Upcoming Champions of Magic Canadian tour dates:
- 12/8/19 Brandon, MB
- 12/12/19 Ottawa, ON <<< ** recent addition **
- 12/14/19 Oshawa, ON
- 12/15/19 Laval, QC
- 1/16/20 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
- 1/17/20 Regina, SK Conexus Arts Centre
- 1/26/20 Prince George, BC
- 2/29/20 Rama, ON <<< ** recent addition **
Read more and buy tickets.
I was delighted to receive an invitation to email interview Kayla Drescher, as part of a Champions of Magic promotion. You may know already know Drescher as the winner of the Today Show's “The Next Great Magician” (judged by David Copperfield), from appearing on season four of Penn and Teller Fool Us, or from lecturing in Toronto last January.
(Read on to learn more about Drescher's connection to the Canadian magician known as "The Beauty of Magic.")
Who inspires you magically?
My mentors are a couple from Indianapolis - Christian and Katalina. They are my biggest inspiration magically. I enjoy watching magicians that are grounded and “real”, like you want to buy them a beer after the show. That’s what I aim for as a performer and am inspired by those that do the same.
What is your first memory of magic?
My first memories were from seeing magic at a magic shop at 7 years old. That’s where I caught the “bug.”
My first memories were from seeing magic at a magic shop at 7 years old. That’s where I caught the “bug.”
Why do you think people are still fascinated by magic, especially live magic?
Because it’s happening directly in front of you. When magic is happening with no screen or special CGI, it adds to the impossibility. Add in magic happening in your hands… well there’s nothing better.
Where do you find non-magical inspiration?
I love watching dance and choreographers tell a story through movement, listening to music that motivates something magically, or watching a movie suspend the audience’s disbelief and transport you to another world. Comedy is also a huge influence, especially improv and character-based sketch comedy. I’m also super inspired by Celine Dion and basically everything she does, especially her fashion. My choice for clothing on stage is highly motivated by hers.
I love watching dance and choreographers tell a story through movement, listening to music that motivates something magically, or watching a movie suspend the audience’s disbelief and transport you to another world. Comedy is also a huge influence, especially improv and character-based sketch comedy. I’m also super inspired by Celine Dion and basically everything she does, especially her fashion. My choice for clothing on stage is highly motivated by hers.
What’s is it about Champions of Magic that has allowed you to draw large audiences on 6 UK tours and 3 North American tours over the past six years?
What surprised you most about performing in different countries? Have you experienced anything specific about Canadian audiences in particular?
Champions of Magic features every type of magic you could possibly imagine while keeping it fun for the whole family. But really what we feature over any other show, TV program, movie, etc, is us. The 5 performers have strong, enjoyable, and engaging personalities. You get to know us individually and as a performing “family.” We truly enjoy touring together and you can see that on stage. We probably feature more high-fives than any other show has. Audience members come back show after show because they enjoy “hanging out” with us. And because the audiences are different, the show is just a little different each time, making each show super memorable. We work hard to make the show not just magically impressive, but an absolutely fun time.
What surprised you most about performing in different countries? Have you experienced anything specific about Canadian audiences in particular?
The biggest difference is the style of humor. Because I’m primarily comedy/improv based, I have to study what each audience would find funny. What I love most about Canadian audiences is the immediate excitement when the show starts. The roar of the audience when the lights go down is everything a performer wants to hear. We LOVE LOVE LOVE performing for Canadian audiences and cannot wait to do it again!
Do you have a favourite touring anecdote and / or any advice for touring magicians?
There are so many stories from tour and we certainly don’t have time for them all. My favorites come from pranking Sam Strange, like when he leaves his belongings on stage during rehearsals and I hide them in one of the cup holders in a 4,000 seat theater. That’s always fun.
My biggest advice is to just be open to any adventure the tour can bring. I’ve tried different foods, seen amazing parts of various countries, and rode my first Bird scooter (which I fell off) with the tour. It’s like an adventure of no other so make the most of it!
My biggest advice is to just be open to any adventure the tour can bring. I’ve tried different foods, seen amazing parts of various countries, and rode my first Bird scooter (which I fell off) with the tour. It’s like an adventure of no other so make the most of it!
I was influenced by Greg Frewin at a young age. And there's also Celeste Evans.
I first met Celeste Evans and her daughter Evanna at a magic convention when I was roughly 15/16 years old. Celeste was a hero of mine, being such a trailblazer in the community and having created a full stage act in a tight dress and no suit jacket (which I was wearing at the time). Celeste often offered unprompted advice to young magicians, especially women in the community. She was an amazing human being and a fantastic magicians.
When she passed away, Evanna kindly sent me some of her magic-themed jewelry. After I finished crying of pure joy and honor, the jewelry quickly made its way into my usual performance attire. Her necklace charm, in the shape of a hand with 4 multiplying balls, is what I mainly wear every show, although the ring in the same shape is often on my hand. I’m honored to carry on a piece of Celeste through everything I do.
Do you have any tour or pre-show rituals?
I lay on the floor a lot. It’s very comfortable. Then I do a ton of dancing to loosen up and get happy, give Fernando a high-five, and get on with the show!
You sometimes perform extremely dense runs. What do you do to keep your performance fresh for both your audience and you?I lay on the floor a lot. It’s very comfortable. Then I do a ton of dancing to loosen up and get happy, give Fernando a high-five, and get on with the show!
I try to change little things about my show each time I start to feel myself get complacent. It could be adding in a new joke, doing a different dance, wearing a new jacket or shoes, just anything to change things up a bit. We also all try to keep things fresh, from playing tag on stage to making each other laugh in the wings. I’m thankful to be with a group of people that all know how to have fun and keep things fresh.
What interests do you have outside of magic?
I’m a big basketball fan and keep up with the WNBA and women’s college basketball regularly. I try to read a lot but always just end up watching Harry Potter. And I have a really great dog that I enjoy snuggling with.
If you could be endowed with the talent to take on any Broadway role past or present, who would you pick?
Elphaba from Wicked.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
California weather. I’d share California weather with all of Canada.
Ohhh... best gift ever! Don't forget to bottle some for yourself though. You'll need it when you hit SK in January!
Thank you Kayla Drescher for making the time to answer our questions!
Catch the Champions of Magic on tour in Canada!
Catch the Champions of Magic on tour in Canada!
Upcoming Champions of Magic Canadian tour dates:
- 12/8/19 Brandon, MB
- 12/12/19 Ottawa, ON <<< ** recent addition **
- 12/14/19 Oshawa, ON
- 12/15/19 Laval, QC
- 1/16/20 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
- 1/17/20 Regina, SK Conexus Arts Centre
- 1/26/20 Prince George, BC
- 2/29/20 Rama, ON <<< ** recent addition **
Read more and buy tickets.
