Showing posts with label Alex McAleer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alex McAleer. Show all posts

23 December 2023

Toronto: American Sign Language interpreted magic show [Dec 28]

They first offered this for their show in 2018.  Nice to see it available again!

 

From the December 18th Facebook post by Starvox Entertainment:

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.
๐ŸŽŸ️ bit.ly/3teaOSZ
๐Ÿ‘‰ Champions Of Magic Access Guide
๐Ÿ‘‰ Champions Of Magic Pre-Show Audio Notes
๐Ÿ‘‰ Email boxoffice@tolive.com to book tickets with an optimal view of the ASL interpreters

 

 

 

  Champions of Magic  

Catch Champions of Magic touring across Canada in 2023 - 2024:

Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.

 

Read our 2023 interviews with:


 

Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonders Tour


 

 

13 December 2023

Toronto: Win tickets to see "Champions of Magic" on December 30th, 2023

Great news folks! We have been offered tickets to give away to our readers, for Champions of Magic in Toronto, Canada.


Champions of Magic in Toronto


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!



Read our 2023 interviews with:

 

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:

  1. Log into the RaffleCopter widget at the bottom of this post, using a valid email address.
     
  2. 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.
     
  3. 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.

  4. 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!

 






 




27 October 2023

A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer [2023]


This is the fourth in a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour Canadian dates in:

Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC and NS!  Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.


Read our thoughts about their 2022 show:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 

 

In addition to his stage shows, you may know Alex McAleer through:

On episode 4 of Through the Magic of Television (Apple Podcasts link), Alex and guest Erik Tait    CanCon   discuss The Worlds Greatest Magic 4 (1997), which includes performances by Juliana Chen and Carl Cloutier.
[Editor's note:  This podcast requires a paid subscription.]



We're delighted to interview Alex ahead of his Canadian Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!


A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer


 
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 McAleer on stage

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 McAleer on stage

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?

Subscribe to the Magicians' Podcast Network (Apple Podcasts link) to hear my nostalgic-rewatch-podcast Through the Magic of Television (Apple Podcasts link) . Oh and I guess you can listen to [Richard] Young’s podcasts on there too.  
[Editor's note:  These podcasts require a paid subscription.]



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

 

Learn more about Alex at AlexMcAleer.com and follow him on Facebook, and Instagram

 

  Champions of Magic  

Catch Alex in Champions of Magic touring across Canada in 2023 - 2024:

Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC and NS!  Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.


Read our 2022 interviews with the cast:

 
Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonders Tour


 

 

 


23 September 2023

Edmonton: Champions of Magic [Mar 22 - Apr 6, 2024]

Read our thoughts about their 2022 show:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 


Read our 2022 interviews with the cast:

- Hollie England

- Alex McAleer

- Sam Strange

- Fernando Velasco

- Richard Young 
 

Tickets at Festival Place.

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!

 

From Festival Place:

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.

Read more and buy tickets.






29 June 2023

Toronto: Champions of Magic [Dec 27 - 31]

Read our thoughts about their 2022 show:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 


Read our 2022 interviews with the cast:

- Hollie England

- Alex McAleer

- Sam Strange

- Fernando Velasco

- Richard Young 
 

Tickets at Ticketmaster.

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!

 

From TO Live:

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.

Read more and buy tickets.

 

 

From the June 22nd Tweet by TO Live:

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.๐ŸŒ 

 



05 December 2022

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 2022

Last chance to catch Champions of Magic in Canada this year is in Peterborough on December 9th.

 

On Saturday Kidlet, and I made the trek to Kitchener's Circle In The Square.  

  • The last time I was at CITS was for one of the very first convention hosted by the Canadian Association of Magicians.
  • All of the theatre staff were super helpful, professional, and generally fabulous! 
  • While not mandatory, a good number of the patrons and ushers were masked.
  • The show is about an hour for the first half, with a 16 minute intermission, and about an hour in the second half.
  • As always with this show I am genuinely afraid of posting spoilers.  The less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it.

 

 

 

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.
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.

 

05 November 2022

A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer [2022]

A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer 


This is the fourth of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide 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 your most important self-care practice while on tour?
 
Trying to remember to eat well and exercise but then rewarding yourself with a vast amount of vegan junk food and wine.   
 

 
 
 
 
 
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!


 
Catch Champions of Magic in:

 

 







20 November 2021

A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer [2021]

A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer 


Learn more about Alex, in the fourth of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic World Wide Wonders Tour shows in Kitchener and Peterborough early next year.



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 2020After 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)
 
 
 
What’s your go-to Karaoke song?

4’33’’ by John Cage.

[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!


Catch Champions of Magic in Kitchener and Peterborough early 2022! 
 





17 July 2021

Kitchener: Champions of Magic 2022

We've had the good fortune of attending a couple of Champions of Magic shows.  Here are some  random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 2019.

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!

Three shows scheduled.  Buy tickets here.


From the July 12th Instagram post by Champions of Magic: