Toronto: Stepping Into the Impossible [Jan 26 - 27]

Tickets at Eventbrite. 

 

From the December 29th Facebook post by Jeff Hinchliffe: 

I'm bringing back my one-man show for 2 nights, January 26-27th 2026. 

 

 

 

Previously shared on Facebook December 29. 

 

 

 

 

 

A peek behind the curtain with Frances Morgan from Champions of Magic

We recently reported our random thoughts about "Champions of Magic -- Holiday Spectacular" in Toronto.  Frances Morgan, whose official role in the production is "Magic and Props Assistant," kindly agreed to do an interview with us.

 

Read our random thoughts about 
"Champions of Magic -- Holiday Spectacular"

Tickets at Ticketmaster.ca 

 

 

 

 

 

Based in Spokane, Frances:

• performed as a Magician’s Assistant at Silverwood Theme Park in 2022
  
  Read more (click to show | hide)

  At the theme park we did grand scale illusions as well as a few smaller illusions and routines. My favorite was our opening act that the magician and I created together (about a week before opening day!) I got hired quite unexpectedly, and had to jump in quickly. I was hired at the end of May and the full season started the first week in June. Before that, I had never been involved in a magic show in any capacity. So it was quite the adventure having to learn everything in such a short amount of time. That lasted a season before I moved on to starting my own show and forming my company, Inland Northwest Magic [INWmagic.com].
  
  
• debuted her first show as a magician in 2023, 
  
  
• won First Place in the Spokane Magic Club's Close-Up competition, 
  Read more (click to show | hide)

  For my first local competition, I did some simple card routines, but what I have always stood behind is even the most simple magic can be amazing with the right presentation. I had music playing in the background, chose my setup carefully and rehearsed until the last moment to make sure it was ready. It was my first competition and I had just debuted my first solo show a few weeks prior, so that October was a fun and busy month! Some of the card moves in the routine I performed were taught to me by the magicians I met through the magic club     
      
  
• and competed in the 2024 IBM Stage Competition.
  Read more (click to show | hide)

  At the annual IBM International Championship, I competed in the Stage Magic category. I had just joined the IBM as I had been elected Vice President of my local magic club and needed to join the IBM in order to do so. When I joined, I saw they had a convention coming a few hours away from me in Washington and knew I had to go. Magic conventions rarely, if ever, come to Washington or Idaho so I took hold of the opportunity and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. When I joined, I saw they also had a competition and figured I had nothing to lose so I sent in a video on the last day available for submissions. I had only been performing as a magician for a short while, so I looked at the show I had, took the routines I got the best reactions from and created a new sequence to make a roughly 8 minute routine. I went to a local park with my friend, we filmed it, went to a restaurant and uploaded it. 
  
  I never actually expected to hear anything back, but about a month later, I saw an email in my inbox from IBM. The headline was simple “I.B.M. Contest”; the opening, polite “Thank you for sending your submission for the 2024 Tacoma I.B.M. Convention Competition.” Reading this, I fully expected it to be a polite ‘thanks but try again later’ kind of email, but to my surprise I read and re-read and for good measure read again the next line. “Congratulations, we are pleased to inform you that you have earned a spot in the finals of the Gold Medal Competition and will appear on the International Stage Championship”. I began to jump and run around the house in complete shock and happiness. That competition was my turning point as a magician. 
  
  Competing at IBM, I truly felt like I was a magician. This was not just friends and family, this was a panel of judges who looked at my performance and said ‘yes,  she can compete at this convention’. It truly is and was an honor to be there.
  
  I did a linking ring routine (which I started to perform at the request of my mom who has always loved the linking rings and which has since become a staple in my shows), a dream bag production, where I make flower boxes appeared; and a torn and transformed paper to kabuki effect.
  
  

 

I learned so much from performing at IBM, including the simple fact of taking a chance, because even if unlikely, you just might get the opportunity you were looking for. This same lesson led me to Champions of Magic! By asking, I was able to connect with the producer, who very kindly took time to answer questions I had about the business side of magic and eventually led to me being asked to come on tour.

 

 

 

What is your first memory of magic?

When I was about 3 I went to a theme park and there, I experienced my first magic show. My favorite routine was when the magician made a table float on stage and to my astonishment, proceeded to walk down the stairs into the audience with the table! Ever since then, the floating table has been one of my favorite illusions to perform. When I went to my first magic convention, I had the honor to meet the builder of the illusion, and have been performing it ever since. 

 

 

What genre of magic has your focus currently?

Everything! Different circumstances allow for different magic. My love of magic stems from my love of connecting people and bringing stories to life. I am working on a Valentine's theme show using both stage and close-up magic. The theme is a love letter to magic and wonder, and will be performed in a movie [theatre] that was first owned by a magician. I have the honor of being the first magician to perform magic there since him in the past 50 years! A show that gets to play with a history like that is such a thrill and an honor. 

I love the theatrics of stage magic and helping the audience get lost in the wonder and story of it. Theatre is my first love, having grown up performing since I was about 3 years old. Close-up magic is a new adventure and for me, the appeal lies in connecting with the audience in an up close manner. Having magic happen in your hands as an audience member is one of the most amazing things you can experience. I also love doing walk-around magic for events. I usually start with just conversing with people. Many people have at least some small connection with magic, and often I can utilize that when I perform magic for them. I get to have fun weaving their stories into the magic to create something personal for them and unique for me. 

 

 

Why did you want to become part of the Champions of Magic behind-the-scenes family?

I saw Champions for the first time in 2022. It was my first time seeing a magic show of that magnitude and I absolutely fell in love with it! My favorite part was the ensemble aspect of it. Magic usually features the solo magician but growing up in theatre, nearly every show I saw had an ensemble of actors working together to build a story. The ensemble aspect of Champions felt more natural and exciting to me. One of my favorite parts of theatre is getting to play off the other actors in a scene, and I got to see that same playful creativity with Champions. 

Magic has this amazing ability to bring the audience into its space. Unlike other forms of theatre, magic breaks the 4th wall and gets to incorporate the audience unlike anything else. Magic has all the wonderful qualities that I love about theatre and then some. It is more spontaneous and can connect with an audience in a unique way; Champions shows that in a wonderful and grand display. 



 

What are your roles on this tour?

I get to do a little bit of everything! My official title is Magic and Props Assistant. I work primarily with the props team and between the three of us we take care of over 200 props in the show, from sunglasses to a sparkly, metal moon. We build, repair, improve, set, strike and pack all the props every new show day. I also get the chance to be onstage as an Assistant for a few of the acts. For one routine, I get to wear the dress I wore as an Assistant in the theme park, so a fun personal call back, and I also wear a necklace of a snowflake that my family gave me for Christmas a few years ago. For me, it is a way to bridge my past experiences with this new chapter. 
 

 

 

 

What surprised you most about touring with this ensemble of magicians?

This is my first tour and I have an immense amount of respect for the stamina of this group! Especially the crew and the producer. Every person works incredibly hard and will jump in to help when needed. If one of us is sick or injured, or simply let something slip in the rush of the moment, we all try to pull together to help one another and give the best experience possible to the audience, while supporting each other as a team. 


 

 

Tell us about a highlight from this tour.

One highlight was at one of the shows, we invited a kid onstage and he had the best time! I got to interact with him and his mom off stage and his whole face lit up at being a part of the show. Getting to inspire people of all ages is just spectacular!


 

What compelling reasons are there to come see "Champions of Magic:  Holiday Spectacular"?

Theatre is magic when seen live, and a live magic show is theatre on another level. This show has something for everyone of all ages. One of my favorite aspects is the different genres that come into play. 

 

Some examples: we have a callback to old Hollywood detective mysteries, a sit-com holiday party, and a tribute to grand scale Las Vegas magic shows. We also get to bring a few people up on stage to witness the magic up close!

 

  Frances' connection to Canadian magic  

There is a podcast called Discourse in Magic that talks about the business side of magic as well as interviews with magicians, and it is run by Jonah Babins from the Toronto Magic Company! I have listened to many episodes of that podcast.

 

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s Magic?

Happiness is magic. Keep sharing the magic. Join the email list of Champions of Magic and come follow along on the adventure! 




 

Thank you Frances, for making the time to answer our questions and congratulations on your recent achievements!
 

 

Learn more about Frances at her website INWmagic.com and sign-up to her email list.

 

 

  Champions of Magic Holiday Spectacular  

• In Toronto until January 4
  
  Tickets:  Ticketmaster.ca 

 

Read our previous 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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: An adults-only kids’ magic show by Phil Pivnick [Jan 23]

Tickets and more information at Eventbrite. 

 

From the December 18th Facebook post by WonderPhil:

It’s finally happening! Tell your inner-child there’s a magic show just for them!
January 23rd, an adults-only kids’ magic show. Yeah. It can work 😇 

 

 

Previously shared on Facebook December 18. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic -- Holiday Spectacular" 2025

Catch them in Toronto until January 4.  Tickets at Ticketmaster.ca  

 

Yesterday, we made the trek to the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto.

• Regular readers may remember that Champions of Magic made their Toronto debut at this theatre in 2018.
• It is an intimate theatre with one balcony and a seating capacity of just over 800.
• The show is approximately 2 hours in length, including a 16 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!

 

 Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

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!

We're always excited to see
Champions of Magic!

Pre-show vibes

• There were plenty of families with young children in the audience.  The audience was definitely in the holiday spirit and well primed to be entertained.  
  
  
• Liberty Larsen, Fernando Velasco, Richard Young and Sam Strange all do what they do very well!  All of the performers showed us a side of their characters that we'd not previously seen.
    
  
• This show introduced us to Frances Morgan from Spokane who participates as crew as well as having her moment in the spotlight.  Frances kindly agreed to do an interview with us that we hope to share with you soon.
  
  
• 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, Toronto 2023, and Hamilton in 2025.
    
• If memory serves, there are only 2-3 bits carried over from 2018, 3-4 repeats from 2023, and maybe 6 duplicates from earlier this year. Which works out to roughly 75 - 80% of the show being new from its most recent interation.  That's a lot of new magic!
  
  

They made some bold choices, that served them well!

• Every incarnation of the show offers imaginative narrative brought to life through full ensemble numbers.
  
  
• There are also plenty of moments for each of the acts to shine on their own.
  
  
• There was LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!  By our count, 14 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!
  
  
• We were lucky to experience young volunteer Jamie who held the audience in rapt attention, as well as the tremendously delightful Emmy who instantaneously won the hearts of those in attendance.
  
  
  
• The lighting design for this show is visually stunning!
  
  

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

• Larsen 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!  
   
  
• Velasco pivoted from his signature heart-stopping stunts.  Not to worry, he still performs escapes, albeit at a smaller scale.  He showcased a wider variety of his talents and had the audience eating from the palm of his hand.
  
  
• Young and Strange are always tremendously entertaining!  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.  They get bonus points for mentioning Canadian born magician Dai Vernon.  (And a minor demerit for not mentioning Doug Henning when Doug appears in a video clip.)  We're sad to report that Young's homage to David Copperfield Easter egg is no longer in the show.

Larsen and Strange each did a particularly good job of staying in the moment and working with the unique 'gifts' this audience provided.

• A special shout-out to the videographer, whose quick thinking salvaged an effect when cards were scattered to the floor!
  
    

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

 

 

 

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.

 

 

  Champions of Magic Holiday Spectacular  

• In Toronto until January 4
  
  Tickets:  Ticketmaster.ca 

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Mikey V’s Skool 4 Fools [weekly Jan 6th - Feb 4]

For more information or to register, visit ComedyBar.ca 

 

From the December 4th Instagram post by eyedoomagk: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mikey Valladares (@eyedoomagk)

 

Previously shared on Facebook December 4. 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Buster Canfield & His Industrious Fleas -- Yuletide Edition [Dec 20 - 21]

Tickets at Ticketscene.ca 

 

From the Eldritch Theatre Facebook event "Buster Canfield’s Circus of Industrious Fleas -- Yuletide Edition": 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: The Oy-llusionists -- Oy to the World [Dec 24]

Featuring Phil Pivnick, Artemus Syman, and Rob Fishbaum at Oria on King, 220 King Street West.

 

From Eventbrite:

Get ready to be mind-blown by The Oy-llusionists as they bring their magical tricks to life in a show you won't forget!

Get ready to laugh till your latkes fall over!

Join us this Christmas Eve for a one-of-a-kind Jewish Comedy Magic Show that blends classic shtick, mind-boggling miracles, and enough Yiddishkeit to make your bubbe kvell. 

Read more and buy tickets. 

 

 

From the December 2nd Facebook post by 15FirstDates 
[Note the text in the image below doesn't reflect the 2025 location of the show listed at Eventbrite]: 
 

 

 

 

 

Previously shared on Facebook December 3. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: A very merry magic show [Dec 20 - 22]

Tickets at Tickets.Ticketwise.com

 

From the December 1st Instagram post by Magic Mel:

✨🎄 Exciting Announcement! 🎄✨
@bentastic_magic and I are performing together this December at the Wychwood Theatre! 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mel Jones | Magician | Toronto Area 🇨🇦✨🌈 (@magicmelmagician)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: New weekly Variety Show [starting Nov 13]

Tickets at https://www.jumpcomedy.com/e/toronto-variety-show 

 

Lineup for the first show on November 13:

1. Magician Nick Wallace
2. Musician Rob Szabo
3. Variety Performer Mike Wood
4. MC Silly Phil 

 

From the October 29th Instagram post by Phil LeConte: 

New weekly Variety Show. Hosted by Silly Phil, come see some magic, comedy, circus, music, and other amazing things. Plus, don't forget you have a chance to win a @famiglia_baldassarre lasagna!

Limited seating.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Phil LeConte (@mrsillyphil)

 

 

Toronto: Doc Wuthergloom's Little Lib'ary of the Damned [Nov 5]

Tickets at https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/55097/sots  

 

From the October 22nd Facebook post by Ticketscene:

Eldritch Theatre presents Doc Wuthergloom's Little Lib'ary of the Damned at The Red Sandcastle Theatre on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 7:30 pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto and Montreal: Rick Holcombe on Coin Magic (Fusion Lecture) [Nov 19 - 21]

For more information visit Toronto's IBMRing17.com (details coming soon) or the Montreal Magic Jam website about the Montreal lecture and workshop.

 

From the Montreal Magic Jam Facebook event "Rick Holcombe on Coin Magic":

Tickets are now on sale for our first lecture of the 2025-2026 season with coin-man extraordinaire Rick Holcombe. On Nov 20, Rick will be giving his Fusion Lecture and sneaking in a few bonuses along the way.

On Friday Nov. 21, Rick will also be giving small coin workshop where he'll teach a variety of hand-picked routines, techniques and sequences that require just three coins and will give an in-depth teaching session on his Sly Palm, a practical new tool that you will happy to be add to your repertoire. Email us if you're interested as spaces are limited.

I first heard of Rick Holcombe through my dearly departed friend Curtis Kam. On a Zoom session during lockdown, Curtis said there was a guy that was doing some very interesting stuff, AND the material was easy. For those that knew Curtis, I'm still not sure if that last comment was a compliment or him throwing shade. 🙂

So we watched some video, and Rick impressed me with how smooth and soft his work was. The Mr. Rogers of coin magic, his disarming nature only adds to the power of his magic. I've never met Rick in person but I'm excited to have him in Montreal for his first ever mini-Canadian lecture tour (he's just doing two dates: Toronto and here).

If you're a fan of coin magic, or are a little scared of it but want to add a little bit of it to your repertoire, Rick's your guy. His magic is strong and accessible (i.e. NOT knuckle-busting). So I hope to see most of you at the lecture, and at least a few of you at the workshop. 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Sleight of Hand with no Hands [Oct 23]

From Willowdale Rotary: 

Oct 23, 2025

Mahdi Gilbert the Magician (@ Grand Luxe)

Mahdi has fooled Penn & Teller, lived in a magic library and performs regularly at The Magic Castle in Hollywood.

The US government records him as an alien of extraordinary ability; he’s won an Allan Slaight Award and has been honoured by Canada. 

Read more.

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Browser's Den of Magic 50th anniversary party! [Nov 16]

Save the date! 

 

From the September 8th post the The Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group: 

Please Save the Date: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2025
That is the date of the 50th Anniversary Party for Browser's Den of Magic!
We will be celebrating fifty years of supplying hobbyist and professional magicians in Toronto and throughout Canada.
More details will follow but for now...PLEASE SAVE THE DATE. 

 

Previously shared on Facebook on September 8th. 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: No Secrets with Scott Hammell [Oct 14 - 19]

Tickets at Eventbrite. 

 

From the August 25th Instagram post by Scott Hammell:

Toronto! I'm going to be performing my new live shows at Red Sandcastle Theatre October 14 - October 19. Come say hello! 

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: Rob Fishbaum presents Fish Shticks at Second City [Sep 11 & 13]

Tickets at Second City. 

 

From the August 23rd Instagram post by Rob Fishbaum:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fish The Magish 🐠🎩 (@fishthemagish)

 

 

 

 

Toronto: DaCosta Magic at the Toronto Halloween Show [Sep 27 - 28]

For more information and tickets, visit The Toronto Halloween Show. 

  

From the July 4th Instagram post by DaCosta Magic: 

Do you have your tickets yet? We are super pumped to be performing and providing close up magic at the @thetorontohalloweenshow ! 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DaCosta Magic Ent./ Phil DaCosta (@dacostamagic)

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: David Ben lecture [Sep 24]

 

 David Ben lecture

Thursday, September 24th, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Agricola Lutheran Church - 25 Old York Mills Road

We’re thrilled to welcome David Ben as our special guest for the launch of the 2025-2026 Hat and Rabbit Club season. David is a master magician, author, and co-founder of Magicana, a performing arts organization dedicated to the advancement of magic as a performing art.  

 

 

 

 

 

Toronto: The Art of Magic at the Allied Music Centre [Sep 27]

Tickets at the Allied Music Centre.  Click through the Instagram post below for the code to get access to pre-sale tickets!

 

From the August 13th Instagram post by The Toronto Magic Company:

MASSEY HALL (Yes, that Massey hall) reached out to us about a special project.

They launched a new venue called the Allied Music Centre!

​They want Ben and I to be the very first event they’re producing in the Theatre! (I KNOWW)

It’s a beautiful 100 seat theatre. 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Toronto Magic Company (@torontomagiccompany)

 

 

 

Read our 2023 interview with Ben "Checking in with Ben Train and The Art of Magic"