Champions Of Magic in Toronto will have an ASL interpreted performance on Thursday, December 28 at 8:00pm!
TO Live and Starvox Entertainment are happy to offer the following access measures: ASL interpreted performance: Thursday, December 28 at 8:00pm.
The performance will be ASL interpreted by Amanda Hyde and David Bell-Patterson.
Please contact the TO Live box office by phone at 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754, or by email at boxoffice@tolive.com to book tickets with an optimal view of the ASL interpreters. ๐️ bit.ly/3teaOSZ ๐ Champions Of Magic Access Guide ๐ Champions Of Magic Pre-Show Audio Notes ๐ Email boxoffice@tolive.com to book tickets with an optimal view of the ASL interpreters
Great news folks! We have been offered tickets to give away to our
readers, for Champions of Magic in Toronto, Canada.
Prepare to be enchanted this holiday season with Champions of Magic. Brace yourself, for a heart-pounding escape from Houdini's legendary water torture cell, predictions that will leave you questioning reality itself, and gravity-defying levitation acts that will have you floating high above the stage in pure amazement. And when you think you've seen it all, the grand finale will defy explanation leaving you in sheer disbelief!
Toronto don't miss this chance to witness the extraordinary and become part of the magic phenomenon as of December 27!
Their run starts on December 27th and has just been extended to the 31st. If you don't want to leave your tickets to chance, you can purchase them directly at TicketMaster.
There will be a random draw for one (1) family pack of tickets for the show on December 30th at noon, 2023.
There will be one (1) winner.
The prize consists of a family pack of four (4) tickets. (Approximate retail value of $250.)
The draw results will be posted by Saturday, December 23rd.
To enter:
Log into the RaffleCopter widget at the bottom of this post, using a valid email address.
Mandatory: Leave a comment in the widget, telling us: a) what trick or illusion you enjoy doing so much you'd be happy to perform it every day for a year, and b) for how many years you've been performing it.
If you win, you must be willing to provide your name, email address, and phone number, so that a representative from Champions of Magic can coordinate the prize with Lighthouse Immersive box office.
Winners will be notified by email. You will have 24
hours to claim your prize. If we have not heard back from you within 24
hours, your entry will be disqualified and we will draw an additional name.
The fine print:
To participate in the contest, you must be 18 years of age or older.
One entry per person.
This giveaway is open to Canadian residents, excluding residents of Quebec. (Je m'excuse!)
This giveaway is void where prohibited by law.
This giveaway may be terminated or withdrawn at any time.
Entries
may be disqualified at any time (reasons for disqualification include
but are not limited to the provision of information that is untruthful,
inaccurate, incomplete, or suspected fraudulent behaviour).
You must be able to use the tickets as offered. (No cash value will be offered if you cannot use the tickets.)
Transportation to/from Toronto will not be provided.
Accommodations will not be provided.
Photo
ID will be required to claim the tickets at the the Meridian Hall
box office prior to the show on your way into the theatre.
The odds of winning depend on how many people enter the contest.
Contest closes on Wednesday December the 20th, 2023 at 11:59pm ET. Entries received after this time will be disqualified.
With thanks to Starvox Entertainment for generously making these tickets available to you!
his mentalism offerings (under the name Alexander Marsh and available at
The 1914
as well as other magic shops including
The Browser's Den of Magic), or
We're delighted to interview Alex ahead of his Canadian
Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!
We were fortunate to see Champions of Magic in three times in the
past five years. Your part in the show changed significantly from year
to year. In fact the 2022 experience was almost completely different
from the first time we saw you in Toronto in 2018.
When
you have an audience tested, well-received show, what drives you to modify
and advance your act?
It’s very tempting to just do the tricks and lines you’ve been doing for
years, and the temptation is even greater when you’re waiting in the wings
about to go on stage and do a new routine. It’s very rewarding however to keep
things fresh, in my own act there are sections that are brand new every night
so I have to think on my feet.
I think what drives me to make changes is not wanting things to
become stale, and it’s always fun to tinker and improve each performance of a
new routine.
Have you studied any magic-adjacent disciplines?
I’ve studied various other skills that have all informed my performances.
Theatre work when I was younger and performing in plays, readings, even
panto! I’ve also studied a bit of comedy writing and physical comedy. I also
went to Art School so that's given me an interest in aesthetics.
Alex on stage with an audience member keeping Alex's eyes shut
Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted
to perform magic full time?
I think it was probably after my first “show” - I did a twenty minute show
on stage in between some one-act plays in my hometown. The show I did was
dreadful in hindsight but the audience really responded to it; this shy
young man they all knew could now apparently read minds and hold a room’s
attention.
What is your most memorable performance misadventure?
Probably when a prop we were using in Champions malfunctioned and the
‘big prediction moment’ I had been teasing throughout the show just didn’t
happen. Foolishly, there was no out. I just had to move onto the next, much
smaller and less significant, part of the prediction.
What sets Champions of Magic apart from other touring ensemble magic
shows?
I think it’s probably that you’re seeing a full show, not just a series of
different acts doing their own thing. There are multiple moments when we are
all working together on stage, or involved in another performer's act.
Alex on stage
Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?
Vegan junk food. Vegan Poutine is always a highlight for a trip
to the true north.
One imagines that it’s sometimes hard to leave the comforts of your home
for a lengthy tour. Do you bring a special something from home with
you?
As silly as it may sound but having a VPN on my iPad means I can enjoy the
comforts of UK television.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s
Magic?
Can't make it to see them in Toronto [Dec 27 - 31] or Edmonton [Mar 22 - Apr 6]? Keep your eyes on ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk/tour.html for updates to the tour schedule. A little bird told me they'll have dates in Regina as part of their 2023 - 2024 tour. Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC, SK, and NS!
Break away from the screen and experience live entertainment like never before with Champions Of Magic - an evening of impossible illusions and spectacular special effects. Described by the press as ‘The Avengers of magic’ catch the only team of magicians in the world as they present their original, phenomenal ensemble illusions.
The Champions Of Magic cast present incredible interactive magic, a daring escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, a mind-blowing prediction that has to be seen to be believed, levitation high above the stage and a finale beyond explanation. The show happens all around the theatre and features spectacular illusions that can’t be seen anywhere else.
Can't make it to see them in Toronto? Keep your eyes on ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk/tour.html for updates to the tour schedule. A little bird told me they'll have dates in Edmonton and Regina as part of their 2023 - 2024 tour. Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC, SK, and NS!
The Champions Of Magic cast present incredible interactive magic, a daring escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, a mind-blowing prediction that has to be seen to be believed, levitation high above the stage, and a finale beyond explanation. The show happens all around the theatre and features spectacular illusions that can’t be seen anywhere else.
Don’t miss this unbelievable show to entertain the entire family and see why fans return to see one of the world’s biggest touring illusion shows time and time again.
They’ve sold out shows across the globe, been featured on every major US TV network and racked up over 50 million views online…but you haven’t seen magic until you’ve seen it live! Catch Champions Of Magic Dec. 27 to 29. 20% off for a limited time.๐
They’ve sold out shows across the globe, been featured on every major US TV network and racked up over 50 million views online…but you haven’t seen magic until you’ve seen it live! Catch Champions Of Magic Dec. 27 to 29. 20% off for a limited time.๐ https://t.co/k2FHWLd0UCpic.twitter.com/U4vHXigz1p
We teased a few years back about a Champions of Magic Concert Album. The show has matured to the point where it has a wonderful toe tapping soundtrack! Going back to the 1930s with "Sing, Sing, Sing," to the 1960s with "The Girl from Ipanema," to the 1970s with "Live and Let Die" and of course the 80's hits transporting you back to 1989 Las Vegas!
On with the show...
Note to parents of young children: The music can be very loud at times throughout the show. There's also a smoke machine involved. Forewarned is forearmed.
There's a videographer on hand to capture close-up miracles and project them nice and big on a screen so everyone can see!
Regular readers of the blog have probably guessed that this would be our summary of the show:
So. Much. Fun!
It's possible that between one half to two thirds of this show is new compared with their 2019 presentation.
With every passing year, the cast are more authentic and the show feels more organic. Which translates to a demonstrable increase in entertainment value!
If memory serves, there are no standard card tricks in the show!
As Strange, Velasco, and Young all indicated in their interviews, this show is very different from the one presented in Oshawa in 2019, and significantly different than the one mounted in Toronto in 2018.
There are more whole cast moments, making the show less of a patchwork piece and more of a thoughtfully woven production.
There's LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!
Visually stunning!
Whether you're new to magic or are a professional magician, there's something for everyone!
McAleer's material has undergone a significant change and he's introduced two new very strong pieces. The first, a very visual effect with a young mentalist in training. And the second a beautifully constructed homage to Keller.
England is net new to the show from it's 2019 iteration. She showcases a strong skill set and talent that is intensely theatrical! (I'll never look at a cup of tea the same way again.)
For those who have seen the show already, not to worry! The cornerstone
crowd-pleasers are still in the show, tweaked and refined!
Aerialist Michelle Mazzarella dazzled from above.
Velasco succeeds in breathtaking, heart-stopping escapes and then some.
Even though I've seen him do many of these things before, everything he
does makes me nervous!
Young and Strange have carefully pruned their wonderful grand illusions and introduced some new things in their place. Even after having seen them perform a similar set twice before, Young and
Strange are remarkably entertaining to watch. One can't help but get
caught up in the fun they are having on stage! They've introduced a collaborative piece with Velasco that has a very strong audience reaction.
While excellent magic is at the core of this experience, it's clear that the focus is providing a fabulously entertaining evening. They definitely hit their mark!
This was the third time seeing the show and we were thoroughly entertained! There are so many moments of joyous
laughter, and periods of being completely enthralled in the spectacle.
It is clear that the acts and the scripts are a work in progress and continue to be thoughtfully curated, updated, and revised. It gets better every time!
We highly recommend it! (Even if you've seen it before.)
Disclosure: Kidlet and I were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I
did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this
article.
This is the fourth of a series of interviews leading up
to the Champions of
MagicWorldwide Wonder Tour shows in Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1], Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and Peterborough[Dec 9].
Canadian tour to start April 2023!
Read our 2021 interview where Alex shares: - how he dealt with The Great Pause - how COVID impacted his set - his comfort binge - about touring in Mexico during a pandemic - his go-to Karaoke song
What is your favourite thing about going on tour with Champions of Magic?
It’s always great to get the band back together and hit the road again - there’s never a dull day. I mean, I sometimes wish there was a dull day.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
That time we were in Saskatoon in January and I thought it would be a good idea to walk to the venue. A piece of me died that day. It broke off and I could never find it.
[Editor's note: Rookie mistake. We'll let you know if anyone in the province finds it. Be sure to leave us a forwarding address.]
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?
I have a new act in the show that I’ve been working on for a long time; it’s gone though various incarnations but its got some really exciting and different moments of magic in it, and what’s really fun is an audience member is doing it all.
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?
In the first half of the show we are all on stage together, and that's a fun moment to watch the rest of the cast do their thing. Like Strange forgetting his lines or almost injuring himself.
What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?
Probably the amount of grey hairs that are appearing in both my head and facial hair.
Kelly
and Dave help out Alex McAleer.
Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences. Oshawa
2019.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Canadians eat more mac 'n' cheese, specifically Kraft macaroni and cheese, than any other nation.
[Editor's note: Tru dat! According to the Daily Hive "Kraft Dinner has deep roots in Canada. A representative for Kraft Canada tells Daily Hive that the patent for a packaged and processed cheese product was invented by Ontario native James Lewis Kraft in 1916." And according to Wikipedia "The brand is popular with Canadians, who consume 55% more boxes per capita than Americans." And now we've got that Barenaked Ladies song stuck in our heads.]
Thank you Alex, for making the time to answer our questions!
Read our 2019 interview where we learn Alex's thoughts
on:
- Canadian
audiences,
- keeping his performance fresh,
- advice for touring magicians, [Editor's note: there's some great advice here!]
- non-magic interests,
- pre-show rituals, and
- Broadway dream role!
And the 2018 piece in which we learn about his
- first memory of magic,
- non-mentalism magic,
- creating new effects
- non-magical inspirations,
- our fascination with magic,
- performing in different countries,
- memorable touring mis-adventures, and
- his connection to Canadian magic.
Champions of Magic performed in Canada in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. After a two year absence, what are
you most looking forward to on your return to Canada in early 2022?
I’m looking forward to being in front of a
Canadian crowd again, they always give good audience. And the food - I
managed to find a vegan poutine last time we were there and I suddenly
saw what all the fuss was about.
The Great Pause (COVID Lockdowns)
Did you experience any silver linings?
Time with the family has been wonderful. My son turned
12 this year so frankly it was a great opportunity to have so
much uninterrupted time with him at this age.
Also, for the past 3 years we’ve had hotel room Christmas
mornings, and as fun as they are, it was great to be home with
the family for Xmas 2020.
What was your comfort binge?
We’d never watched Downton Abbey so we watched it all - from episode 1
right up to the film. Great British Bake Off (it didn’t help the baking
skills). X Files. The Simpsons… thank goodness Disney plus launched in
the UK when it did. Also I found myself watching very niche things on
YouTube… Documentaries about theme park rides, or Adam Savage from
Mythbusters making an iron man helmet or a place to keep drill-bits.
Were you able to explore your personal
passions (film, art, cooking, gym, laughing, and
anthropomorphising)?
Those are all still very much at the top of the list.
I’ve done plenty of laughing.
I’ve cooked lots but baking still remains an absolute disaster.
I got to explore my passion for film by watching nearly
everything on Netflix and Disney plus… turns out when you
‘complete’ Netflix, all the film titles bounce around the screen
like when you win Solitaire on an old Windows PC.
[Editor's note: Must keep watching Netflix to unlock
this bonus!]
I also made a series of short films with my partner Daisy,
combining her skills as a circus performer and writer.
I started running/jogging as the gyms were closed. Almost
immediately gave myself shin splints but then I got some better
shoes.
Did The Great Pause allow you to do anything that you wouldn't
likely have been able to accomplish if you were touring?
Yes. For several years I’ve had a sideline in teaching
and lecturing to other performers but The Great Pause
allowed me to do more of that. I created a few online lectures
discussing my work including a full course on stagecraft. I also
launched a few niche products for fellow performers. The feedback
has been great and I’ve made some new friends and connections
along the way too.
Did you have to adjust anything in your set to incorporate COVID
precautions?
This is something tha'ts still very much in a state of
flux, I think. For example, throwing the Chimpion of Magic out
into the audience… that might have to change. Essentially it’s all
about keeping everyone safe and comfortable… anything people
handle, such as a pen or a pack of cards, is cleaned before,
during, and after shows.
Kelly
and Dave help out Alex McAleer.
Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences. Oshawa
2019.
How did you keep your skills fresh and performance
ready?
I’ve done a few smaller shows and events over the past
18 months or so, and it took me awhile to get the rhythm back. I
felt a little rusty but the energy from an audience brings it all
back.
What was it like travelling and performing with Champions of
Magic in Mexico during the pandemic?
It was strange, mostly because the airport and trains were so quiet,
security took no time at all! Also, on the plus side for me, because
of the airlines social distancing measures I got upgraded to first
class! Strange was absolutely livid.
The show was great, we performed a version for streaming plus some
live shows. We had to change certain elements of the show not just
because of COVID related restrictions but also because of the language
barrier.
There was a panicked moment backstage when the venue staff were using
this sort of disinfectant-fog-machine. It filled the whole dressing
room area with fog. None of us knew it was going to happen and we
thought the place was on fire!
Was there anything particularly memorable about your first
live performance after The Great Pause?
I did a show in my hometown and I felt it didn’t go as
well as I’d hoped, it wasn’t bad but not as good as it could have
been. Speaking to people after the show however they thought it
was great. It just reminded me that my perception of a performance
has very little to do with the audiences enjoyment, and they are
the ones the show is for!
Have audience reactions to live magic performances
changed after Lockdown?
They seem the same, but I think the thrill of seeing a
live performance has added to their enjoyment.
In September, we learned that Hollie England will be joining the
Champions of Magic family.
How will you welcome Hollie into the Champions family?
By showing her where we keep the kettle backstage.
What advice do you have for Hollie to help her thrive in the
Champions family?
I don’t think I can really offer her any advice, Hollie
has toured with other shows and performers many times before so I’m
sure she’ll fit right in.
If you could go back in time to study (magic or otherwise) under
anybody, who would you choose to be your mentor?
Hmm… a silent act of some kind. I’ve done some silent work
on stage before and I enjoy the challenge. Probably comedy based, not
magic… I guess I just want to be Buster Keaton (who is funnier than
Chaplin, don’t @ me)
[Editor's note: Now there's a "pro-tip" I can implement immediately
with excellent results!]
If you could only perform one effect for the rest of your life,
what would it be?
Despite how egotistical this may come across, I think it
would have to be my own routine, the first one I do in my first set in
Champions. It’s a very simple and direct piece of mind reading.
If you could eliminate other performers performing an effect
forever, what would it be?
That one where an audience member colours in a Lego Man.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Now please wash your hands.
Thank you Alex, for making the time to answer our questions!
In addition to the previously announced Peterborough show, Champions of Magic (Kayla Drescher, Alex McAleer, Fernando Velasco, and (Richard) Young & (Sam) Strange) will also be appearing in Kitchener as part of The Worldwide Wonders Tour!