Showing posts with label _Calgary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label _Calgary. Show all posts

04 December 2025

Calgary: The fifth annual Born Brewing Co. Magic Show [Dec 11]

Tickets at BornBrewing.co

 

From the December 1st Facebook post by Ben Price:

December 11 - The fifth annual Born Brewing Co. Magic Show! Tickets are on sale now at bornbrewing.co
See you there! 

 

 

 

Previously shared on Facebook December 1st.

 

 

 

 

 

 

05 November 2025

BC, AB, NS, PEI, NB, ON, NL: Savio Joseph's Wonder Struck [Nov 6 - Dec 6]

Tickets at SavioJoseph.com.

 

From SavioJoseph.com

  • London, ON - Oct 30th, 2025 - The Century Centre
  • Vancouver, BC - Nov 6th, 2025 - The Biltmore Cabaret
  • Kamloops, BC - Nov 7th, 2025 - The Paramount Theatre
  • Calgary, AB - Nov 8th, 2025 -  Beddington Theatre
  • Winnipeg, MB - Nov 9th, 2025 - West End Cultural Centre
  • Halifax, NS - Nov 14th, 2025 - Bella Rose Arts Center
  • Charlottetown, PEI - Nov 15th, 2025 - Sobey Theatre 
  • Moncton, NB - Nov 16th, 2025 -  Capitol Theatre
  • Fredericton, NB - Nov 20th, 2025 - Fredericton Playhouse
  • Ottawa, ON - Nov 21th, 2025 - Algonquin Theatre
  • Waterloo, ON - Nov 22nd, 2025 -  Maxwell’s
  • St.John’s, NL - Nov 28th, 2025 - Majestic Theatre
  • Toronto, ON  - Dec 6th, 2025 - Isabel Bader Theatre

Read more and buy tickets. 

 

From the May 24th Instagram post by Savio Joseph:

I still remember doing my very first theatre show almost ten years ago. No big crew, no real plan—just a bunch of us figuring it out as we went, and a room full of friends and family who believed in me way before anyone else did.

Fast forward to now… and I’m going on tour. Like, actual cross-Canada, coast-to-coast tour.

The team’s a little bigger now, the vision’s a little stronger—and we couldn’t be more excited to bring this to life.

This is an independently produced tour, built show by show, city by city. And now we’re taking it across the country. 

 

 

 

 

22 October 2025

Calgary: Wit & Wizardry with guest Dustin MacMillan [Oct 24]

Tickets at Magic Tickets

 

From the October 20th Facebook post by Ryan Pilling

Earlier this month the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians awarded Dustin MacMillan a GOLD MEDAL for his Parlour Magic performance. "Parlour" is a type of magic that is up close, within reach of the audience, leaving nowhere to hide. I won't share any spoilers, but will say that this act will leave your mind totally mixed up! 

 

 

 

 

 

02 July 2025

Calgary: Dean Gunnarson, Sean Watson & Chanelle Munroe at the Calgary Stampede [Jul 3 -9]

More information and tickets at the Calgary Stampede website.  

 

From the June 1st Facebook post by Dean Gunnarson:

I’m excited to be attempting some great escapes this year at “ The Greatest Show Outside” at the Stage of Wonders.  I also get the amazing pleasure of working with my dear friends Sean Watson and Chanelle Munroe. Last time I was at the Calgary Stampede was 1980 with my family. I watched and was inspired by legendary Canadian magician John Kaplan. I told my self that one day I would be on that stage. 45 years later I get my opportunity. Follow your dreams and Never surrender ! Who’s coming to watch us? 




 

 

From the June 26th Instagram post by Sean Watson:

Stage Of Wonders July 4-13 if you’re in the area please come see our show, it’s going to be Incredible! See you soon!  

 

 

 

24 June 2025

Calgary: Wit and Wizardry with guest Rob Woodward [Jun 25]

Tickets at Wit and Wizardry.


From the June 20th Facebook post by Ryan Pilling:

Last call for a magic show before summer break! Wit & Wizardry - Comedy Magic Cabaret is next Wednesday in Calgary.
  
Special guest magician Rob Woodward. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 May 2025

Rounding the Western rings in May 2025

Updated May 18th to add:

  • Mirth and Magic (and comedy competition) hosted by the Victoria Magic Circle

 

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

City Club Event(s)
Calgary, AB Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) - N/A.
Edmonton, AB Edmonton Magic Club - N/A.
Winnipeg, MB The Magic Club of Winnipeg - SYM.
Fraser Valley, BC IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) - Originality contest.
Vancouver, BC Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) - N/A.
Vancouver, BC SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly) - N/A.
Victoria, BC Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)   - Mirth and Magic


Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

 

06 April 2025

Rounding the Western rings in April 2025

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

City Club Event(s)
Calgary, AB Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) - N/A.
Edmonton, AB Edmonton Magic Club - N/A.
Winnipeg, MB The Magic Club of Winnipeg - SYM.
Fraser Valley, BC IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) - Norden & Gordon's magic shindig.
Vancouver, BC Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) - N/A.
Vancouver, BC SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly) - N/A.
Victoria, BC Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)   - N/A


Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

 

05 April 2025

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:  


 

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 

 

Read our interviews with the cast:

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



Champions of Magic 'Chasing the Unbelievable' tour


 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

17 March 2025

Calgary & Edmonton: Mike Norden lecture [Mar 31 & Apr 1]

Updated March 18 to add:

  • March 31st Kid Show Lecture in Calgary is confirmed.

 

Rumoured lecture by Mike Norden in Calgary on March 31. 

 

From the March 12th Facebook post by Ron Pearson:

MAGIC LECTURE APRIL 1!! Award winning family entertainer Mike Norden will be presenting his acclaimed lecture for the Edmonton Magic Club. Considered one of Canada's best family magicians, Mike will share with you the REAL SECRETS of performing for family audiences.

 

 

 

Previously shared on Facebook March 13.

 

 

 

 

 

09 March 2025

Rounding the Western rings in March 2025

Updated March 16 to add:

 

 

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

City Club Event(s)
Calgary, AB Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) - Tricks with the theme "luck".
- Lecture by Steve Warburton.
- Lecture by Mike Norden
Edmonton, AB Edmonton Magic Club - N/A.
Winnipeg, MB The Magic Club of Winnipeg - SYM.
Fraser Valley, BC IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) - N/A.
Vancouver, BC Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) - N/A.
Vancouver, BC SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly) - The Magic Festival including the Mystery Magic Dinner and the Children's Magician of the Year competition.
Victoria, BC Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)   - N/A


Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

 

09 February 2025

Rounding the Western rings in February 2025

Updated February 19th to add:

  • Calgary's meeting will be a lecture from Ryan Lackey.
     

 

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

City Club Event(s)
Calgary, AB Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) - Ryan Lackey lecture.
Edmonton, AB Edmonton Magic Club - N/A.
Winnipeg, MB The Magic Club of Winnipeg - SYM.
Fraser Valley, BC IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) - N/A.
Vancouver, BC Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) - N/A.
Vancouver, BC SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly) - Annual dinner.
Victoria, BC Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)   - N/A


Please leave a comment to let us know about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

 

08 February 2025

Calgary: Wit & Wizardry with Ryan Pilling and Lori Gibbs [Feb 19]

Tickets at Magic Tickets.

 

From the January 27th Facebook post by Ryan Pilling:

Here's the deal, you can show up at the next Wit & Wizardry - Comedy Magic Cabaret in a dreadful mood. You can grumble about our free parking, use bad language with our box office volunteer, and be a right miserable bugger. I'll allow it this time, because I'm about to release the secret weapon...


 

 

[Previously shared at Canada's Magic Facebook page on January 28.]

 

 

 

05 February 2025

Calgary: The magic of London and a request [Mar 1]

Tickets at the Congress Coffee Shop.   See London's request for short form content at bottom of the post.

 

From the February 4th Instagram post by Carisa Hendrix:

One of my little aspiring magicians is doing her first public-ticketed solo show on March 1st!! London and I have been working together on magic for 8 years, and I could not be more proud.

If you are in Calgary and want to support young talent, check out this upcoming show.

 

 

 

 

From the February 4th Instagram post by Carisa Hendrix:

I want to introduce you to one of my favourite people in magic. #mentor #magic follow her @magicof_london and see what she does!

 

 

 

 

 

16 January 2025

Calgary: Ryan Pilling's Wit & Wizardry [Jan 22]

Get your Magic Tickets.

January Special Guest - Comedian Ben Cannon.

 

From the January 15th Facebook post by Ryan Pilling:

Big announcement, by popular demand! Here's some of the places I will not be this month!

I've had to postpone one of my stay-at-home days to attend Wit & Wizardry - Comedy Magic Cabaret on Jan 22nd. Maybe you should ALSO leave the house and come hang out with me.

 

 

 

 

05 January 2025

Rounding the Western rings in January 2025

Updated January 9th to add:

  • Calgary's meeting will be a mini-lecture from Dan Stephenson, "My go-to self-working card tricks."
     

 

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

City Club Event(s)
Calgary, AB Ring 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring) - Mini lecture from Dan Stephenson "My go-to self-working card tricks."
Edmonton, AB Edmonton Magic Club - JAM session.
Winnipeg, MB The Magic Club of Winnipeg - SYM.
Fraser Valley, BC IBM Ring 387 (Fraser Valley Magic Circle, Celeste Evans Ring) - N/A.
Vancouver, BC Ring 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle) - N/A.
Vancouver, BC SAM 95  (Carl Hemeon Assembly) - N/A.
Victoria, BC Ring 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)   - Annual dinner with Sawyer Bullock.


Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

 

 

 

 

 

22 December 2024

Calgary: Ben Cannon special guest at Wit & Wizardry [Dec 28]

Tickets at Magic Tickets.

 

From the December 22nd Facebook post by Ryan Pilling:

This Saturday, Dec 28th in Calgary! Comedian Ben Cannon joins me as the special guest star at Wit & Wizardry - Comedy Magic Cabaret.

A performer with a knack for blending self-deprecating wit with keen observational humor, Ben has graced stages at prestigious events like the YYComedy Festival. He also produces Ducking Comedy at Ducky’s, a local favorite that showcases some of Calgary’s top comedic talent. Whether he’s headlining shows or producing his own, Ben’s commitment to uplifting the local comedy scene is undeniable.

Ben’s material often reflects his Métis heritage, Calgary roots, and the hilarious awkwardness of navigating life’s twists and turns. With an easygoing charm and a genuine connection to his audience, he’s a comedian who leaves every crowd both entertained and wanting more.

It will truly be an evening featuring both Wit annnnd Wizardry, as I'll be hosting the show and bringing a few minor miracles to warm your winter. See you there!