Canada's Magic

31 July 2017

Matt Johnson in The Abbotsford News

Matt Johnson’s first crack at TV glory ended before it began when the tank he was trying to escape split open and spilled 260 gallons of water onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage during a rehearsal, along with his dreams.

The UK-born magician came back home to Abbotsford without having had the chance to perform his great escape in front of the celebrity judges – an opportunity he spent years working towards.

But just over a month later, in mid-March, he had another chance to perform the daring escape in front of bright lights, TV cameras and two judges nearly every magician on earth looks up to. He had a slot on Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

Johnson hastily ordered a new tank – this time reinforced with metal corners – custom built in Calgary and waited for it to arrive at his Chilliwack studio. It arrived at 10 p.m. the night before he was to fly to Las Vegas for his chance to impress magic legends Penn Jillette and Teller on their popular series where illusionists from around the world try to perform a trick that even they can’t decipher.

Johnson’s new tank was three inches tighter on all sides.

Read more.

30 July 2017

Billy Kidd in #FemaleMagician

Watch Billy Kidd, Dania Diaz, Jen Kramer, Ekaterina, Anna de Guzman, Laura London, Soulnia, Manuela Rud, and Lauren Cohen in #FemaleMagician.

From Billy Kidd Magician's Facebook page:

29 July 2017

Michael Kras wins the 2017 Voaden Prize

Congratulatiosn Michael!

From Michael Kras' Twitter feed:

Deeply humbled and honoured that my play has been awarded the 2017 Voaden Prize. pic.twitter.com/8mCNuH9uN0
— Michael Kras (@KrasMagic) July 25, 2017

28 July 2017

Peter Mennie in the Sarnia Observer

From The Observer:

A night of live magic is coming to downtown Sarnia.

Mixx Lounge on Front Street is hosting a show by London magician Peter Mennie being called Magic at the Mixx Lounge, Aug. 10.

Reservations, available by calling 519-491-0077, are required for the $15 show set for 8 p.m. in a special events room at Mixx Lounge.

Mennie said it came about when he was hired to perform at a private birthday party in the back room at the downtown lounge earlier this year.

As he was setting up for the party, a man seated in the lounge recognized Mennie was a magician and called him over.

Read more.

From Peter Mennie's Twitter feed:

"Magic At The Mixx" a melange of Magic, Mind Reading & Marvelously Mixxed Merriment! Aug 10. @MixxSarnia #magicshow #lounge #cabaret #fun pic.twitter.com/fXtSn0AlDe
— Peter Mennie (@petermennie) July 25, 2017

27 July 2017

ReginaCadabra in the CBC

From the CBC:

Doug Arden has been waiting nearly 20 years to be a part of a magic festival in Regina, and this weekend he'll lift the curtain on his long-awaited performance.

ReginaCadabra is Regina's first magic festival. Featuring 10 Canadian magicians, it runs Wednesday through Sunday at various locations around the city.

"I've always loved entertaining people so I look forward to making everyone laugh. That's what I live for," said Arden, a local ventriloquist, comedian and magician who has been working full-time as an entertainer for 20 years.

Read more.

26 July 2017

To learn more about Celeste's extraordinary life and contribution to magic, have a look at "Even in Magic, Happiness First" over at the Northeast Journal, or visit her site at CelesteEvansMagic.com.

The family has suggested that donations in Celeste Evans name could be sent to:
The Junior Program
‪c/o The Magic Castle,‬
‪7001 Franklin Avenue‬,
L.A. ‪CA 90028‬.

From the Celeste Evans Facebook page:

From Shawn Farquhar's Facebook page:

Also from Shawn's Facebook page: