A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 1 of 3

An abridged version of this article first appeared in last month's issue of VANISH (May 2026 #142, pgs 48 - 53).  Republished with permission. 

Wherein we share some trivia about a cast member, take a good look at the behind the scenes effort involved in putting on the show, and take a bit of a tangent in order to drop Alan Hudson's name.

 

A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic) -- part 1 of 3 

On a cold and grey December day, I met up with the Champions of Magic crew at the Bluma Appel Theatre in downtown Toronto.

My mission: to shadow the company from load-in to load-out, for their 13 day Toronto stay. 

I was unable to attend two of the days and four of the days were statutory holidays. Allow me to take some liberties with the timeline and present to you what I learned spending A Week in the Life of Champions (of Magic). 

Continue reading this password protected article.

Password clue:

• the Canadian magician who appeared on The Muppet Show
  
  Format:  Firstname_Lastname

 

 

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 

 

Read Part 2 in this month's issue of VANISH Magic Magazine (June 2026 #143, pgs 48 - 53)

 

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

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Champions of Magic (@championsofmagic)

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Champions of Magic -- Holiday Spectacular [Dec 27 - Jan 4]

Updated December 9th to add:

• now extended to January 4th. 

 

Tickets at Starvox Entertainment. 

 

From the November 6th Facebook post by Starvox Entertainment: 

✨ They’re back, Toronto! ✨
Get ready for Champions Of Magic: Holiday Spectacular - in Toronto for 2 nights only at the Bluma Appel Theatre, December 27 & 28! 🎩🎄 

 

Previously shared on Facebook November 6. 

 

Read our thoughts about the 2025 Champions of Magic show "Chasing the Unbelievable" in Hamilton:

It is always a treat to see
Champions of Magic!


Random thoughts about Champions of Magic 

 

 

Read our interviews with the cast:

Liberty Larsen  (2024)
Sam Strange  (2023)
Fernando Velasco  (2023)

and
Richard Young   (2024)

 
Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagicTour.com and follow them on Facebook, and Instagram.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shawn Farquhar interviewed on The Magicians' Podcast Network

Listen to Richard Young and Alan Hudson interview Shawn Farquhar on the What's Going On? channel of the Magicians' Podcast Network (also available on Apple Podcasts (listen for free on a 3 day trial)).  

 

From the October 17th Facebook post by Shawn Farquhar:

Such a fun afternoon hanging out and chatting with Richard Young and Alan Hudson.  

 

 

 

From the October 24th Instagram post by The Magicians' Podcast Network: 

OUT NOW! The 2009 FISM Grand Prix Champion for Close-Up Magic Shawn Farquhar (@magichampion) joins Young & Hudson today.

Topics discussed:
His incredible 32 year long run as a cruise ship magician
How and why he transitioned from Cruise ships to his own theatre Hidden Wonders.
the harsh realities of running your own theatre.
The opportunities that came from winning FISM.
His thoughts on originality and theft of material.
Also Shawn answers 20 Magic Questions. 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Magicians' Podcast Network (@themagicianspodcastnetwork)

 

 

 

Gabriella Lester interviewed on The Magicians' Podcast Network about her role in Now You See Me LIVE opening in Sydney

Listen to Richard Young and Alan Hudson interview Gabriella Lester on the What's Going On? channel of the Magicians' Podcast Network (also available on Apple Podcasts (listen for free on a 3 day trial)).  

 

From the September 26th Instagram post by The Magicians' Podcast Network: 

OUT NOW! Joining Young & Hudson today is Canada’s Gabriella Lester, the insanely talented 21 year old already carving a path for herself on the highest level.

Topics Discussed:
- Gabriella talks about how she landed the job of associate producer on Fool Us.
- She also talks about her latest role in the upcoming Now You See Me Live show.
- And the hosts discuss Penn & Teller finally being allowed into the Magic Circle.
PLUS: Gabriella answers 20 Magic Questions.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Magicians' Podcast Network (@themagicianspodcastnetwork)

  

 

Previously shared on Facebook August 25th. 

From the August 25th Instagram post by Gabriella Lester:

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gabriella Lester (@thegabriellalester)

 

 

 

 

#ThrowbackThursday with Sophie Lloyd and Doug Henning

Sophie Lloyd

You may remember that almost 5 years ago on May 27, 2020 the CBC radio show As It Happens discussed some earlier goings on at The Magic Circle. 

From the Jenny Winstanley interview at As it Happens transcripts:

It was a major to-do about a major ta-dah. In 1991, The Magic Circle — the prestigious British organization of illusionists -- voted to allow women to become members. At which point one of its members — Raymond Lloyd — revealed he had something up his sleeve. A woman's arm. Raymond Lloyd was, in fact, Sophie Lloyd. For two years, she had pretended to be a young male magician. No one noticed. Unfortunately, illusionists apparently don't like to have their illusions shattered. So when Raymond announced he was actually Sophie, she was booted out of the Magic Circle — despite its new policy allowing women. Still, it was a triumph. Not just for Ms. Lloyd, who was just pretending to be a magician. But also for Jenny Winstanley, who actually was a magician. And had taught Sophie Lloyd everything she knew, so they could pull off the remarkable trick. In 1991, As It Happens reached the women at a party celebrating their magic moment. Here's Michael Enright, speaking, first, with Jenny Winstanley. 

Read more. 

  

We're delighted to read today at the BBC, that Sophie Lloyd has been granted membership into The Magic Circle.

From the April 24th article "Woman who tricked her way into men-only Magic Circle finally allowed in" by Grace Dean at BBC News: 

A magician who tricked her way into the Magic Circle is finally being granted membership - 34 years after she was kicked out.

Sophie Lloyd says she disguised herself as a man to fool examiners into letting her join the elite society in 1991, at a time female magicians were not allowed to be members.

When the Circle announced it was permitting women to join later that year, Ms Lloyd revealed her deception, prompting the society to expel her at the very same meeting it admitted its first female magicians.

Read more.

 

Doug Henning at The Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis.  

From the April 24th Facebook post at Canada's Magic:

A gift from our friends at Champions of Magic!

This photo was taken from the backstage wall at the The Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis.

Neil McNally at The Doug Henning Project, has a photo of Doug performing at this theatre circa 1985:
https://doughenningproject.com/2021/04/14/1985-fox-theater-st-louis-dancing-handkerchief-photo/

Neil has also posted this photo, but does not have information about the year it was created, or the tour to which it belongs.
https://doughenningproject.com/2017/07/07/backstage-pass/

📸 : Richard Young
(Young & Strange | The Magicians' Podcast Network)

You can catch Richard Young as part of Young & Strange in Champions Of Magic in Canada:

- May 7-9: Victoria BC, Royal Theatre
- May 11-12: Calgary AB, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium,
- May 20-22: Vancouver BC, Queen Elizabeth Theatre

with a rumoured December booking in Kingston!
- Dec 14: Kingston ON, Slush Puppie Place

Check ChampionsofMagicTour.com for updates.

Thanks for sending this along to us Richard Young!

 

 

 

 

 

Alexandra Burgio mentioned on The Magicians' Podcast Network

Have a listen this excerpt from most recent episode of the What's Going On? podcast which is part of the Magicians' Podcast Network (spotify link) (Apple Podcasts link), where nice things are said about Alexandra Burgio's performance on Britain's Got Talent! 

Congratulations Alexandra!

 

From the April 18th Instagram reel on The Magicians' Podcast Network:

Alexandra Burgio’s huge BGT YouTube numbers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Magicians' Podcast Network (@themagicianspodcast)

 

 

 

 

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic -- Chasing the Unbelievable" 2025

Western Canada, don't miss your chance to catch Champions of Magic -- Chasing the Unbelievable in May!
 

  Remaining Canadian dates:  

• May 7-9:  Victoria BC, Royal Theatre
    *** Show added May 7 ***
  
  
• May 11-12:  Calgary AB, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 
   *** Show added May 12 ***
  
  
• May 20-22:  Vancouver BC, Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Tickets:  ChampionsOfMagicTour.com 

 

Last week, we made the trek to the FirstOntario Concert Hall in Hamilton.

• This was our first trip to FirstOntario Concert Hall.
• It is a lovely theatre with 2 levels of balconies and a seating capacity of just over 2000.
• There is a 6 level parking garage across from the theatre (be prepared to pay event pricing!) and quite a few surface lots within easy walking distance.
  
• The theatre staff were super helpful, professional, and generally fabulous! 
• The show is approximately 2 hours in length, including a 15 minute intermission.
• As always with this show we are genuinely afraid of posting spoilers.  The less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it!

 

FirstOntario Concert Hall, Hamilton ON

 

On with the show...

Note to parents of young children:  The music can be very loud at times throughout the show.  There are also smoke and fog machines involved.  Forewarned is forearmed.

There's a videographer on hand to capture close-up miracles and project them on a big screen so everyone can see!

It is always a treat to see
Champions of Magic!

Pre-show vibes

• There were plenty of children in the audience.  Many people in the audience had seen the show at least once before.  Some of the children brought their own RL/GL props!  (IYKYK.) 
  
  
• They've added spectacular lightwalls upstage which add to the ambience of the set.
  
  
• Liberty Larsen, Fernando Velasco, Richard Young and Sam Strange all do what they do very well! 
  
  
• The show is very different from the ones we've seen previously*.  There are significant changes in both the cast, and the structure of the production. 
  *Toronto 2018, Oshawa 2019, Kitchener 2022, and Toronto 2023
  
  
• For those who have enjoyed the shows they've presented in the past, not to worry!  They have retained some of their cornerstone crowd-pleasers! 
  
  
• Some of the new segments are bound be become future cornerstone crowd-pleasers!
  
  
• Significant parts of the show consist of imaginative narrative brought to life through full ensemble numbers.
  
  
• There are also plenty of moments for each of the acts to shine as solo performers.
  
  
• There was LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!  By our count, 13 volunteers were involved.  Many of the volunteers were able to do so from the comfort of their seats.  A lucky few were brought on stage for a fully immersive show experience!
  
  
  Some notes on volunteer handling.  (Regular readers will recall that we pay close attention to the treatment of audience volunteers.)  We were particularly impressed when:
  
  - Velasco went searching for a child to bring on stage.  The first kid he asked, declined. Velasco didn't miss a beat and quickly found someone else.  Additionally, Velasco informed the selected volunteer in advance what was going to happen, and then asked for her consent to continue.  We 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.
  
  - At one point Young and Strange also required two children to volunteer.  These kids were also treated with respect and weren't talked down to in any way.  In fact, Strange broke character for a brief moment and instantly put the boys at ease.  It was as if he manifested the same child wrangling superpowers gifted to elementary school teachers, and parents of young children.  This segment of the the show ends with the volunteers receiving tremendous audience applause!
  
  Well done team!
   
  
  
  
  
• The show was visually stunning!
  
  

Whether you're new to magic or are a professional magician, there's something for everyone!

• Larsen showcased talents we'd not previously seen in a Champions of Magic show.  She has a very creative style that delivers personal and refreshing takes on some classics of magic.  As an added bonus for magicians, she spent a little bit of time talking about her magical family.  This provided a springboard for captivating and organic storytelling, punctuated with magical effects.
   
  
• Velasco succeeded in breathtaking, heart-stopping stunts both large and small.  In addition to having the audience on the edge if their seats, he also performed some head-scratching miracles at a smaller scale.  It will surprise you not, that one of this escape artist's effects conjures the name Harry Houdini.
  
  
• Young and Strange are always delightful!  Even when (and in some cases especially when) they are bickering, they are very compelling.  One can't help but get caught up in the fun they are having!  Both individually, and together as a double act, they consistently deliver impressive sleight of hand, laugh out loud comedy, and a truly exhilarating exhibition of grand illusion.  Since we last saw them in 2023 they've introduced some pieces of magic that were both very impressive and thoroughly entertaining.  They get bonus points for mentioning Canadian born magician Dai Vernon.  Additionally we were treated to video clips  featuring Siegfried & Roy, and David Copperfield.  (It goes without saying that Young's homage to David Copperfield Easter egg is still in the show.)

The magic is excellent. 
Most importantly, the show is wonderfully entertaining.

• The acts and the scripts are a work in progress and continue to be thoughtfully curated, updated, and revised.   (Bonus points for inserting both current affairs and localized content!)
  
  
• This was our fifth time seeing Champions of Magic and we enjoyed it every bit as much as the previous incarnations. 
  
    

We highly recommend it!
(Even if you've seen it before.)

 

Final bows with Sam Strange, Liberty Larsen, Fernando Velasco, and Richard Young

 

 

Post-show vibes

 

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.

With thanks to Champions of Magic for the tickets.

 

 

  Remaining Canadian Dates 

• May 7-9:   Victoria BC, Royal Theatre
    *** Show added May 7 ***
  
  
• May 11-12:  Calgary AB, Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
   *** Show added May 12 ***
  
  
• May 20-22:  Vancouver BC, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 

Tickets:  ChampionsOfMagicTour.com 

 

Read our interviews with the cast:

• Liberty Larsen   
  
• Sam Strange 
  
• Fernando Velasco and
• Richard Young       

 
Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagicTour.com and follow them on Facebook, and Instagram. 

 

 

Don't take our word for it, see what others are saying in the April 3rd Instagram post by Champions of Magic:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Champions of Magic (@championsofmagic)

 

 

 

 

 

ON, QC, NB, NS, BC, & AB: Champions of Magic "Chasing the Unbelievable" [2024 - 2025]

The 2024 - 2025 Canadian tour dates for Champions of Magic "Chasing the Unbelievable":

 

 

 

 

• Nov 13 - 16:  National Arts Centre, Ottawa ON
  
• Dec 4 - 6:  Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Thunder Bay ON
  
• Dec 8:  Sudbury Community Arena, Sudbury ON
  
• Mar 19:  Slush Puppie Place, Kingston ON
  
• Mar 20:  Place des Arts, Montreal  QC
  
• Mar 22:  Avenir Centre, Moncton NB 
• Mar 23:  Scotiabank Centre, Halifax NS
  
• Mar 25:  FirstOntario Concert Hall, Hamilton ON 
• Mar 26:  Performance Stage at Canada Life Place, London ON 
• Mar 27-28:  Pickering Casino, Pickering ON 
• May 8-9:  Royal Theatre, Victoria BC
  
• May 11:  Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary AB
  
• May 20-22:  Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver BC

Check the Champions of Magic website for updates and more information.

 

 

Read our thoughts about the 2023 Champions of Magic show in Toronto:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about Champions of Magic 

 

 

Read our interviews with the cast:

Liberty Larsen 
Michelle Mazzarella
Sam Strange 
Fernando Velasco 

and
Richard Young   

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

 

 

 

 

Ottawa: Champions of Magic [Nov 13 - 16]

Rumoured additional 2024 - 2025 dates in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Hamilton, Kingston, Halifax, Moncton, Pickering, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, London, and Montreal!  

Keep an eye on ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk for the most up to date information.

 

Read our thoughts about
their 2023 show in Toronto:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about
"Champions of Magic"

 

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

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".

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Champions of Magic (@championsofmagic)

 

 

 

Carisa Hendrix on the Magicians' Podcast Network

Listen to Richard Young and Alan Hudson interview Carisa Hendrix on the What's Going On? channel of the Magicians' Podcast Network (also available on Apple Podcasts (listen for free on a 3 day trial)).

 

From the October 4th Instagram post by Carisa Hendrix:

Well, the click bait title is not my favourite, but it is a good episode and I hope you check it out. #magicianspodcast

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carisa Hendrix (@carisahendrix)