A mind-bending night of mentalism, hypnosis, magic, and comedy hits the pub on
January 29th, and you do not want to miss this lineup. ⭐ Headliner
Fernandez, as seen on NBC, CBS, Caesars Palace, MuchMusic & more ⭐
Vito D’Amico, quick, sharp, and hilarious ⭐ Ken McCreedy, comedy + magic
+ pure entertainment
We recently reported our random thoughts about "Champions of Magic -- Holiday Spectacular" in Toronto. Frances Morgan, whose official role in the production is "Magic and
Props Assistant," kindly agreed to do an interview with us.
Based in Spokane, Frances:
performed as a Magician’s Assistant at Silverwood Theme Park in 2022 Read more (click to show | hide)At the theme park we did grand scale illusions as well as a few smaller
illusions and routines. My favorite was our opening act that the
magician and I created together (about a week before opening day!) I got
hired quite unexpectedly, and had to jump in quickly. I was hired at the
end of May and the full season started the first week in June. Before
that, I had never been involved in a magic show in any capacity. So it
was quite the adventure having to learn everything in such a short
amount of time. That lasted a season before I moved on to starting my
own show and forming my company, Inland Northwest Magic [INWmagic.com].
debuted her first show as a magician in 2023,
won First Place in the Spokane Magic Club's Close-Up competition, Read more (click to show | hide)
For my first local competition, I did some simple card routines, but
what I have always stood behind is even the most simple magic can be
amazing with the right presentation. I had music playing in the background, chose my setup carefully and rehearsed until the last moment
to make sure it was ready. It was my first competition and I had just
debuted my first solo show a few weeks prior, so that October was a fun
and busy month! Some of the card moves in the routine I performed were taught to me by the magicians I met through the magic club
and competed in the 2024 IBM Stage Competition.
Read more (click to show | hide)At the annual IBM International Championship, I competed in the
Stage Magic category. I had just joined the IBM as I had been
elected Vice President of my local magic club and needed to join
the IBM in order to do so. When I joined, I saw they had a convention
coming a few hours away from me in Washington and knew I had
to go. Magic conventions rarely, if ever, come to Washington
or Idaho so I took hold of the opportunity and it was one of the best
decisions I have ever made. When I joined, I saw they also
had a competition and figured I had nothing to lose so I sent
in a video on the last day available for submissions. I had only been
performing as a magician for a short while, so I looked at
the show I had, took the routines I got the best reactions
from and created a new sequence to make a roughly 8 minute routine. I
went to a local park with my friend, we filmed it, went to a
restaurant and uploaded it.
I never actually expected
to hear anything back, but about a month later, I saw an email in
my inbox from IBM. The headline was simple “I.B.M. Contest”;
the opening, polite “Thank you for sending your submission
for the 2024 Tacoma I.B.M. Convention Competition.” Reading this,
I fully expected it to be a polite ‘thanks but try again
later’ kind of email, but to my surprise I read and re-read
and for good measure read again the next line. “Congratulations, we are
pleased to inform you that you have earned a spot in the
finals of the Gold Medal Competition and will appear on the
International Stage Championship”. I began to jump and run around the
house in complete shock and happiness. That competition was
my turning point as a magician.
Competing at IBM, I
truly felt like I was a magician. This was not just friends and family,
this was a panel of judges who looked at my performance and
said ‘yes, she can compete at this convention’. It
truly is and was an honor to be there.
I did a linking ring
routine (which I started to perform at the request of my mom who has
always loved the linking rings and which has since become a
staple in my shows), a dream bag production, where I make
flower boxes appeared; and a torn and transformed paper to
kabuki effect.
What is your first memory of magic?
When I was about 3 I went to a theme park and there, I experienced my first
magic show. My favorite routine was when the magician made a table
float on stage and to my astonishment, proceeded to walk down the
stairs into the audience with the table! Ever since then, the
floating table has been one of my favorite illusions to perform.
When I went to my first magic convention, I had the honor to meet
the builder of the illusion, and have been performing it ever
since.
What genre of magic has your focus currently?
Everything! Different circumstances allow for different magic. My love of
magic stems from my love of connecting people and bringing stories
to life. I am working on a Valentine's theme show using both stage
and close-up magic. The theme is a love letter to magic and wonder, and
will be performed in a movie [theatre] that was first owned by a
magician. I have the honor of being the first magician to perform magic there
since him in the past 50 years! A show that gets to play with a history
like that is such a thrill and an honor.
I love the theatrics
of stage magic and helping the audience get lost in the wonder and story
of it. Theatre is my first love, having grown up performing since I
was about 3 years old. Close-up magic is a new adventure and for
me, the appeal lies in connecting with the audience in an up close
manner. Having magic happen in your hands as an audience member is one of the
most amazing things you can experience. I also love doing
walk-around magic for events. I usually start with just conversing
with people. Many people have at least some small connection with magic,
and often I can utilize that when I perform magic for them. I get to have fun
weaving their stories into the magic to create something personal
for them and unique for me.
Why did you want to become part of the Champions of Magic behind-the-scenes
family?
I saw Champions for the first time in 2022. It was my first time seeing a
magic show of that magnitude and I absolutely fell in love with it!
My favorite part was the ensemble aspect of it. Magic usually
features the solo magician but growing up in theatre, nearly every show I saw
had an ensemble of actors working together to build a story. The
ensemble aspect of Champions felt more natural and exciting to me.
One of my favorite parts of theatre is getting to play off the other
actors in a scene, and I got to see that same playful creativity with
Champions.
Magic has this amazing ability to bring the
audience into its space. Unlike other forms of theatre, magic
breaks the 4th wall and gets to incorporate the audience unlike anything else.
Magic has all the wonderful qualities that I love about theatre and
then some. It is more spontaneous and can connect with an audience
in a unique way; Champions shows that in a wonderful and grand display.
What are your roles on this tour?
I get to do a little bit of everything! My official title is Magic and Props
Assistant. I work primarily with the props team and between the
three of us we take care of over 200 props in the show, from sunglasses to a
sparkly, metal moon. We build, repair, improve, set, strike and pack all the
props every new show day. I also get the chance to be onstage as an Assistant
for a few of the acts. For one routine, I get to wear the dress I wore as an
Assistant in the theme park, so a fun personal call back, and I also wear a
necklace of a snowflake that my family gave me for Christmas a few years ago.
For me, it is a way to bridge my past experiences with this new
chapter.
What surprised you most about touring with this ensemble of magicians?
This is my first tour and I have an immense amount of respect for the stamina
of this group! Especially the crew and the producer. Every person
works incredibly hard and will jump in to help when needed. If one
of us is sick or injured, or simply let something slip in the rush of
the moment, we all try to pull together to help one another and
give the best experience possible to the audience, while supporting
each other as a team.
Tell us about a highlight from this tour.
One highlight was at one of the shows, we invited a kid onstage and he had
the best time! I got to interact with him and his mom off stage
and his whole face lit up at being a part of the show. Getting to
inspire people of all ages is just spectacular!
What compelling reasons are there to come see "Champions of Magic:
Holiday Spectacular"?
Theatre is magic when seen live, and a live magic show is theatre on another
level. This show has something for everyone of all ages. One of
my favorite aspects is the different genres that come into
play.
Some examples: we have a callback to old Hollywood detective mysteries, a
sit-com holiday party, and a tribute to grand scale Las Vegas magic
shows. We also get to bring a few people up on stage to
witness the magic up close!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s
Magic?
Happiness is magic. Keep sharing the magic. Join the email
list of Champions of Magic and come follow along on
the adventure!
Thank you Frances, for making the time to answer our questions and congratulations on your recent achievements!
Learn more about Frances at her website INWmagic.com and sign-up to her
email list.
It is an intimate theatre with one balcony and a seating capacity of just
over 800.
The show is approximately 2 hours in length, including a 16 minute
intermission.
As always with this show we are genuinely afraid of posting spoilers.
The less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it!
Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
On with the show...
Note to parents of young children: The music can be very loud
at times throughout the show. There are also smoke and fog machines
involved. Forewarned is forearmed.
There's a videographer on hand
to capture close-up miracles and project them on a big screen so everyone
can see!
We're always excited to see Champions of Magic!
Pre-show vibes
There were plenty of families with young children in the audience.
The audience was definitely in the holiday spirit and well primed to be
entertained.
This show introduced us to Frances Morgan from Spokane who participates as
crew as well as having her moment in the spotlight. Frances kindly
agreed to do an interview with us that we hope to share with you soon.
The show is very different from the ones we've seen previously*. There
are significant changes in both the cast, and the structure of the
production. *Toronto
2018,
Oshawa
2019, Kitchener 2022, Toronto 2023, and Hamilton in
2025.
If memory serves, there are only 2-3 bits carried over from 2018, 3-4
repeats from 2023, and maybe 6 duplicates from earlier this year. Which
works out to roughly 75 - 80% of the show being new from its most recent
interation. That's a lot of new magic!
They made some bold choices, that served them well!
Every incarnation of the show offers imaginative narrative brought to life
through full ensemble numbers.
There are also plenty of moments for each of the acts to shine on their own.
There was LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!
By our count, 14 volunteers were involved. Many of the volunteers were
able to do so from the comfort of their seats. A lucky few were
brought on stage for a fully immersive show experience!
We were lucky to experience young volunteer Jamie who held the audience in
rapt attention, as well as the tremendously delightful Emmy who
instantaneously won the hearts of those in attendance.
The lighting design for this show is visually stunning!
Whether you're new to magic or are a professional magician, there's
something for everyone!
Larsen has a very creative style that delivers personal and refreshing takes
on some classics of magic. As an added bonus for magicians, she spent
a little bit of time talking about her magical family!
Velasco pivoted from his signature heart-stopping stunts. Not to
worry, he still performs escapes, albeit at a smaller scale. He
showcased a wider variety of his talents and had the audience eating from
the palm of his hand.
Young and Strange are always tremendously entertaining! Both
individually, and together as a double act, they consistently deliver
impressive sleight of hand, laugh out loud comedy, and a truly exhilarating
exhibition of grand illusion. They get bonus points for mentioning
Canadian born magician Dai Vernon. (And a minor demerit for not
mentioning Doug Henning when Doug appears in a video clip.) We're sad
to report that Young's
homage to David Copperfield Easter egg is no longer in the show.
Larsen and Strange each did a particularly good job of staying in the
moment and working with the unique 'gifts' this audience provided.
A special shout-out to the videographer, whose quick thinking salvaged an
effect when cards were scattered to the floor!
We highly recommend it! (Even if you've seen it before.)
Post-show vibes
Disclosure: We were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above
are entirely our own. We did not receive compensation for the writing or the
publishing of this article.
With thanks to Champions of Magic for the tickets.
Get ready to be mind-blown by The Oy-llusionists as they bring their magical
tricks to life in a show you won't forget!
Get ready to laugh
till your latkes fall over!
Join us this Christmas Eve for a
one-of-a-kind Jewish Comedy Magic Show that blends classic shtick,
mind-boggling miracles, and enough Yiddishkeit to make your bubbe
kvell.
From the December 2nd
Facebook post by 15FirstDates [Note the text in the image below doesn't reflect the 2025 location of the show listed at Eventbrite]:
This book tells the story of Doug Hunt’s journey to breaking the Guinness World Record for Stilt Walking, told through the writing of Larry Brown and the artwork of Bernadine Van Renne.
Congratulations are due to our own Doug Hunt, Ring 49 Member and current President on the release of his new Book: 55, inspiring journey of chasing down a world record. Doug will be holding a Book Release Bash on Thursday December the 11th at 6:30 pm held in the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre in Brantford ON with prizes, pizza and refreshments. The event is free, and the book is only $25 with proceeds going to Participation Support Services in Brantford. Come on out and support on of our own.
Enjoy a wonderful evening of Magic and Mysteries with Keith O'Brien and Corbin, the Charming Cheat. At Bass Notez bar in St. Thomas Ontario
Enjoy a wonderful evening of incredible magic and amazing cocktails at St. Thomas's Bass Notez Cocktail bar. The evening begins when the doors open at 7pm with a little music as you settle into the comforatble setting, relax in the velvet couches and order fancy magical Cocktails. At 8pm the show begins with the incredible Keith O'brien. His flashy magic and incredilbe illusions will amaze and astound. After a short intermission Corbin the Charming Cheat takes the stage with his award winning sleight of hand magic, mental mysteries and magical games of chance. A great evening out full of magic and mysteries!
FenyxFyre the Innovator of Insanity has risen from the ashes and been
thrilling audiences worldwide for over the past 2 decades. As a sideshow
performer, escape artist and master of the fire arts, he boldly bellows
flame like a dragon. His shocking stunts challenge us to confront the places
that scare us, by illuminating all things dark.
November 11th, Chris Cambbell's StrangeOrDanger Thrillshow! This will be an
event not to be missed. Check out the details on Ring 49's website
(https://ring49magic.com/)
✨ They’re back, Toronto! ✨ Get ready for Champions Of Magic: Holiday Spectacular - in Toronto for 2 nights only at the Bluma Appel Theatre, December 27 & 28! 🎩🎄
I still remember doing my very first theatre show almost ten years ago. No big
crew, no real plan—just a bunch of us figuring it out as we went, and a room
full of friends and family who believed in me way before anyone else did.
Fast
forward to now… and I’m going on tour. Like, actual cross-Canada,
coast-to-coast tour.
The team’s a little bigger now, the vision’s a
little stronger—and we couldn’t be more excited to bring this to life.
This
is an independently produced tour, built show by show, city by city. And now
we’re taking it across the country.
New weekly Variety Show. Hosted by Silly Phil, come see some magic, comedy,
circus, music, and other amazing things. Plus, don't forget you have a chance
to win a @famiglia_baldassarre lasagna!
Tickets are now on sale for our first lecture of the 2025-2026 season with coin-man extraordinaire Rick Holcombe. On Nov 20, Rick will be giving his Fusion Lecture and sneaking in a few bonuses along the way.
On Friday Nov. 21, Rick will also be giving small coin workshop where he'll teach a variety of hand-picked routines, techniques and sequences that require just three coins and will give an in-depth teaching session on his Sly Palm, a practical new tool that you will happy to be add to your repertoire. Email us if you're interested as spaces are limited.
I first heard of Rick Holcombe through my dearly departed friend Curtis Kam. On a Zoom session during lockdown, Curtis said there was a guy that was doing some very interesting stuff, AND the material was easy. For those that knew Curtis, I'm still not sure if that last comment was a compliment or him throwing shade. 🙂
So we watched some video, and Rick impressed me with how smooth and soft his work was. The Mr. Rogers of coin magic, his disarming nature only adds to the power of his magic. I've never met Rick in person but I'm excited to have him in Montreal for his first ever mini-Canadian lecture tour (he's just doing two dates: Toronto and here).
If you're a fan of coin magic, or are a little scared of it but want to add a little bit of it to your repertoire, Rick's your guy. His magic is strong and accessible (i.e. NOT knuckle-busting). So I hope to see most of you at the lecture, and at least a few of you at the workshop.
Coming Up! Tuesday (Oct 14, 2025) Ring 49 will be featuring… well, YOU actually. It’s our 2025 Members Night. Bring some of your favorite effects to perform and teach to the membership. It’s an opportunity to practice effects in a live audience atmosphere, mentor fellow members to help build our community, and to learn new skills and effects from the best performing professionals in the area. Don’t miss out on this opportunity – see you there!