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. ๐️ bit.ly/3teaOSZ ๐ Champions Of Magic Access Guide ๐ Champions Of Magic Pre-Show Audio Notes ๐ 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!
Great news folks! We have been offered tickets to give away to our
readers, for Potted Potter in Toronto, Canada.
Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff is flying back to Toronto!
Seen by over a million muggles around the world Potted Potter has fans flying off their seats (or broomsticks) with laughter and for the first time in North America the Toronto production will feature an all-female cast. Lottie Bell and Josephine Starte will lead the run with Hanna Berrigan swooping in as Associate Director. The cleverly curated show features perfect Potter props complete with wand and sorting hat, appearances from your favourite characters, and a live Quidditch match!
The show runs from December 21, 2023 - January 14, 2024. If you don't want to leave your tickets to chance, you can purchase them directly at Live Nation.
There will be a random draw for 5 pairs of tickets for a date of your choice.
There will be five (5) winners.
Each winner receives two (2) tickets. (Approximate retail value is $100 for the pair.)
The draw results will be posted by Wednesday, December 20th.
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 what spell from the Harry Potter books you wish was real.
If you win, you must be willing to provide your name, email address, and phone number, to a representative from Potted Potter so they can coordinate the prize with the Bluma Appel Theatre 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 Bluma Appel Theatre
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 Sunday December the 17th, 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!
We're delighted to interview Sam ahead of his Canadian
Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!
Have you studied any magic-adjacent disciplines?
It really highlights the scam that being a magician can be sometimes. So many
magicians, including myself, hide behind the tricks/illusions when there is
little talent outside of that. When I was in my 20s I did learn to partner
dance (modern jive) and you could argue that gave me some coordination.
However, I think honesty that would be very generous to say that it helped
inform my balletic movements during the final Las Vegas parody sequence.
In retrospect are there skills or knowledge that you wish you had prior
to pursuing magic full time?
Certainly there are a host of skills that would have been so helpful. Being
good at video editing and photoshop would be so useful. It would mean you
could produce online content quickly and easily without the cost of using a
professional.
Red light, green light!
Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted
to perform magic full time?
I do remember actually with some clarity.
When I started to
‘gig’ (a few kids parties and events for friends), I was about 18 years
old. Simultaneously I joined the ’Thames Valley Magicians Guild’ and would
go to the weekly meetings there. After a few weeks I was kindly asked to
cover a residency at a restaurant in Oxford, England. I did that on Friday
and Saturday evenings. At that point there was a simple and clear
connection between my magic passion and an income, of sorts. I knew at
that point I wanted to be a professional magician.
What is your most memorable performance misadventure?
There are so many to mention, which is both a sign of experience and flight
time, but also unprofessionalism. (Richard) Young and I did the Edinburgh
(Fringe) festival for 4 consecutive years and at that point new material is
being worked in and lessons are being learned!
Lesson 1. Never
leave the Master Prediction Tube inside the actual box. Especially when
hanging that box (and ultimately the show’s finale) in full view of the
audience. Lesson 2. Always remember the key to a locked box with a
spectator's watch inside. Lesson 3. Never commit wholeheartedly to
the gender of an audience member. Lesson 4. Never perform magic on a
stage at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, on New Year’s Eve in 2019, in
the wind and rain. Ever. Lesson 5. Never perform an under-rehearsed Table of Death.
All
of the above had no outs.
One of the most haunting experiences might not sound at all a problem, but
knocked my confidence for years afterwards. I remember going out on stage
for the show opening and having a complete mind blank. I genuinely didn’t
know what I should say or how to start saying my script. Fortunately being
in a double act means that essentially you have a script advisor standing
next to you. But the fact that can happen means it might happen again and
standing on a stage with nothing to say or nowhere to go, is a lonely and
embarrassing experience.
What sets Champions of Magic apart from other touring ensemble magic
shows?
Although Champions of Magic does contain 5 magicians each performing in
their own style, from their own discipline of magic, the show does feel very
cohesive. It shouldn’t feel like a Magic Convention line up but without the
MC. We perform together onstage throughout the show and because of that it
hopefully feels like you’re watching a team of magicians, rather than
segmented acts. That unifying aspect makes the show memorable, rather than the
individuals within it. Coupled with the humour and no ability to take
ourselves seriously, means it should be distinctive enough from the show's
competitors.
That's a lot of money
Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?
At every venue we go to there is a well stocked fridge and Coke
(both Zero and full fat) is always on offer and display. When it’s always
there, I will most likely choose it over the bottled water. It’s not a vice I
suppose, but I know it’s probably not good for you in large quantities and I
do love it.
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?
Leaving home for longer tours is an emotional challenge for sure. However,
that challenge comes with the territory and it’s not like I’m down a mine shaft
for weeks on end or on the front line in Afghanistan. I’m not sure if there is
a front line in Afghanistan anymore, but you get the sentiment.
I
do carry a couple of photos of my family, which feels very old fashioned and
probably crazy considering I have my iPhone’s camera roll with me at all
times. I’m sure that if I printed out all of the iPhone images of my kids and
put them into a flicker book, you’d essentially get a live stream since birth.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of
Canada’s Magic?
We STILL have a large quantity of shot glasses available on the merchandise
stand. You would think dropping the price to $15 would have helped shift
them, but it did very little for sales overall. It’s the worst business idea
we have ever had. Please can your readers buy them when attending a show?
After a lot of trial and error (and critically the right room humidity) the
Young & Strange logo CAN be scratched off with a box cutter.
The
shot glasses are versatile and I’ve provided some ideas for their use
below:
- Candle holders. - A Crockery Smash stall at a local
fundraising event. - A Glass Walking routine you are working on. -
A lecture for a business studies group on 'Loss Leaders'.
Young and Strange "One More!" shot glasses ๐ธ : Kidlet, Kitchener, 2022
Thank you Sam, for making the time to answer our questions!
With performances by the Toronto Magic Company, Phil Pivnick, Patrick Nemeth, David Peck, Katarina Gligorijeviฤ, Rob Fishbaum, and Anthony Lindan. (Line-up subject to change.)
Join us for an enchanting evening of wonder and compassion as Willowdale
Rotary and the Hat and Rabbit Club come together to host a magical charity
fundraiser on November 23 at 7:30 pm.
This fun and interactive
magic show is not just about illusion but also making a real difference. As
we gather at this memorable event, with some of Toronto's finest magicians,
we'll be raising critical funds to support mental health initiatives in
Toronto and in support of the North York General Hospital. With every ticket
sold and every donation made you're contributing to the well-being of those
in need, helping to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues
and providing essential resources for our community.
Our goal is
to raise at least $2,500.
Prepare to be amazed as we unite for a
cause that's truly magical - the well-being of our fellow Torontonians.
POTTED POTTER RETURNS AND CASTS ITS SPELL ON TORONTO THIS HOLIDAY!
Tickets available now! ๐️: bit.ly/47oiJLH
No need for a stop in Diagon Alley, the cleverly curated show features perfect Potter props complete with wand and sorting hat, appearances from your favourite characters, and a live Quidditch match!
Perfect for those six to Dumbledore Potted Potter runs Thursday, December 21 - Friday, January 14, 2024.
We're delighted to interview Hollie ahead of her Canadian
Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!
Through social media, we've watched your act change and grow over time. When
you have an audience tested, well-received show, what drives you to modify
and advance your act?
I originally joined the show with the least experience as a magician with these 4 other performers who had developed and perfected their acts over many years. I guess, coming to be a magician later in life, I felt like I was ‘catching up’ at the beginning and so I was very motivated to try things, see what worked and what didn’t and make my acts bigger and better as fast as I could. I just wanted to be GOOD more than anything in the world. Every iteration of my acts have got closer and closer to being more ‘me’ and that’s what makes it fun to perform and also makes the audience connect and relate more.
I try to stay inspired by seeing shows and movies, watching other performers (not necessarily other magicians) and listening to Pandora stations that introduce me to new music (still within my preferred styles). I’m always trying different lines here and there when I get an idea for something funny.
Ultimately, I’ve always had this desire to create and sometimes what I create ends up being a completely new routine or it flips an existing one or it just adds elements.
Some changes have come about through dealing with venue challenges. For example, when there were theaters on the tour that didn’t allow fire, I found a way to create a similar effect but using water instead. Both versions are custom made and so they also tick the very important box of being completely unique and ‘me’.
Performing in smaller shows in Vegas and Nashville has helped me grow exponentially as a performer. From altering, tweaking material for an adult-only, small venue, late night, 'Vegas' (sometimes very drunk) audience to getting to play with crowd work (and sometimes control), interacting differently with the rest of the cast onstage in my routines and theirs in terms of finding characters plus just being able to perform so consistently in the same venue (5 mins away from my house) and develop new routines- being able to try new things out in front of a real audience. I've also been able to get hired as a 'featured act' and ‘headliner’ in other shows and it's allowed me to see how different audiences have very different reactions and how I can adapt my acts without a video camera feed.
I've been able to create my own 20 minute set and then 30 minute set, which I'd never had to do before as my acts were always broken up throughout the ensemble magic shows. I constantly needed to add routines to meet the required length of the show or alter some elements to meet the needs of the style of venue/ type of audience. I created 2 new acts and now they are some of my favorites to perform.
You come from a professional dance background. Have you studied anything else magic-adjacent?
I studied musical theater (dancing, singing and acting) at college and also performed in musicals across the UK, USA and Dubai. I took art A-level in school and have always like to paint just for fun. Although now I get to design my own merch on thehexclubstore.com.
I truly believe everything I learnt from being a dancer, singer, actor, director, producer, artist and even an office assistant has made me a better performer. It is show BUSINESS after all- being a good performer is only a small percentage of the job!
Tea Party with Hollie
Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted
to perform magic full time?
Magic has been the thing that has kept recurring in my life. It’s like the universe has been gently nudging me towards being a magician since I was a kid, when all I wanted was to be a dancer on the West End. Maybe that’s why I was able to achieve that goal early on (in a magic show no less), so I was then forced to find a new and bigger dream/ goal!
I always loved being the assistant or at least somehow assisting in the ‘magic effect’ as a dancer since I was on tour with Hans Klok back in 2008. I loved seeing ways to enhance the magic on stage while I was associate directing The Illusionists tours and Illusionarium.
I was originally asked to be a magician when I was producing but, at the time, felt like I had no business standing next to these giants in the industry that I hugely admired and had perfected their craft over decades. However, it definitely ignited a desire in me to at least consider the challenge. When these magicians were the ones telling me I should be a magician, I finally started to take it seriously (although it wasn’t until years later that I actually started to work on it).
I had some permanent injuries from being a dancer but I still very much wanted to perform. Everything about magic just felt right- I already had a pool of the best magicians, producers and directors in the world as close friends and colleagues, I had worked on ‘both sides of the table’ and so I felt the most prepared and abundant with resources. When I finally put out clips of me performing magic, the response was overwhelming.
What is your most memorable performance misadventure?
I feel like there have been many... Young and Strange leave a small puddle of water at the front of the stage in the one of their acts before mine and I happened to walk straight into it one show and completely fell over like a cartoon character.. with the closeup camera right on me. I think I naturally just bounce up again, but as I get older, it's harder to do!
What sets Champions of Magic apart from other touring ensemble magic
shows?
Our producer comes from a stand-up comedy background and also used to run a pyro company so… the show is very funny and as one article said ‘has more pyrotechnics than a KISS concert!’ We also all perform some acts together ‘Now You See Me’-style, we interact with each other, we all have very individual characters and personalities that feed and bounce off each other in the show. We don’t take ourselves too seriously!
Hollie striking a pose
Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?
Normally I have an ongoing D and D app game to stay connected with my partner. I watch a lot of the true crime YT channel ‘That Chapter’ if we are on the tour bus. I’m known for my morning ritual of making a bagel with a cup of tea. In Canada, I just have to go to Timmy Horton’s of course!
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?
My backpack is always full of British tea because that is one daily ritual that is mandatory! I also bring a blanket for travel- you never know when you’ll want is as a pillow on a plane, plus the company gets very divided on the optimal temperature on the bus!
Every performer experiences some level of post-show blues. Post-tour blues, we expect, are on a whole different level. Do you have any tips for touring entertainers with respect to re-entering one’s non-touring life, after an extended time away from home?
Try to maintain a routine and daily habits on tour and off. Eat healthy. Get good sleep. Take your vitamins and ashwagandha and magnesium. Get a massage. Go for walks. Exercise or do something active that makes you happy. Invest in self-care (cut your hair/ get a facial etc) If you can afford it, invest in a therapist. Journal. Meditate. Read. Allocate time to spend with friends/ family. Schedule things to look forward to.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s
Magic?
Regardless of how many shows, or billboards or how much money I'm making, I ultimately just want to be creative, and weird and me. I'm trying to do things like no-one else does. As Marilyn Manson once said, 'The key is to change what is popular. That's why rather than submit to the mainstream, you have to become it- then overcome it.'
Thank you Hollie, for making the time to answer our questions!
This is the fifth in a series of interviews leading up to the
