Showing posts with label Christian Mascia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian Mascia. Show all posts

05 December 2023

Niagara Falls: Greg Frewin is back in action!

From the November 29th Instagram post by the Greg Frewin Theatrical Centre:

Get ready for a grand return to enchantment! ๐ŸŒŸ✨ The International Grand Champion of Magic, Greg Frewin, is back in action, joined by the spellbinding Christian Mascia and the captivating Alexandra. Experience a new era of magic at the Greg Frewin Theatre – where the extraordinary meets the unexpected! ๐ŸŽฉ๐Ÿ”ฎ


 

 

 

From the December 1st Instagram post by Greg Frewin Theatre

๐ŸŽ✨ Don't Miss Out on the Ultimate Holiday Magic ๐ŸŽ✨
Dive into a world of enchantment with the International Grand Champion of Magic, Greg Frewin, and the mesmerizing talents of Christian Mascia and Alexandra. ๐ŸŽฉ✨ Join us for a spellbinding holiday extravaganza, where festive illusions and merry tricks create memories that sparkle like holiday lights! ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŽ„

 

 

 

28 July 2023

Niagara Falls: Wonders with Greg Frewin and Christian Mascia [Summer 2023]

From the July 26th Facebook post by the Greg Frewin Theatrical Centre:

We appreciate your curiosity about the name change from 'Wonder' to 'Wonders.' The reason for this change is that our main magician, Greg Frewin, has made a much-anticipated return to the Greg Frewin Theatre for a limited time. [Editor's note: emphasis ours.] While the essence of the magic show remains the same, we've decided to call it 'Wonders' to signify that it now features multiple magicians, including the incredible talents of Greg Frewin himself. This update allows us to showcase a diverse range of magical performances, making the show even more captivating and awe-inspiring for our audiences. We hope you'll join us for an unforgettable experience full of Wonders!"

Thank you for your interest! The show is playing all summer long at the Greg Frewin Theatrical Centre in Niagara Falls. You can book tickets and find more information on our website: https://gregfrewintheatre.com/buy-tickets.html the show and your visit to Niagara Falls!


 

 

 

 

29 March 2023

Canada's Got Talent auditions: Magic Ben, Christian Mascia, and Dean Gunnarson

Updated March 30th to add a CGT teaser using Dean's audition.

 

Congratulations Ben, Christian, and Dean, on fantastic auditions!

Watch video of Ben's audition at the bottom of this post.

Watch episode two of Canada's Got Talent at CityTV.com to see clips of the auditions by Christian and Dean.

 

Some of Dean's audition from the February 13th post at the Canada's Got Talent Facebook page:



 

From the March 28th upload "19-Year-Old MAGICIAN Magic Ben’s Audition Freezes Judge Lilly Singh" on the Canada's Got Talent YouTube channel:

Growing up in a small Inuit community in Northern Quebec, Benjamin was stunned after seeing his first magic act at age 9.  Since then, he’s been mastering his sleight-of-hand.  What results is an audition that stuns the judges with up-close magic precision, but it’s his finale that leaves Lilly completely frozen!

 

 

 

 

 

10 March 2023

Magicians on Canada's Got Talent [Mar 21 premiere]

Learn more at the Canada's Got Talent website


From the March 7th media release "Canada’s Got Talent Reveals This Season’s Showstopping Acts, Premiering March 21 on Citytv" at Globe Newswire:

ALBERTA
ATSUSHI ONO – Magic Act, Calgary

BRITISH COLUMBIA
WILL STELFOX – Magic Act, Vancouver

MANITOBA
DEAN GUNNARSON – Stunt, Onanole

ONTARIO
CHRISTIAN MASCIA – Magic Act, Stoney Creek
RICHARD FORGET – Magic Act, Whitby

QUEBEC
JP PARENT – Magic Act, Montreal

YUKON TERRITORY
MAGIC BEN – Magic Act, Whitehorse

Read more.

 

 

 

21 September 2022

Niagara Falls: Greg Frewin stepping back, Christian Mascia stepping forward

From the September 16th article "After 18 years, Niagara Falls magician Greg Frewin passing on the wand" by John Law at the Niagara Fall Review:

After 18 years of the nightly grind, one of Canada’s most decorated magic men is passing the wand. Sometime over the next month, he will yield the stage to 24-year-old rising star Christian Mascia at his Ellen Avenue theatre.

And while he hesitates using the ‘r’ word — retirement — Frewin says his days of regular performing are winding down. And it took a forced break to convince him.

Read more.


 From the September 20th Facebook post by Greg Frewin Theatre:

"Greg will be coming back from time to time to perform with Christian Mascia but for the most part yes, he is retiring from the stage."

"The new show Wonder will begin October 13, 2022. Hope that is helpful for you. "


 

 

 

 

03 May 2018

Wild about "Wild Magic"

Through a long and convoluted series of events, I found myself (along with Kidlet, Kidlet's Other Parent (KOP), and Kidlet's Friend (KF)) at Great Wolf Lodge for an overnight stay on Good Friday.  It should come as no surprise that I viewed this as an opportunity to utilize some tickets that were gifted to me to see "Wild Magic" at the Greg Frewin Theatre. (Which reminds me, I owe a now very belated thank you note to the generous ticket gifter.)


Tip: Arrive to the theatre as early as you can to ensure good seating (the box office will let you know what time is best).   There's also a photo opportunity next the to lion statues by the front doors.
Note to parents: Bring along some distractions for little ones (such as crayons with paper, playing cards, books, quiet hand-held video games etc.) to help pass the time between arriving for the best seating and show time. 
If you think your child would be scared sitting right up close to the tigers at level one, level two offers an equally good view of the stage along with the sense of a physical barrier between you and the big cats.


Inside the theatre there's some entertainment while you wait.  We watched footage of Greg's tigers when they were adorable cubs.  People had their special occasions celebrated (happy belated birthday Donna, Jason, and Nicholas).  There were also short clips of some of the TV appearances Greg's made.  He's done a tonne of interviews!


My favourite part of the show, three viewings later, is still the illusion involving fire and water.
Here are some random thoughts that came to mind while watching "Wild Magic":
  • The show starts strong and keeps getting bigger and better.
  • There's a smattering of mentalism and close-up magic to keep things varied, but make no mistake, Greg's large illusions dominate the show!
  • KF's favourite part of the show: all of the tiger productions.
  • There are three large video screens making it easy to see the close-up parts from any seat in the house.
  • The show is different enough from the last time we were there, that it felt new to us.
  • It made me happy that some of my favourites (for example, the illusion with water and fire) are still in the show. 
  • It looked like the show was sold out.  (The house is deep and narrow and particularly good for viewing magic.  I don't think there's a bad seat.)
  • KOP's favourite illusion: when Greg makes one of his assistants 'dissolve' into a metal plate.
  • A good pair of theatre binoculars give you a seat upgrade!
  • The show involved newspapers, a parakeet (or was it a macaw?), an invisible deck, artwork, handcuffs, tigers, talented ladies, candles, fire, doves, a dog, tigers, kids, a little bit of Sting, and a little bit of Shania Twain.  And a whistle. (One of Kidlet's favourite parts.)
  • Greg even teaches a trick!
  • Kidlet's favourite illusion, three viewings later:  the one I referred to in 2012 as the "Assistants' Revenge."
  • As I've previously noted, how magicians treat audience members is something to which I pay close attention.  For me, one of the things that brought me great joy, was when Greg asked a young boy to come up on stage to help.  They boy said, "no."  Greg didn't miss a beat and went on to find someone else.  I think more kids were interested in helping out after that.  They got the sense that they weren't going to be pressured into doing something they didn't want to do.
  • Greg had an eye-popping and ambitious take on sawing a person into halves.  It was hard for me to count 'cause they kept moving things around, but I think that his poor assistant was broken up into 9 segments!
  • It is a really physically demanding show.
  • Greg and his crew deliver the same level of energy and passion for performing as I first witnessed six years ago!
  • The evening was fantastically entertaining! 


All the excitement and entertainment of a Las Vegas show, for a fraction of the cost!
(A deal made even better with the current exchange rate.)

During the intermission I was delighted to spot Sorcerers Safari alumnus Christian Mascia demonstrating magic.  He was doing an excellent job of it too.  He had a crowd gathered that was at least 8 people deep and practically engulfed him.  I'm sure he sold a lot of magic kits for Greg that night!

I should also note that I think I saw Ben up on stage doing what looked like a fabulous job assisting.

After the show we queued up for the photo illusion with tiger Cashmere.  Kidlet and KF had their photo taken.  The adults watched on, secure in the knowledge that the tiger trainer is right there keeping a careful watch at all times.  (And because we were getting two copies of the same photo, one each for Kidlet and KF, the second copy was half price!)

Note: The profits from the photos go to a tiger sanctuary, and to feed hungry tigers. 

After the show (photo or not) you can queue up for an autograph from, a bring-your-own-camera photo with, and have a quick chat with Greg!

If you get the chance, I highly recommend the "VIP backstage tour package add-on."  We experienced the backstage tour in 2016 and it was fabulous

Thank you to John, Alex, Erika, and everyone else involved in making it such a magical evening for my family.  A special thank you to Greg, for his hospitality and for sharing his magical talent!





02 April 2018

Toronto: The Newest Trick in the Book

From the Newest Trick in the Book Facebook page:
Come see the first Newest Trick in the Book in April! Tuesday April 3rd at See-Scape. We have a stacked lineup that you're going to love!

If you've never been, The Newest Trick in the book is the only open mic night for magicians in North America and it's totally free!

Will Zhang and Matthew Thomas Stewart (otherwise known as magic duo Will & Matt)- An incredible Toronto magic team that recently sold out a show at the Isabel Bader Theatre. Come see the brand new magic that this dynamic act has put together!

Christian Mascia - A talented young Toronto performer that's part of the generation of people making magic cool! Come see why, with his brand new material this week!

Brian Roberts - A performer, lecturer, and all around incredible magician is bringing some brand new magic to the show. He's a newest trick in the book newcomer, but an expert magician. Come see world class magic

Benzi Train - A TMC founder and an unbelievable performer who's helping put Toronto on the map as one of the magic capitals of the world! Come see why this Tuesday!
and your host

Jonah Babins - A TMC founder, head of the Discourse in Magic podcast (one of the worlds top magic podcasts), and a fantastic performer. Jonah is an up and coming name in the magic scene, that you won't want to forget!

Come see the show, and grab FREE tickets below!