More information about Parlour Magic at Tranzac [Sep 10 - Feb 4, 2027]

Earlier this month, we posted about Parlour Magic, a new monthly magic show.  We reached out to the producer to learn more about the Parolour Magic experience.  This is his reply.

 

Toronto: Parlour Magic at Tranzac — Six-Show Season Announced [Sep 10, 2026 – Feb 4, 2027]

Oracle Productions has announced a new monthly close-up magic series launching this fall at the Tranzac Club in Toronto.

Parlour Magic at Tranzac runs every second Thursday from September 2026 through February 2027 — six evenings of professional close-up magic, mentalism, and illusion performed in the Living Room of the Tranzac Club at 292 Brunswick Ave. The room seats fewer than 100 people. There is no stage. The performers work at arm's length.

The series is produced by Ian Crawford (Oracle Productions), who also hosts and MCs each evening.

The Season Lineup:

September 10, 2026 — Opening Night
Headliner: Nick Wallace (Canadian Champion of Magic, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, America's Got Talent)
Feature: Jeff Hinchliffe (Browser's Den of Magic, Stepping Into the Impossible)
Opener: Rob Fishbaum (Second City Toronto, Fish the Magish)

October 8, 2026 — A Special Solo Evening
Bill Abbott — one night only, performing a full solo show. Abbott is the Canadian Magician of the Year, has appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, America's Got Talent, Netflix, and NBC, and is known internationally for his intimate residency at Magic Hideaway in St. Augustine, Florida. Samuel L. Jackson has called him "incredible." He launched his career in Toronto. October 8 is his homecoming.

November 12, 2026
Headliner: Brandon Love (TEDx speaker, author of Brainsprouting)
Feature: Keith Brown (Toronto's Best Magician, TEDx speaker, 22 countries)
Opener: Gambit (25 years, 12 countries, four languages)

December 10, 2026
Headliner: Dan Trommater (world-class corporate magician, international performer)
Feature: Ian Crawford (Mentalist, Oracle Productions)
Opener: David Sutherland (close-up magic, Toronto magic community)

January 14, 2027
Headliner: Chris Mayhew (comedy magic, Magic Castle Hollywood, Chicago Magic Lounge)
Feature: David Peck (TVO Kids Spellz, IBM, Air Canada, philosopher-magician)
Opener: James Harrison (pickpocket magic, A-1 Magician of the Year 2016)

February 4, 2027 — Season Finale
Headliner & Host: Phil Pivnick (comedy magic, John Candy Box Theatre)
Feature: James Alan (Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks, Magic & Martini, Toronto Fringe)
Opener: Ari Soroka (close-up magic and mentalism, Browser's Den of Magic)

Tickets are $35 General / $50 VIP. VIP includes early entry at 6:00 PM for an exclusive pre-show close-up magic experience before the main show begins, plus preferred front-section seating. Season Passes are available ($175 General / $250 VIP).

For tickets and information: MagicParlour.ca

Facebook: Parlour Magic at Tranzac
Instagram: @ParlourOfMagicTO 

 

From the August 24th Facebook post at Parlour Magic at Tranzac:  

 

 

 

Markham: Chris Funk -- Redefining Wonder [Oct 24]

From FlatoMarkhamTheatre.ca: 

Redefining Wonder is a high-energy multimedia experience featuring live music, mind-bending illusions, and interactive visuals that will leave you scratching your head. From floating instruments to impossible musical feats, his thrilling show is unlike anything you’ve seen before!

Read more and buy tickets. 

 

 

Found at the July 2nd Facebook post by Flato Markham Theatre. 

 

 

 

Toronto and Montreal: Rafael Benatar workshops, lectures, and show [Sep 14 - 16 and Sep 17 & 19]

Updated August 20th to add:

•  Link for tickets to the Toronto show on Sep 15
  https://www.secondcity.com/shows/toronto/rafael-benetar-a-handful-of-possibilities-tor

---

For more information visit:

• Toronto:  HatAndRabbitclub.com  (new website with details coming soon!)
• Montreal:  MontrealMagicJam.com/events/benatar/ 

 

Toronto:

• Workshop - Mon Sep 14th
• Show - Tues Sep 15th 
  Tickets at SecondCity.com/shows/toronto/rafael-benetar-a-handful-of-possibilities-tor
• Lecture - Wed Sep 16th
  
  For more information visit HatAndRabbitclub.com  (new website with details coming soon!)

 

 

Montreal:

• Lecture - Thu Sep 17 
• Workshops - Sat Sep 19
  
  For more information visit MontrealMagicJam.com/events/benatar/ 

 

 

 

 

ON & SK: Dogs Do Magic [Oct 3 - Mar 15]

For tickets and more information, visit DogsDoMagic.com

 

From DogsDoMagic.com: 

• Oct 3, 2026 - Hamilton
• Oct 4, 2026 - Port Hope
• Oct 24, 2026 - Niagara Falls 
• Oct 25, 2026 - Vaughan 
• Dec 3, 2026 - Markham
• Dec 4, 2026 - Brantford 
• Dec 6, 2026 - Owen Sound
• Dec 10, 2026 - Penetanguishene 
• Dec 11, 2026 - Barrie 
• Dec 12, 2026 - Chatham 
• Dec 13, 2026 - London 
• Dec 16, 2026 - Brockville 
• Dec 18, 2026 - Pembroke 
• Dec 19, 2026 - Orleans 
• Dec 20, 2026 - North Bay 
  
  
• Jan 2, 2027 - Guelph 
• Apr 21, 2027 - Saskatoon, SK
• Mar 15, 2027 - Toronto 

 

Check back often at  DogsDoMagic.com for the latest information!

 

 

 

Toronto: Parlour Magic at Tranzac [monthly starting Sep 10]

Thursday September 10th marks the grand opening of Toronto's newest magic venue!  Shows are scheduled until February and include talent such as Nick Wallace, Bill Abbott, Jeff Hinchliffe, and more!

 

From MagicParlour.ca: 

A new monthly series at Toronto’s Tranzac Club brings together world-class close-up magic, mentalism, and illusion in one of the city’s most intimate performance spaces — with a season lineup that reads like a who’s who of Canadian and international magical talent. 

Read more and buy tickets. 

 

 

From the September 10th event:

Toronto's newest magic series opens September 10.

Nick Wallace. Jeff Hinchliffe. Rob Fishbaum. Hosted by Ian Crawford.

Up close. Unexplained. Unforgettable. 

Read more and buy tickets. 

 

 

 

Toronto: Magic Arts Festival 2026 [Sep 19]

From EventBrite.ca/e/magic-arts-festival-2026-tickets-1994760995836   

Last year's Magic Art Festival was a great success! This year we are doing it AGAIN at the Fairview Theatre! If you are in this neighbourhood, don't miss out! Step into a world of wonder at Magic Arts Festival 2026, a family-friendly celebration featuring live magic performances, interactive entertainment, creative activities and memorable experiences for all ages. 

Read more and buy tickets. 

 

 

Found at the August 4th Facebook post by WonderPhil. 

 

We've added this to our list of Canadian Magic Festivals and Conventions. 

 

 

A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 3 of 3

Continued from parts one and two, where we learned about Load-In, the Technical Run, The Run, Pre-show, and the show, "Champions of Magic:  Holiday Spectacular." 

 

 

A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 3 of 3 

Behind the Scenes (Toronto, Dec 2025)

Every company member maintained hyper-focus during performances. The cast and stagehands, for obvious reasons. Technicians made real-time updates to the video based on volunteer input. In addition to being responsible for the atmosphere of the show, Sound, Lighting, and Automation, were also integral to making the magic happen. Losing focus is not an option. Twice I observed the crews’ hypervigilance come to the rescue.

Continue reading this password protected (clue below*) article.

* Password clue:

• Canadian magician who appeared on The Muppet Show
• Additional clue for our UK readers, this magician also ran as a candidate for the Natural Law Party in England in the early 90s.
• Format:  Firstname_Lastname
  
  
  

Need a refresher on the earlier parts?  Have a look at part 1 and part 2 (password protected with the same password).

 

For tickets and more information, visit ChampionsOfMagicTour.com 

 

 

Keep an eye out for Young & Strange this Fall on the AGT Quarter Finals! 

 

Post-script 

In 2026 the Champions team will present their biggest engagement to date, a summer residency at the Studebaker Theatre in Chicago. Alex, their producer, said, "Our run in Toronto was something of a test for this longer engagement. Taking away concerns of trucking and travel allows us to add even more magic and production, to deliver the greatest version of the show possible. The Studebaker is an ideal environment to present what we’ve been honing over the last 13 years, as well as some brand new illusions that we’ve been developing which can’t be done on a touring schedule."

Be sure to check out their show if you’re in the Chicago area this summer!  

Champions' Chicago residency was extended (for the second time) and will close September 2nd. 

 

 

From the July 24th Instagram post by Champions of Magic: 

Champions Of Magic now runs through September 2 — but that's it! There just isn't enough confetti left in the Midwest for the show to run any longer than that. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Champions of Magic (@championsofmagic)

 

 

An abridged version of this article first appeared in VANISH Magic Magazine.  Republished with permission. 

• Part 1 - May 2026 #142, pgs 48 - 53
• Part 2 - June 2026 #143, pgs 48 - 53
• Part 3 - July 2026 #144, pgs 66 - 71

 

 

 

Toronto: The Art of Magic by the Toronto Magic Company at the TD Music Hall [Sep 19]

Tickets to see Ben Train and Jonah Babins at the TD Music Hall. 

 

From the July 7th article "Massey Hall Brings Back 'The Art of Magic' to TD Music Hall After Sold-Out Run" by Sophie Mitchell at Wire Service: 

Following a successful series of sold-out performances earlier this year, Massey Hall is set to welcome back "The Art of Magic" for a one-night engagement at TD Music Hall this fall, underscoring continued demand for immersive, live entertainment experiences in Toronto’s cultural sector.

Strong Return After Sold-Out Performances
The show, which previously completed four sold-out performances at Allied Music Centre Theatre, will take the stage again on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at TD Music Hall, located at 178 Victoria Street. The return engagement reflects both the popularity of the production and Massey Hall’s commitment to curating diverse live programming in one of Canada’s premier entertainment venues. 

Read more. 

 

Found at the July 21st Facebook post by Ben Train. 

 

 

 

Toronto: Buster Canfield & His Industrious Fleas! [Aug 13]

Tickets at TicketCcene.ca/events/64193 

 

From the July 14th Instagram post by Eldritch Theatre: 

Eldritch Theatre is proud to present an entire Big Show in Miniature! An evening of circus magic, feats of derring do, and death defying displays of dangerous wonderment, performed entirely by Buster Canfield’s masterful menagerie of highly trained fleas!

Suitable for ages 4 to 444! 

Read more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Niagara Falls: A Sense of Wonder with George Marchionda and Ken McCreedy [Jul 18]

Tickets at Eventbrite. 

 

From the July 6th Facebook post by Ken McCreedy: 

I will be appearing in George Marchionda show called “SENSE OF WONDER” on July 18 at Johnny Rocco’s in Niagara Falls. 

Read more. 

 

Previously shared on Facebook July 6.

 

 

Ramara: Neil and Ashley Croswell at Fern Resort [Fridays until Sep 4]

From the July 3rd Instagram post by Neil Croswell:

Estactic to be performing with @ashleycroswell at Fern Resort all summer long, every Friday night July 3rd - September 4th. 

Read more.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 2 of 3 -- "The Show"

Updated July 10th to add:

• Welcome to readers of Duncan Trillo's excellent publication, MagicWeek!  We hope you enjoy your stay!

-- 

Continued from Part 1 where we learned about Load-In, the Technical Run, The Run, and Pre-show activities. 

 

 

A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 2 of 3 

The Show - Champions of Magic: Holiday Spectacular (Toronto, Dec 2025)

I have seen five iterations of Champions of Magic including their 2018 Toronto debut.  Fernando Velasco, Richard Young and Sam Strange (as Young & Strange) were part of the 2018 cast. Only three carryovers from that show remain. 

Continue reading this password protected (clue below*) article.

* Password clue:

• Canadian magician who appeared on The Muppet Show
• Additional clue for our UK readers, this magician also ran as a candidate for the Natural Law Party in England in the early 90s.
• Format:  Firstname_Lastname
  
  
  

Read part 1 (password protected with the same password). 

 

 

Post-script 

In 2026 the Champions team will present their biggest engagement to date, a summer residency at the Studebaker Theatre in Chicago. Alex, their producer, said, "Our run in Toronto was something of a test for this longer engagement. Taking away concerns of trucking and travel allows us to add even more magic and production, to deliver the greatest version of the show possible. The Studebaker is an ideal environment to present what we’ve been honing over the last 13 years, as well as some brand new illusions that we’ve been developing which can’t be done on a touring schedule."

Be sure to check out their show if you’re in the Chicago area this summer! 

 

For tickets and more information, visit ChampionsOfMagicTour.com 

An abridged version of this article first appeared in VANISH Magic Magazine.  Republished with permission. 

• Part 1 - May 2026 #142, pgs 48 - 53
• Part 2 - June 2026 #143, pgs 48 - 53
• Part 3 - July 2026 #144, pgs 66 - 71

 

 

 

From the May 30th Instagram post by Champions of Magic: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Champions of Magic (@championsofmagic)

 

 

 

 

Random thoughts about Keith Brown's show "110% Wizard" at the Toronto Fringe

  110% Wizard  

• Tickets:  
  https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/110-wizard

 

 Yesterday, we ventured to the Aki Studio in Toronto.

• This was our first visit to this theatre which is located in the Daniels Spectrum building.  According to the Aki Studio website, they are fully accessible for both patrons and performers.
• The theatre is a cozy space, with a capacity of 120 seats (with raked seating).  The seating goes about 6 rows deep.  Every seat has a great view of the action and Keith has cameras setup to make the small details clearly visible to all.  There are seats reserved in the front row, for audience members who have accessibility issues.
• The theatre is air-conditioned (very welcome with the current heat wave).
• The show is approximately an hour in length, with no intermissions.

Pre-show: 

Keith is Fringe veteran.  (He mentioned that this was his 60th (!!) Fringe festival.)  He hosts a pre-show segment designed to make the audience feel at ease. In it he discusses:

• audience participation and what to do if you don't feel comfortable volunteering (this is the first time we can remember a performer proactively giving the audience a method by which they can decline volunteering), and
• what it means to be in his 'relaxed performance' show (sensory friendly, house-lights on the majority of the time, in and out privileges, etc). 

It's also worth noting that Keith made this showing a Pay What You Can performance, in the hopes of making live shows more accessible to everyone.

On with the show: 

• In a theatre this size, you get a good view from every seat.  (Especially with the camera's Keith has setup.)
• The show was nearly, if not completely sold out.  
• As Keith mentioned in his interview, 110% Wizard is a brand new show.
• Without giving too much away, the show did involve gift bags, money, cards, cell phone (audience supplied), luggage tags, water fowl, drinks, and family photos (his).
• There is plenty of audience participation.  By our count there were well over dozen volunteers (including one not even at the show)!
• The show is very family friendly and kept the children in the audience engaged. 
• Keith shared with us, what is was like working his first ever cruise contract earlier this year.  He punctuated his tales with effects that directly related to his experiences. 
• In his interview with us Keith mentioned a trick that fools magicians.  He said, "they think it's a trick they've seen before until it isn't."  We were very much fooled!
• If you've seen one of Keith's shows, you'll know that he's an expert at making lemonade out of the lemons he is dealt.  We're happy to that he continues to do so in 110% Wizard!

 

"110% Wizard" 

is a very refreshing lemonade! 

  Merch   

Cards, stickers, buttons, and ducks are available for purchase after the show, with a portion of the sales going to the Native Earth Performing Arts & Aki Studio.

• 100% Wizard custom playing cards (designed by Brendan Hong and exclusively available at Fringe shows),
• Sticker sheet featuring artwork from the 100% Wizard deck,
• Buttons, and
• Ducks. 

 

Don't just take our word for it, read what the press at the Orlando Fringe had to say about this show: 

• From the May 18th article "Review: HIGHER THAN RAINBOWS, 110% WIZARD, and YOUNGER US at The Orlando Fringe Festival" by Benoit Teves at Broadway World:
  Fortunately, the cruise ship staff gathered enough miscellaneous items for Brown to cobble together a performance of basic yet dazzling illusions, a few of which still grace the Orlando stage this go-round.
  Read more.
  
  
• From the May 13th article "Orlando Fringe 2026 review: ‘110% Wizard’" by Seth Kubersky at Orlando Weekly:
  If you have any doubts that Orlando Fringe changes lives, look no further than illusionist Keith Brown. A fixture of the Festival for over a decade, Brown landed an agent as a result of his 2024 show here, and is now an in-demand guest artist aboard Norwegian and Virgin cruise ships. 
  Read more.
  
  
• From the May 15th article "2026 Orlando Fringe Review: 110% Wizard" by Jimbo Wood at Orlando Shine:
  Brown, a familiar face to Orlando Fringe audiences and a three-time Critic’s Choice winner for Best Magic Show, returns with what he jokingly describes as the “same wizard, now 10% better.” The framing device for this year’s show centers around a cruise ship residency thrown into chaos after an airline loses the costumes and props intended for the run.
  Read more.

 

 

For more information about the Toronto Fringe, visit FringeToronto.com

 

  110% Wizard  

• Tickets:  
  https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/110-wizard

 

For more information about Keith Brown, visit his website at AbsoluteMagic.ca and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

 

From the July 4th Instagram post by Canada's Magic (photos taken with permission): 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Canadas Magic (@canadasmagicdotcom)

 

 

 

 

Random thoughts about James Alan's show "Mysteries and Lies" at the Toronto Fringe

  Mysteries and Lies  

• Tickets:  
  https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/mysteries-and-lies

 

 Yesterday, we ventured to the Sweet Action Theatre in Toronto.

• This was our first visit to this theatre which is located in the Artscape Youngplace.  According to the Youngplace website, they are "Fully accessible by Ontario standards."
• The internet suggested parking in the area was scarce (roughly Dundas St. West and Ossington) so we braved the TTC.  The Ossington 63 south takes you to within a 4 minute walk of the theatre.
• As James revealed in his June 5th interview with us, the theatre is a cozy space, with a capacity of 46 seats (with raked seating). Every seat has a great view of the action.  There are seats reserved in the front row, for audience members who have accessibility issues.
• The theatre is air-conditioned (very welcome with the current heat wave).
• The show is approximately an hour in length, with no intermissions.

On with the show: 

• In a theatre this size, you get a good view from every seat.  The closer you sit, however, the greater the astonishment! 
• As teased in his interview, Mysteries and Lies is completely different from any of James' other shows we've had the pleasure to attend.
• Much to our dismay, there was no wine bottle nor were there citrus-y 'arts and crafts.'
• Without giving too much away, the show did involve glassware, coins, cards, cups, balls, jewellery, envelopes, and a condiment.
• There was plenty of audience participation.  Four lucky audience members were able to sit at the table with James, scoring better-than-front row seating.  (It should be noted that consent was obtained, and no one was forced to sit at the table.)  In addition to those four, another seven or eight people from the audience contributed to the uniqueness of the show. 
• The show touched on history, astronomy, astrology, biology, physics, and pop culture.  There was even a Browser's Den of Magic Easter egg, if you were paying attention.  (This was possibly unique to opening night.)  
• While we have seen more than our share of Cups and Balls routines, we have never seen anything quite like the one in this show! 
• Last week we saw a sneak peek of James performing one of the card effects, and we had no idea how he did it.  At the show we were sitting roughly 4.5 metres (~15 feet) away and are no closer to determining the method. 
• James performed excellent sleight of hand with a wide variety of objects.  This was so much more than a 'card magic' show.  (But the card magic in it, is excellent!) 

 

"Mysteries and Lies" is our favourite James Alan production to date! 

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.

 

Don't just take our word for it, read what Teena in Toronto had to say about it in her June 30th Instagram post. 

 

For more information about the Toronto Fringe, visit FringeToronto.com

 

  Mysteries and Lies  

• Tickets:  
  https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/mysteries-and-lies

 

For more information about James Alan, visit his website at JamesAlan.ca and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

 

From the July 1st Instagram post by Canada's Magic (photos taken with permission): 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Canadas Magic (@canadasmagicdotcom)

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Magic at The Toronto Fringe [Jun 30 - Jul 12]

Updated June 29th to add:

•  On June 28th, James was interviewed by Donna G on CIUT’s The More the Merrier to talk about Mysteries and Lies.  Learn more about it at the June 29th post, The More the Merrier, at James Alan's blog.

-- 

The Toronto Fringe (June 30 - July 12) is fast approaching!    

 

  Tickets:   

• James Alan's Mysteries and Lies:  
  https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/mysteries-and-lies
  
  
• Keith Brown's 110% Wizard:
  https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/110-wizard

 

 

Here's what we know about the shows: 

• James Alan's Mysteries and Lies 
  
  • Watch James' June 3rd appearance on CP 24 
    
    
  • Listen to David Peck interview James in the June 19th podcast "Truth, Technology & the Art of Deception" episode 634 of Face2Face, where "They talk about creativity, philosophical issues surrounding truth, illusion and lived experience and explore the intersection of magic, AI, and technology and how their performance challenges perceptions of reality."
    
    
  • From the June 3rd post "Fringe Five 2026" from Stage Door Dialogues: 
    There are forty-five seats per performance. And we decided to take advantage of that intimacy to get up close and personal with the audience. Inspired by magicians from Spain and Argentina, we have members of the audience on stage the entire show. They make the magic happen as much as I do. We’re giving up a lot of control and a lot of certainty. It also means each show will be different and anything can happen. 
    Read more.
    
    
  • From the June 18th post "Toronto Fringe Festival 2026" by YoungW:
    We’re interested in building work that crosses boundaries: theatre, mystery, storytelling, magic, literature, and old-fashioned showmanship. We want to make live events that feel rare – the kind of thing you had to be there for.
    Read more.
    
    
  • And our interview with James  
  
  

 

• Keith Brown's 110% Wizard  
  • From the May 18th article "Review: HIGHER THAN RAINBOWS, 110% WIZARD, and YOUNGER US at The Orlando Fringe Festival" by Benoit Teves at Broadway World:
    Fortunately, the cruise ship staff gathered enough miscellaneous items for Brown to cobble together a performance of basic yet dazzling illusions, a few of which still grace the Orlando stage this go-round.
    Read more.
    
    
  • From the May 13th article "Orlando Fringe 2026 review: ‘110% Wizard’" by Seth Kubersky at Orlando Weekly:
    If you have any doubts that Orlando Fringe changes lives, look no further than illusionist Keith Brown. A fixture of the Festival for over a decade, Brown landed an agent as a result of his 2024 show here, and is now an in-demand guest artist aboard Norwegian and Virgin cruise ships. 
    Read more.
    
    
  • From the May 15th article "2026 Orlando Fringe Review: 110% Wizard" by Jimbo Wood at Orlando Shine:
    Brown, a familiar face to Orlando Fringe audiences and a three-time Critic’s Choice winner for Best Magic Show, returns with what he jokingly describes as the “same wizard, now 10% better.” The framing device for this year’s show centers around a cruise ship residency thrown into chaos after an airline loses the costumes and props intended for the run.
    Read more.
    
    
    
  • And our interview with Keith  

 

For more information about the Toronto Fringe, visit FringeToronto.com

 

  Tickets:   

• James Alan's Mysteries and Lies:  
  https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/mysteries-and-lies
  
  
• Keith Brown's 110% Wizard:
  https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/110-wizard

 

 

 

 

 

Checking in with Keith Brown's show 110% Wizard at The Toronto Fringe

The Toronto Fringe (June 30 - July 12) is fast approaching!  

Keith Brown kindly agreed to answer some of our questions ahead of his upcoming show 110% Wizard at The Toronto Fringe.

 

 

  

 

What is your first memory of magic?

My first memory of magic is probably David Blaine's first special. I was 6 years old when it came out. It inspired my brother and me to learn tricks. I can vividly remember my brother making a card appear on the other side of a window in our front room. Not only did I want to know, I needed to know.

 

 

How long have you been performing professionally?

When I was 13, I was offered money to perform in a bar, and I never looked back. 

 

 

Why is now the right time for you to be at the Fringe?

I am working on a new show that's more storytelling based. I focus on my recent experience as a cruise ship magician. I am breaking in new material as well as some very old material. It's interesting to me to revisit a piece that I haven't touched in a decade and breathe new life into it.

I normally compare the fringe circuit to building a house. First you need to lay the foundation, which is what I did in Orlando. We learnt a lot in the first run and now have the opportunity to make bigger changes. We will build the house up and refine the insides all summer. 

 

 

How, if at all, does this show differ from your previous shows?

This show is more story based. In the past, I would be doing a magic show and then it would be story time. The story almost always leads into a trick and then I go back to doing magic. This show is more thematic, has a through line and more stories woven into the show from start to finish. It feels better crafted than some of my previous shows.



 

 

When did you start writing and preparing for this show?

In January I worked my first ever cruise contract. I wanted to use my time on the ship to develop a new show, but I didn't really have the opportunity given the circumstances. Fringe snuck up on me. They say to write about what you know, so I wrote about my experiences working the ships.

It's always scary putting new material in front of an audience, whether it's a trick or a story. You never know how they're going to respond to it, or if it's any good until you put it in front of people. After performing it in Orlando, the stories really resonated with the audience. It's also very rewarding to discover the moments when presenting it for the first time. I have a pretty good road map of how to get from A to B, but I never truly know what moments and opportunities the audience will serve me during a performance. It's my job to listen and respond accordingly. It's their input that always makes the show better than what I could have made by myself.
 



 

Will you tease an effect or two for us?

The first card trick in the show is something I am revisiting after 8+ years. When I first started performing it, many magicians came up to me after the show and told me it fooled them. I never considered it a "magician fooler" per se, but I realized it's because they think it's a trick they've seen before until it isn't. 

 

 

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s Magic?

For the last year and half, I have been working with Brendan Hong to design my very own deck of playing cards. The first run was printed with Shuffled Ink and I got my hands on them in May. For now, the cards are available exclusively at my shows. I am super proud of the cards and it's a really great feeling to be able to perform with them every night. 



 

Thank you Keith, for making the time to answer our questions!
 

For more information about the Toronto Fringe, visit FringeToronto.com

 

  110% Wizard  

• Tickets:  
  https://fringetoronto.com/fringe/show/110-wizard

 

 

For more information about Keith Brown, visit his website at AbsoluteMagic.ca and follow him on Facebook and Instagram. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windsor: Capitaine Loran at the Fête nationale du Québec Windsor [Jun 24]

For more information about Fête nationale du Québec Windsor visit val-ouest.com/fete-nationale-du-quebec-windsor-la-celebre/

For more information about Capitaine Loran, visit CapitaineLoran.com 

 

 

From the June 19th Facebook post by Loran: 

Captain Loran will dock his ship in Windsor on June 24th in celebration of the National Quebec Day.  It's a date at 5pm for his stage show "A Pirate Like No Other!"

Read more. 

 

Previously shared on Facebook June 19. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: The Comedy Magic Show [Jun 25]

Tickets and more information at Eventbrite. 

 

 From the June 15th Facebook post by Chris Mayhew:

 ... with special guests James Alan (magician) and Ernie Vicente (stand up comic).

 Read more.

 

Guelph, Toronto, & Barrie: Magic Guys at Work & Phenomena [Jun - Jul]

Tickets and more information at EventBrite.com/o/80980743733 

 

From the June 11th Instagram post by Ian Batterbury: 

• Jun 12 - Magic Guys at Work: Whiskey Business, Guelph
• Jun 26 - Phenomena: Distilled and Refined, Guelph
• Jun 28 - Magician Showcase, Toronto
• Jul 5 - Magic Guys at Work, Toronto 
• Jul 10 -Magic Guys at Work: Mulligans and Mind Games, Barrie
• Jul 14 - Phenomena: Lifted Spirits, Toronto
• Jul 25 - Phenomena: Off Course, Barrie

 

 

Previously shared on Facebook June 11. 

 

 

 

 

 

Windsor: Eric Bedard at the Harbour House Waterfront Eatery [Sun & Thurs]

From HarbourHouseWindsor.com/events.html: 

Weekly Events

• Sunday's 5pm to 8pm: Tableside Magic with Eric Bedard (Kid's Eat Free)
• Thursday's 6:30pm to 9:30pm: Tableside Magic Social Hours with Eric Bedard 

Read more and make your reservation! 

 

 

From the June 6th Facebook post by Eric Bedard:

Harbour House Waterfront Eatery where we have Magic Drinks, A Magical Atmosphere and Award Winning Magic at your Table.

Read more.