From the Greg Frewin Theatre YouTube channel:
17 July 2016
16 July 2016
Edmonton: Sheldon Casavant at K-Days
From K-Days:
July 22 – 26: 2:30 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Audiences around the world have been thrilled with Sheldon Casavant’s captivating, humorous, and high energy performances. Sheldon’s show is an insightful glimpse into abstract thought and a clever take on modern illusion.
Read more.
15 July 2016
Shawn Farquhar on "Penn and Teller Fool Us" Season 3
Watch Shawn's awesome second appearance on Penn and Teller's Fool Us!
From the Penn and Teller Fool Us Season 03 YouTube channel:
From the Penn and Teller Fool Us Season 03 YouTube channel:
14 July 2016
Toronto: Suzanne lecture
From the Browser's Den of Magic:
Saturday August 13th, 2016
"Suzanne has a kind of cool, sweet authority that assures any audience that they are in the hands of a real pro." ~ TellerFor those of you who are unfamiliar, Suzanne is well-studied in the art of magic and has the skills and experience to approach her performance like a musician approaches Jazz. Her style is rooted in her heart - she is bright-eyed, attractive and fun.
She can hold an audience without her magic. Suzanne is more than likable; she personifies charisma. She makes shy people shine and bold people laugh.
People don't like Suzanne when she performs, they love her. When she takes the stage, the typical persona of a magic performer is far, far away. Rather than adopt the currently-popular character of a frantic used car salesman when performing magic, Suzanne is herself: feminine, funny, wise, direct and, above all, delighted to be performing for the audience. This core positively is contagious, and it radiates from Suzanne.
Fresh from her recent appearance on the ever-popular Penn & Teller FOOL US show, Suzanne visits Toronto with her acclaimed close-up lecture. Suzanne shares strong advice and magic that can only come after decades of experience. She also plans to share some of her favorite effects that have helped her achieve success in her career. Come to this lecture & learn great magic that you will use.
As a bonus, Suzanne offers up her personal formula for success that has made her one of America's foremost restaurant performers. She's ready to teach the tips and tricks on how to get resident performing positions.
Read more and buy tickets.
13 July 2016
Toronto: Chris Westfall Magic & the Porcelain Princess
2 shows only - Thursday, July 21st & Friday, July 22nd, 2016
From Chris Westfall Magic:
Performed for packed houses across the country, families from all over Canada have enjoyed the tale of Chris Westfall Magic & the Porcelain Princess.
With ONLY 2 shows playing in Toronto, Chris Westfall Magic & the Porcelain Princess is a high-energy 90 minute magic extravaganza, with lots of interaction that's fun for the entire family.
From the large theatrical magic illusions that magician Chris Westfall performs all the way to Princess Bella, the porcelain doll who magically comes to life though jugging, theatrical dance, and illusions -- this show has entertained thousands of children and adults alike. Now it's your family's turn.
In addition to this unique magical experience, everyone gets an opportunity to meet all the performers in the lobby directly after the show. Receive an autograph and see more fantastic magic.
Read more and buy tickets.
12 July 2016
Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 12
A camper's notebook.
Day 6: Wednesday August 19th*
So sad. This is the last time we’re going to be in the Mess Hall. One last round of table banging and cheering. I hate today. I wish camp could go on forever.
I better finish packing.
6pm
We got our stuff out of the cabins and sorted our bags on the same field where we arrived. Everybody was a happy kind of sad. People were signing name tags and arms and books and stuff. I overheard Daryl say that he was amazed that he learned stuff starting at the very first day of camp. He said he “came here expecting to teach, but (he) didn’t expect to learn.” That’s cool!
I wish camp were longer.
Everyone was saying that this was the “Best Year Ever.” Even though it was my first year, I’d have to agree. There’s no way they could make camp any better than this!
 |
| Loading the bus. |
Dad came and got me just as the bus was leaving. I kind of wish I’d taken the bus, just to be together with my new friends for a a little bit longer. But I can sleep in the car when Dad drives. He doesn’t ask me nearly as many questions as Mom. And I was so tired.
It’s good to be home, but In the words of one of my new BFFs,
"I wish I could sleep for 360 days. So I could miss the school year and when I wake up it would be time for camp again."
--
A question to the reader: Was Alex a girl or a boy? What lead you to that conclusion?
A special thank you to the campers who let me interview them for this article (in no particular order):
- Ryan from Mississauga, ON
- Astrid from Grimsby, ON
- Landon from Toronto, ON
- Thomas from Montreal, QC
- Serena from Toronto, ON
- Angelique from Grimsby, ON
- Stephanie from Bermuda
- Peter from Toronto, ON
- Cathy from Toronto, ON
- Paolo from Toronto, ON
- Brad from Orillia, ON
and to all the other campers (and staff) that let me ask them questions throughout their stay!
--
The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca
* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season. It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.
11 July 2016
Winnipeg: There's magic at the Fringe
The Winnipeg Fringe runs from July 13 to 24.
From the Winnipeg Fringe:
From the Winnipeg Fringe:
- 6 Quick Dick Tricks: A Dirk Darrow Investigation by Tim Motley
- Absolute Magic by Keith Brown
- Charlatan! by Travis Bernhardt
- David Eliot Presents EVOLUTION - A Journey Through Magic by Eliot Entertainment
Read more and buy tickets.
- The Magic of Kindness by Comedy Illusions of Greg Wood, directed by James Carey Lauder
10 July 2016
Television magicians from decades long gone
Two Canadians in the top 8!
From Me TV Chicago's article "8 Magicians Who Dazzled Us on TV as Children":
From Me TV Chicago's article "8 Magicians Who Dazzled Us on TV as Children":
1. DOUG HENNING
With his bedazzled overalls and beaming smile, Henning was the perfect man to introduce children to the world of magic, a lovable character akin to Gallagher or Slim Goodbody. The Canadian first broke in this country on Broadway, earning a Tony nom for his 1974 production, The Magic Show. A year after that opening, 50 million viewers tuned in for the TV special Doug Henning's World of Magic. The escape artist and lover of Houdini went on to create stage tricks for Earth, Wind and Fire and Michael Jackson tours.
2. THE AMAZING RANDI
James Randi is as well known for his skepticism as his illusions. The performer famously offered $1,000 (then $10,000, then $1,000,000) to anyone who could prove the existence of the supernatural. He's still waiting to pay out. Randi, seen here on the cover of Dynamite magazine, had a mission to expose charlatans posing as naturally gifted psychics. He would especially work to debunk the following man, his nemesis…Read more.
09 July 2016
Catching up with David Peck's "Face 2 Face"
Edited at 10:15am to add a list of magicians David's interviewed over the years:
David's got a long list of interesting guests on his "Face 2 Face" podcasts this year. Check out his interviewees, then click through to his site and have a listen! (I'm hoping to get a chance to listen to the Mac King and Jeff McBride interviews soon.)
From David Peck Live:
- Matthew Disero - episode 3
- Jay Sankey - episode 5
- David Merry - episode 27
- Anthony Lindan - episode 45
- Gabe Fajuri - episode 48
- Tom Ogden - episode 102
- David Ben - episode 145
- James Alan and Mike Close - episode 79
- Lawrence Hass - episode 150
- Viveka Melki - 177 - On the Circus
- Marcie Hume - filmmaker - about the movie "Magicians" - episode 187
- Jeff McBride - episode 188
- Mac King - episode 189
Coming soon:
- Lawrence Hass (Part 2)
- Bobby Motta
- Jeff and Tessa Evason
- Matthew Disero (Part 2)
David's got a long list of interesting guests on his "Face 2 Face" podcasts this year. Check out his interviewees, then click through to his site and have a listen! (I'm hoping to get a chance to listen to the Mac King and Jeff McBride interviews soon.)
From David Peck Live:
- Greg Paul – Episode 193
- Brian McKenna – Ep. 192
- Alex Hinton – Episode 191
- Jay Whitelaw – Episode 190
- Mac King – Episode 189
- Jeff McBride – Episode 188
- Marcie Hume – Episode 187
- Michael Coren – Episode 186
- Mitch Abrams – Episode 185
- Nicholas Greco – Episode 184
- Susanne Regina Meures – Episode 183
- Peter Stockland – Episode 182
- Christal Earle – Episode 181
- Alethea Arnaquq – Episode 180
- Todd & Jedd Wider – Episode 179
- Anjali Nayar – Episode 178
- Viveka Melki – Episode 177
- “Best and Most Beautiful Things” – Ep. 176
Read more and listen to podcasts.
08 July 2016
Mike Fisher on being a magician
From Mike Fisher's Facebook note*:
--
* Reprinted with permission from Mike.
To be a magician it seems to me,
you have to get good at things others can’t see.
Practice for hours when you’d rather go out,
Explain to the client what your shows all about.
Create a performance to fit a challenging budget,
Perform for a crowd that can’t help but judge it.
To be a magician performing shows can be tough,
some times your best just isn’t enough.
Arrive at a venue with no sound system inside her,
Argue with the client it was on the rider.
Set up your show and learn most of it won’t fit,
weeks of rehearsals all gone to sh*t.
To be a magician and perform for the public,
often does terrible things to ones stomach.
Unruly children and parents who don’t care,
heads tilted downward into phones they stare.
Volunteers from the audience who’d rather not join you,
disrupt your act and often upstage you.
To be a magician running a business is hard,
no one is begging for my contact card.
Facebook adds are expensive, Newspaper’s dead,
I’m never sure if my twitter feed’s read.
Cleaning my suit and repairing an old prop,
buying new magic spending won’t stop.
To be a magician and have a great show,
is a powerful drug that many can’t know.
The feeling you get when an effect goes right,
smiles from the audience -- a beautiful sight.
Line ups for autographs, people asking for more,
Inquiring about your next stop on the tour.
To be a magician is a wonderful thing, sometimes you cry, sometimes you sing.
--
* Reprinted with permission from Mike.
07 July 2016
06 July 2016
Jack Lillico in the Vancouver Magic Circle June 2016 Newsletter
Last month I posted a link to John Smithman's interview of Jack Lillico. This month, the Vancouver Magic Circle published a special "pull-out" section about Jack. It includes John's interview, along with some fabulous photos of magic history.
Check it out on pages 7 - 14 of the June 2016 edition of the Vancouver Magic Circle Newsletter.
As an added bonus, watch on Facebook, a video John made of an 89-year Jack Lillico doing a Card Sleight:
Check it out on pages 7 - 14 of the June 2016 edition of the Vancouver Magic Circle Newsletter.
As an added bonus, watch on Facebook, a video John made of an 89-year Jack Lillico doing a Card Sleight:
05 July 2016
Diary of a Sorcerers Safari newbie - part 11
A camper's notebook.
Day 5: Tuesday August 18th (cont)*
8pm
Dinner was wings and fries and salad and donuts! Jen Segal, Christina Galonska, Stephanie Kline, Lori Farquhar, Lisa Close, and Mike Toal worked hard to get it organized and serve us since we weren’t in the Mess Hall tonight. They’re always working really hard to making sure all of the non-magic stuff is taken care of. I sure am grateful for their efforts.
Dance party = so much fun! Mark Correia did a wicked Michael Jackson impersonation and two of the littlest kids here had an incredible dance off! Phil DaCosta DJ’d again and gave away t-shirts and cards and stuff too for answering questions and making clever requests. I love this place.
 |
| Mark doing his thing. |
The weather must have cleared ‘cause they’re letting us have camp swim!
10pm
I did it!! I got scared and wasn’t going to. But then I remembered that Scott Hammell and Eric Leclerc both say that we should try things “out of our comfort zone” now and again. The lifeguard said it was safe to jump from up high and that he’d make sure nothing bad happened to me. I was so nervous climbing up those stairs. They went up forever. The lake looked such a long way down. I froze and almost didn’t do it. Then I jumped!!!! I was surprised how long it took for me to hit the water -- it felt like hours. I didn’t get hurt, nobody laughed and my friends all cheered for me! I really feel like I’m part of one big family here.
 |
| I did it!!! |
There was more dancing and a spectacular fireworks show. Everyone sang some song by a band called “Queen” and that was the end of the night. I’m so excited and tired. I don’t remember much else. I don’t want camp to end tomorrow.
 |
| This is so. much. FUN! |
 |
| Everybody dance now! |
To be continued ...
--
The 2016 season of Sorcerers Safari will run from Sunday August 7th through Friday August 12th, 2016. For more information, or to register, please visit SorcerersSafari.ca
* The “Diary of a Sorcerers Safari Newbie” is primarily based on the 2015 camp season. It is an aggregate of many perspectives, and at times includes events from previous years.
04 July 2016
Have you registered for the 2016 Magic Master Summit*?
Updated November 2017 to add:
Back in May, I shared with you information about the 2016 Magic Master Summit, a FREE online magic convention featuring more than 30 presentations, from more than 24 experts, totaling more than 50 hours of incredible secrets!
Did I mention, it's completely FREE, July 18-22, 2016?
Here's the tentative schedule:
Monday - July 18, 2016
- Rick Thomas
- Brad Ross
- Dan Sperry
- Bill Gladwell
- JC Sum
Tuesday - July 19, 2016
- Shawn Farquhar
- Dr. Joe Vitale
- Kristoffer Olson
- Justino Zoppe
- Chris and Neal
- Chris Randall
- Jim Gravina
Wednesday - July 20, 2016
- Greg Frewin
- Murray SawChuck
- David DaVinci
- Steven Yerardi
- JC Sum
- Glen Foster
Thursday - July 21, 2016
- Reza
- Josh Knotts
- Brad Ross
- David Farr
- Stacey Smithson
Friday - July 22, 2016
- Josh Knotts
- Wacky Chad
- Ken Weber
- Kyle Knight and Mistie
- Justino Zoppe
From what I understand, the sessions are each free for 24 hours, then after that if you want to purchase access to them, you'll have the ability to go back to review them.
What are you waiting for? Register at Magic Master Summit today!
--
* Disclosure: I am a Magic Master Summit Affiliate and I am eligible to make a commission with every sale made using the links posted on this site.
03 July 2016
02 July 2016
2016 Allan Slaight Award Recipients
Congratulations to this year's winners!
From Magicana:
From Magicana:
Lifetime Achievement Award ($15,000) - TON ONOSAKA
Sharing Wonder Award ($15,000) - DARCY OAKE
Sharing Secrets Award ($10,000) - RICHARD KAUFMAN
International Rising Star ($5,000) - JORGE BLASS
Canadian Rising Star ($5,000) - LUC LANGEVIN
Read more.
Revisit "The Magic Palace"
From Magicana:
The Magic Palace was a Canadian television series, produced and hosted by Dale Harney, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which was an inspiration for a generation of magicians. In an age before YouTube and the Internet, the show gave viewers a broad sampling of magic acts from North America and Europe in an unprecedented scale.
Almost lost to history, it is now one of the most important collections of magic performances. Magicana is delighted to share this material and, perhaps, inspire another generation of magicians all over again.
Read more and enter exhibit.
Watch the teaser:
01 July 2016
Thank you to our May 2016 Friends!
Thank you to John Smithman, John Harrison, Richard Lyn and Joan Caesar for being Friends of Canada's Magic!
It's good to have friends like you.
It's good to have friends like you.
Toronto: Free magic club meeting
From the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook group:
Hi There- This Saturday, July 2nd is our next (FREE) Magic Club Meeting.
We meet at Browser's Den from 2:30pm to 5:30pm. All interested in talking magic are welcome.
And we are pleased to let you know that it looks as if Jeff Hinchliffe will be joining us at the meeting.
Happy Canada Day!
Jeff & The Browser's Den Team.
Serving Magicians Since 1975
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