We're back on the road in just over 4 weeks, with a LOT of new magic! As in...
basically a whole new show. So anything can happen. But in the immortal words
of Harry Houdini "If at first you don't succeed, try it three nights later in
Ottawa".
Yesterday afternoon, KOP and I made the trek to Toronto's Meridian Hall.
The last time we were at Meridian Hall it was called the Sony Centre and it was to see Darcy Oake's show "Edge of Reality" in 2015. (Although we're still likely to refer to it as the O'Keefe Centre or possibly even the Hummingbird Centre.)
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.
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!
(In yesterday's show, there were three screens in play. One on the main stage and one each to the left and right of the stage.)
Regular readers of the blog have probably guessed that this would be our
summary of the show:
So. Much. Fun!
The audience arrived ready for a fun time. There were plenty of children in the audience and some families came in from as far as Bomanville to catch the show! They were rooting for the performers from the get-go and the cast had the crowd eating out of their hands by the end of the show!
It felt like there was an exponential increase in production values for this run, in comparison to the shows we've seen previously. There were more lights, the lights did fancier things, and there were additions to the sound track that really enhanced the visuals. (And for those in the know, yes, the fun extra bits are still there too.)
There was a unexpected change in cast. We were crushed when we learned that Alex McAleer was unable to do the show. We were really looking forward to getting another look at his beautifully constructed homage to Keller that we first saw in Kitchener last year.
Stepping in for McAleer was Kent Axell. This was our first time seeing Axell and we were very impressed!
If memory serves, there are no standard card tricks in the show!
This show is very different from the one
presented in Oshawa in
2019, and significantly different than the one mounted in Toronto in
2018. Much of the content is similar to the 2022 show we saw in Kitchener, with the added bonus that with every passing year, the cast are more authentic and the show feels more organic. Which translates to a demonstrable increase in entertainment value!
There are several whole cast moments, which make the show less of a patchwork piece
and more of a thoughtfully woven production.
There's LOTS audience participation with both children and adults! By our count, 16 volunteers were involved.
The show is absolutely visually stunning!
Whether you're new to magic or are a professional magician, there's
something for everyone!
Axell demonstrated some baffling mentalism and his 9 year old volunteer James was an absolute star!
England showcased
a strong skill set and talent that is intensely theatrical! She really brought the heat (through fire!) in her set and 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 amazed and dazzled from above.
Velasco succeeded 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 thrice 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! Their collaborative piece
with Velasco has a very strong audience reaction. As a bonus, they were able to stage a couple of effects we'd read about on social media but had never seen them perform live. It was well worth the wait to see it live on stage!
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 fourth time seeing the show in the last 5 years 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: KOP 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.
With thanks to Starvox Entertainment for the tickets.
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. 🎟️ bit.ly/3teaOSZ 👉 Champions Of Magic Access Guide 👉 Champions Of Magic Pre-Show Audio Notes 👉 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!
Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC and NS! Check the
Champions of Magicwebsite
for updates.
You may also know Fernando Velasco as the winner of the 2018 Junior Achievement Award at The Magic Castle.
We're delighted to interview Fernando 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 very 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?
I’m not sure what the motivation factor is; I love entertaining, I love making changes to try and find the best possible version of the acts to share with audiences, It’s also a way to keep it fresh, even if its just little changes to the script that’s enough to keep us engaged and in search for the perfect/most genuine presentation.
Have you studied any magic-adjacent disciplines?
Recently I’ve been studying writing and storytelling, I think it’s definitely helped me give my magic some meaning. Hopefully sharing stories that might mean something to people and might make them FEEL something… A feeling is what I’m currently after.
I also spend a lot of time analyzing other artists from a variety of different disciplines just trying to learn anything I can from them; Michael Jackson, Tom Cruise, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robbie Williams, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Pixar.
Cutting it close!
Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted
to perform magic full time?
YES, the moment I joined The Magic Castle Junior Society and debuted at 14 years old during Future Stars of Magic Week in 2012 -- that was the moment I knew I had found my entertaining vehicle. There was no looking back.
What is your most memorable performance misadventure?
Hahahah might be too soon... (Darkest day of my career.)
Once upon a time in Houston, Texas, (Richard) Young, (Sam) Strange, and myself had a catastrophic prop malfunction in a part of the show we do together.
I wish I could tell you that we played it off and walked off stage like heroes, but we did not.
First, we were exposed to 1/3 of the audience (being generous with ourselves), then Young fled the scene leaving me and Strange alone on stage to finish the act... to which the act finale also failed.
In other words, NOTHING worked… it was like a scene out of Magic Gone Wrong.
What sets Champions of Magic apart from other touring ensemble magic
shows?
First the insane production level, it blows any other touring magic show in North America out of the water.
Second, our interactions with each other, the way the show intertwines with all of us and our collaborative routines.
We are a cast rather than four ensemble acts, that’s really unique.
After a quick dip in the water tank.
Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?
My biggest guilty pleasure is food, I love food, and I'm lucky to share this pleasure with my great friend Richie (Young). Sharing meals together tends to be a highlight of the day haha. As well as riding Birdies (electric scooters) around cities.
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?
I really love touring, it's our life.
But touring can be hard, it can get lonely. You are in a bubble for months in which nothing enters or leaves, it's like we are isolated from the real world…
I wear bracelets that friends and family give me, I wear them all the time, it's my way of keeping a part of loved ones near all the time.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of
Canada’s Magic?
Best version of Champions of Magic is on its way. We hope you come to the shows and enjoy them as much as we do.
Thank you Fernando, for making the time to answer our questions!
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.🌠
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.🌠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 second 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].
- 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?
Two things, the first; Being able to perform with such high production value like the one Champions of Magic offers. I love the pyrotechnics at times is like a war zone on stage. And the second is riding birdies (Electric scooters) across the world with my friend Young, they are the best way to see each city and we both love them, brings joy to our days.
Fernando Velasco in danger.
Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences. Oshawa 2019.
What is your most important self-care practice while on tour?
Finding the time to decompress on my own. It allows me to then bring the best of me for people.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
I think about how cold it can get, and I hope not to freeze.
I know this sounds like an exaggeration but I’m Mexican and I live in LA, I don’t do well with the cold.
[Editor's note: No worries. We're not fans of the cold either, and we were born here!]
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?
My favorite part to perform is when all 5 of us are on stage together sharing the stories of how we got into magic. It allows me to get really personal with the audience and share a beautiful piece of magic.
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?
My favorite part to watch is the finale of the show when my friends Young & Strange go to town with their spectacular Vegas montage. It is a real WOW, full of energy and pyro, also I just love to scream “VEGAS!!” From the wing.
What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?
The collaborative pieces we do together on the show, and the best part is.. they are only getting better and better, also bigger.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Can’t wait to be back in Canada, if you’ve seen us in Canada before the show has changed a lot, it will feel like a brand new show. I'm sure you guys will really enjoy it.
Thank you Fernando, for making the time to answer our questions!
This is the fifth in a series of interviews leading up to the
