Congratulations Mike D'Urzo!

Congratulations Mike D'Urzo on your Wedding Industry Experts Award for 2014!

From Mike's Twitter feed:

Top 10 Magicians Worldwide by the 2014 Wedding Industry Experts Awards! pic.twitter.com/Qn4Yz1yrRj
— Mike D'Urzo (@MikeDurzo) July 1, 2014

Escaping Parkinson's now underway

Best wishes Mark!

Watch his Day One video on YouTube:




From Global News:

Toronto teen Mark Correia got strapped into a straitjacket Tuesday morning — a straitjacket in which he plans to spend the next two weeks.

The 18-year-old magician and actor hopes to raise $25,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research by living in the straitjacket until July 22.

“This is real,” he said, as Liza Fromer of Global’s The Morning Show helped buckle him in. “No breaks. No freedom. No escape until the last minute.”

Read more and watch video.

From Inside Halton:

Escaping from a straitjacket has become a mainstay trick for many magicians. Illusionist Harry Houdini made it a staple of his own act while hanging upside down from a crane.

Now, Mark Correia is putting his own twist on the age-old magic trick by spending two weeks — as of today (Tuesday) strapped into one in support of The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.                              

Read more.

Family Fun Day with Greg Frewin

This is a great idea for families.  A nice early show for the kiddies and a rare chance at a Q&A with Greg himself!  (As you know, I think the experience is wonderful even without the Q&A.)  Don't just take my word for it, Yashy Murphy wrote about her experience too.  Read Murphy's post Greg Frewin's Imagine Magic Show!


From Greg Frewin Theatre's Facebook page:

Post by Greg Frewin Theatre.

Review: Rosemary Reid

From Mooney on Theatre:

Rosemary Reid is one of the buskers at this years Fringe Club. If she comes over to your table and asks if she can sit down and do some magic, say yes. We did and all five of us thought she was terrific.
She impressed us with her card tricks, always a good thing, but what really dazzled us was her wit and personality. She was at ease before she even sat down; funny, fast, and delightful.

Read more.

Canadians at the World Championships of Magic

Updated July 10 to add this article from The Now Newspaper:

NORTH DELTA — A North Delta couple was crowned “North American Champions of Stage Magic” after traveling to St. Louis last week for the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Society of American Magicians and North American F.I.S.M. Championships Combined Convention.

Trevor and Lorena Watters met while studying at Douglas College, and now the couple, who reside in North Delta, perform comedy magic routines together, competing at an international level.  

Read more.

Congratulations to Shin Lim and Lorena & Trevor Watters on their successes at the IBM/SAM competitions!  Wishing you all the best at the FISM World Championships next July.  (Visit the IBM website to read the full list of contest winners.)

From The Province:

Trevor Watters has a magic touch with women.

On one of his first dates with an 18-year-old named Lorena, Watters invited her back to his parents’ house in Delta.

Some men might have chatted a bit before quickly moving to hanky-panky. Not Watters.
He had placed a large illusionist’s box in the living room. He invited Lorena to climb into it so he could stick 12 swords into her.

Read more.

From the Edmonton Journal and CTV News:

Three Canadians from the Vancouver-area will represent North America at the World Championships of Magic in Italy next summer.

Trevor and Lorena Watters, a North Delta couple, beat six other finalists to win the North American Stage Magic Championship in St. Louis this weekend.

Vancouver-born Shin Lim will represent North America under the category of magic acts performed to a small audience without a stage.

Read more.

Montreal: Lab Magique

From Perfect Magic:

There is a magicians’ association in Montreal called REGROUPEMENT DES MAGICIENS QUÉBÉCOIS. Its purpose is to promote the art of magic in Quebec and is open to professionals and amateurs to exchange ideas, techniques, etc. Phil and I were invited to a show they were presenting in an intimate cabaret like theatre  in a room upstairs of Le Fripon, a restaurant in Old Montreal, on Jacques Cartier Square. Go know! It’s a “LABATOIRE EXPÉRIMENTAL POUR MAGICIENS ET ARTISTES  DE VARIETÉ”. I say its a great idea because its a place that seats about 65 people and it was full, and it’s presented like a real show, which it is, with an M.C. who was Eric Electrik that night, with several magicians performing. This is a place for them to try out their stuff.

Read more.

Also from the article:

• Patrick Reymond September 24, 2014, 
• Loran - October 22, 2014 and 
• Patrick Kuffs – November 19. 

Congratulations to Luc Langevin!

Luc Langevin has received two nominations from The Prix Gémeaux (Gémeaux Awards) which honour French Canadian achievements in Canadian television.

• "Maître de l'illusion" for best documentary about arts
• "Aux limites de l'illusion 3" for best variety show

Congratulations Luc and we'll be rooting for you at the awards presentation in September!

FREE Summer Reading Program

From I Saw That! Exclusive Magic's Facebook page:

Post by I Saw That! Exclusive Magic.

IncrediBrent's summer schedule

From IncrediBrent's Twitter feed:

Come see a show this summer. If you're looking for me you shouldn't have to look to far because I'm everywhere! http://t.co/k8vOwv5Zso
— IncrediBrent (@IncrediBrent) June 18, 2014

Escaping Parkinsons stunt to start Tuesday July 8th

From Mark Correia's Twitter feed:

#escapingparkinsons THIS TUESDAY. 8:10AM. LIVE on Global! Be there!
— Mark Correia (@Mark_Correia) July 4, 2014

Linking Ring (v94, 6) June 2014

There's a nice write-up of Murray Hatfield's lecture for Ring 352 in State College, Pennsylvania on page 54.

Elizabeth Warlock reviews International Magic Convention

From The Stage:

When magicians from around the world meet up there is sure to be eye popping magic to be seen both on stage and at the close table. Once again it was the latter which dominated, and if there were too many tricks with cards nobody seemed to mind, especially when it came from Dani DaOrtiz, Miguel Gea and Christian Engblom performing as the Fat Brothers. Working together as a trio, chosen cards were revealed at a number given by a spectator, the Aces jumped from the deck and immediately changed to Kings, the deck would change colour and the pips disappear only to return with the flick of a finger.

But perhaps the most incredible card performer was Mahdi who with no hands wowed everyone with some amazing effects including fancy shuffles.        

Read more.

Breaking news from IBM/SAM

Updated July 5th to add the official announcement from Trevor and congratulations from the Vanishing Rabbit and Clive Court:

Post by Trevor Watters.

Post by Clive Court.

Happy to announce that Lorena and Trevor Watters are the North American F.I.S.M. Stage Champions! Congrats you guys you totally deserve it

— Vanishing Rabbit (@VanishingRabbit) July 5, 2014

From Murray Hatfield's Twitter feed:

So happy for our friends Trevor and Lorena Watters. Congratulations on winning first at the IBM/SAM and showing the world how great you are!
— Murray Hatfield (@MurrayHatfield) July 4, 2014

Congratulations  Lorena and Trevor!!!

IBM/SAM Competition Finals update

Thanks for the update Jen!  Way to go Lorena and Trevor!

From Jen Segal's Facebook page:

Post by Jen Segal.

Grateful for our July sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support.  This site would not be possible without their backing.

We're grateful to have the support of:

• Clive Court - The Fun-da-Mentalist,
• Evelyn & Phil Matlin, owners of Perfect Magic and
• Jeff Pinsky, owner of The Browser's Den of Magic!

The next time you see them, let them know you saw their sponsorship here!

For more information about purchasing Sponsored Posts or about our Platinum, Gold, or Silver level sponsorships, please visit our Sponsorship page.

Or you can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year! 

Donations of any size are always welcome.

Eric Leclerc on BrainGames

From Eric Leclerc's Facebook page:

Post by Eric Leclerc.

Winnipeg: Keith Brown's Exchange

From Keith Brown's Twitter feed:

Exchange coming to @winnipegfringe July 16-27th, 2014 "Magic done right" - Erika Faust, Theatre in… http://t.co/Xqo7FPfKBw
— Keith Brown (@KeithHBrown) June 27, 2014

Montreal: Gaston lecture

From Montreal Magic Jam:

When: July 10
Where: Espace La Risée
1258 Bélanger Est, Montréal

Two-time FISM Champion, Gaston, is a key member of the famed Flicking Fingers and one of magic’s most creative performers. 

Gaston: an actor, comedian, and master magician all rolled up into one. Born in Munich Germany, Gaston started performing magic at an early age of seven. He trained at the school of magic in Munich where he later became a teacher. In 1988 he started working on adding skills with intensive classes of pantomime, ballet, jazz, acting, and attended the Drama School Schauspiel Munich. He’s written and starred in two solo shows that have played in Germany; both shows revolving around 10 characters from literature.

Read more.

[via Magic Information Canada]

Who's where July 2014

Leave a comment on this post to let us know where you're going to be this month!

Listings from the comments section:

From Captain Corbin:

Yarr,
I'll be performing pirate themed magic shows every Friday in July and August at London Ontario's Storybook Gardens! and Every Sunday in July and August at Gravenhurst Ontario's Wharf aboard the steamship Wenonah I'll be hosting a 2 hour pirate cruise on Lake Muskoka!

This Sunday at 7:00 on Magic@theCage: @james_alan performs his entire one-man show, Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks http://t.co/mUy57ZIeP1

— Abracadabaret (@Abracadabaret) July 24, 2014

“@WowFestMagic: #yyc Jr. Magic Club has their #stampede performance today at 1:30 PM Window on the West Stage, BMO Centre, Hall D #yycmagic”
— Gwyn Auger (@magicassistant) July 9, 2014

Come see a show this summer. If you're looking for me you shouldn't have to look to far because I'm everywhere! http://t.co/k8vOwv5Zso
— IncrediBrent (@IncrediBrent) June 18, 2014

What a great first day of #agrimagic shows at the @calgarystampede steps! Shows daily at 12:20 and 2:20
— Daniel Steep (@danielsteep) July 4, 2014

Happy 4th of July and remember the 2 Canadians, @UnrealTyWilson &@chrismayhew1 will be lecturing next Thursday 7pm. $30 per person
— The Magic Apple (@The_Magic_Apple) July 5, 2014

Every Saturday @HorseshoeResort A day of fun, adventure and MAGIC! @Att ractionsOnt pic.twitter.com/3xIFZT9gBT
— Peter Mennie (@petermennie) July 4, 2014

Post by Greg Frewin Theatre.

I'm back doing my thing at Krowd Keepers: Magic Theatre this Saturday in Bath Spa. Few tickets left. Come my hizzos.
— Billy Kidd (@Billykiddshow) July 2, 2014

I am going to be performing at Illumination Music & Arts Festival July 12th! It's a funk and electronica, folk... http://t.co/xIjuV7CsxM
— Keith Brown (@KeithHBrown) June 18, 2014

Exchange coming to @winnipegfringe July 16-27th, 2014 "Magic done right" - Erika Faust, Theatre in… http://t.co/Xqo7FPfKBw
— Keith Brown (@KeithHBrown) June 27, 2014

Fine print:

• Must be a Canadian associated with the magic community or a magic performance in Canada.
• No more than one comment per event.
• Submissions will be subject to editing and / or deletion.

Winnipeg: Society of Young Magicians

From the Magic Club of Winnipeg:

Society of Young Magicians meeting on July 6th. 

Read more.