rogers/City Upfront: execs at brekkie say future of #CanadasGotTalent up in the air; series not on today's 2012-13 schedule
— Bill Brioux (@BillBriouxTV) May 29, 2012

keywords: Canada's Got Talent auditions 2012

The top 100 most notable Montrealers

From the Montreal Gazette:

On Nov. 14, 1999, The Gazette published a list of more than 200 notable Montrealers who were felt to have had an impact on the city or who had made a major contribution to society while living and working here.

Readers were asked to make 10 choices and rank them. A first-place choice got 10 points, a second-place choice 9, and so on. From the more than 1,000 responses received, Gazette copy clerk Sherry Hattem and aide Marcia McInnis, with help from systems specialist Rob Ramsey, compiled the final tally of 100 notable Montrealers.

Read more.

Why are we mentioning this here?  Because representing magic, at number 87, is Tom Auburn!

Hamilton and Toronto: James Alan in "Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks"

From Abracadabaret:

At The Hamilton Fringe Festival and the Summerworks Theatre Festival (Toronto)

Magician James Alan in a new one-man show about what’s true and what isn’t.

What wouldn’t we give to know whether someone as telling the truth? What if someone told you he was lying, but you believed him anyway?

Read more.

Banacheck predicts Saturday's news

From the Toronto Star:

Renowned U.K. mentalist Banachek has written down a few predictions of what he believes will appear as headlines on the front page of the Saturday Star on June 9 and sealed them in a glass box on display in the front window of Kiehl’s, a cosmetic/beauty products store at 407 Queen St. W.

Read more.

[h/t: Sharing Wonder]

Toronto: An Evening with Eugene Burger

From Abracadabaret:

Friday, September 14, 2012
Venue: Toronto Centre for the Arts

Additional information coming soon.

Read more (and keep an eye out for updates to the site).

Banachek on the Morning Show

From Sharing Wonder:

Minds were blown when the world’s leading mentalist performed a feat on the hosts of Global Toronto’s The Morning Show. Watch him talk about his live show, The Alpha Project, featured in this year’s Luminato’s Mind Over Matter Magic Series.

Watch Banachek on The Morning Show

Read more.

Paul Pacific interviewed by Chris Beason

From Penguin Magic:

Paul Pacific is one of Canada's busiest mentalists. He performs his brand of mentalism at almost every kind of gig imaginable, and has a very engaging stage character.

I caught up with Paul to ask him a few questions about his work.

Read more.

Toronto: Jay Sankey lecture

From the Browser's Den of Magic:

Sunday, June 24

That’s right Jay will be giving a new Two Hour Magic Lecture.

And for the FIRST TWENTY people to buy a ticket your seat will be reserved closest to the front.

Jay will share a BIG BUNCH of stuff during the lecture at the Browser’s Den, including many impromptu effects requiring no set-ups or special props. In fact, over the past year, Jay’s been slowly combing through the many DVDs and books he’s released on the market, and ‘blowing the dust off’ a collection of impromptu effects he hasn’t performed in years. Jay’s also been developing new handlings and variations, many of which he will be sharing at the lecture.

Read more.