Toronto: Kensington Ken's Late Night Comedy and Magic [April 23]

From the April 18th article at Now Toronto: 

April 23 at 10 pm.

Your featured performers this week are:

Cameron Gibson: Our featured headliner of the evening, Cameron was the lead magician of the Illusionarium magic show last summer, and was awarded the Scottish Conjurer’s Association’s 2015 Stage Magician of the Year. He’s performed at packed stages and festivals all over the world, and has wowed countless audiences. Tonight, he’s at the Free Times Cafe to perform for you!

Marc Hallworth: Originally from Calgary, Marc has performed all over Canada and is one of the most decorated comics on our roster. He has performed at NXNE, YYComedy, FunnyFest, the Brantford Comedy Festival, “Funniest Clean Comedian on the Lakeshore”, and the Bollywood Monster Mashup, where he opened for Aparna Nancherla. We don’t have enough space here to list all of his accomplishments and awards, so you’re just going to have to come and see for yourself!

James “JamEasy” Cummins: Born and raised in Brampton, James has become one of the fastest up and coming names in standup comedy. Tip toeing the line of things you’re not supposed to say combined with a unique delivery has made him memorable to audiences one way or another. Described as”affably offensive,” we’re sure you will love him.

Kensington Ken: By far the least accomplished performer on the show, Ken likes to hide behind his cheap magical gimmicks that he bought from Wish. They work wonders on TikTok where he has over 10 million video views, but they sometimes malfunction on stage with hilarious consequences. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you might even be amazed!

Read more and buy tickets.

Edmonton Magic Club hosts Lisa Menna virtual lecture [April 19]

Confirm details with the Edmonton Magic Club.

 

From the April 18th Facebook post by Ron Pearson:

We are very pleased to announce that Lisa Menna will be presenting her online lecture this Tuesday, April 19 at 7:00 PM MST.  

This is a FREE presentation courtesy of the Edmonton Magic Club. All are welcome!
 
Lisa Menna has been a professional entertainer for 45 years, and has performed in 75 countries. She has previously lectured twice at FISM and will lecture there again in 2022. Lisa “has performed in all three rooms of the Hollywood Magic Castle”.
 
“Lisa Menna is a magician and activist. Called the most influential female magician of the 20th century by BBC World Service, she was a pioneer in a male-dominated profession. Menna gave a briefing for the High Commission of Human Rights at the United Nations focused on her work with Cause To Wonder and the use of curiosity to introduce ideas of human rights for women.” You are encouraged to look at her website: Magician Lisa Menna; in particular the links: menna video library, and a magician’s life.
 
Lisa typically does not do club lectures however has graciously agreed to lecture (via Zoom) at the Edmonton Magic Club. She will share information regarding her experience as a world-class entertainer, and her approach to using magic.

 

 

 

 

From the 1986 Vancouver "Weekend of Magic"

From the April 14th Facebook post at Magical Women with Connie Boyd:

✨This Blast from the Past vintage video clip features a young Julie Eng performing skilled magic in Vancouver at the "Weekend of Magic", Biltmore Hotel in Vancouver in 1986.  Hosts Shawn Farquhar  & David Wilson hosted the "Weekend of Magic". 💋
https://youtu.be/5DtucsQT4yw

 

From the April 14th upload "Julie Eng 1986 - Vancouver "Weekend of Magic" Blast from the Past" at the Magical Women with Connie Boyd YouTube channel:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ICYMI: CAM JAM Backstage at the Greg Frewin Theatre

From the Canadian Association of Magicians:

During the 1hr chat, Greg covers a wide range of insightful topics.  Here is a look at everything covered.

What's covered in this 60-minute backstage event in Niagara Falls with Greg Frewin

1. What's the theatre look like now-- Is Greg open? What are audiences like?
    
   
2. Theatre & Animals - We get a look backstage, around the theatre, and animals
   
   
3. Last two years of COVID -- Talking about diversifying other skills, family, animals, and a big event in China
   
   
4. A look at the early years - From just an idea to Greg's opening year, struggles, successes, and surprises. (...and Lance Burton's 8 words of advice!)
    
   
5. PLUS, Greg shares the three biggest lessons learned owning his theatre.
   
   
6. And questions from our virtual guests!
   
   

Read more.

 

Inside the Greg Frewin Theatre 2022
Hosted by @cammagicorg

With thanks to @GregFrewinMagic for his invitation to take a peek inside his theatre as part of last night's CAM JAM!

Be sure to catch Wild Magic at the Greg Frewin Theatre. https://t.co/RVDJJMaVrn pic.twitter.com/dBdJZYcMy7

— Canada's Magic (@canadasmagic) April 14, 2022

 

 

ICYMI: Portfolio 52's 2021 Deck of the Year

Congratulations to @Stockholm17 and @52plusjoker⁠!  

Watch the video in the post below to see a message from 52 Plus Joker president Lee Asher.

 

From the February 27th Instagram post by Portfolio 52:

The one you’ve all been waiting for… The final ‘Deck of the Year’ category of which our awards are named after wraps up the 2021 DOTY week long ceremony. This award recognizes the best overall deck that voters thought were the most noteworthy of the past year. These decks must shine not just in a single category, but through all of them from outside tuck to inside courts and everything in between.⁠
⁠
This year’s winners are noteworthy not just in their excellence in their art of playing cards, but also because it brought up something we honestly didn’t even think about occurring, a tie! That’s right, through all the thousands of votes, the decks for third place were so close that literally one vote would have shifted the stance. It goes to show that your voice does matter in these awards. Going forward we may figure out a way to do tie breakers and are certainly open to suggestions on what you guys think to do in these extremely rare events (rock paper scissors tournament? ultimate death match?), but for this year we decided to celebrate them both in all its serendipity! So without further ado this year’s winners…⁠
⁠
🏆 2021 DECK OF THE YEAR WINNERS🏆⁠
1) 52 Plus Joker 2021 by @Stockholm17 and @52plusjoker⁠
2) Alice in Wonderland by @kingswildproject⁠
3) Royales by @kingsncrooks⁠
3) The Tale of Tempest by @thegentlemanwake⁠ and @oathpcc
⁠
🎁DOTY GRAND PRIZES:⁠
First Place DOTY wins not only the title belt, but also several grand prizes from our amazing sponsors. @ShuffledInk is proud to offer 100 free printed decks. @CaratCaseCreations is thrilled to provide 2,500 custom printed DS1s. And finally, the biggest prize of all, coming from the internationally established @cartamundicards, the world’s largest playing card producer, comes an amazingly generous €5,000 print credit towards the winning team for their next project. We can’t wait to see the kind of awesomeness that comes from this new partnership!

Edited · 6w

leeashermagic

Outstanding! Thank you to @stockholm17 & @expertpcc for their hard work and efforts. And on behalf of @52plusjoker -- THANK YOU ALL for voting! 🙏❤😊

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Portfolio52 (@portfolio_52)

 

 

Ryan Michael in the Vernon Morning Star - show April 29

From the April 10th article "Kelowna magician ready to wow Vernon audience
Ryan Michael is bringing his Tricky Business act to Vernon April 29" by Brendan Shykora in the Vernon Morning Star:

Ryan Michael will bring his mind-blowing — and hilarious — Tricky Business act to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre on Friday, April 29.

Born in Jasper, Alberta, Michael is in his ninth year as a professional magician. In that time he’s been showered with accolades, including double gold medals as Canada’s Close-up Magician of the Year and Canadian Mentalist of the Year through the Canadian Association of Magicians and Pacific Coast of American Magicians in 2017.

He was also named the winner of the Tony Eng People’s Choice Award chosen by fellow magicians, including world-renowned Canadian magician Shawn Farquhar, who Michael has since had the chance to perform with.

“That was the biggest honour for me,” he told the Morning Star. “All my peers and all the guys that I look up to ended up voting for me … which was just amazing.”

Michael specializes in close-up illusions and mentalism — a branch of performance art designed to wow crowds with illusions of mind-reading, mind-control or memory feats.

But a key element to his performances is also comedy.

Read more.

 

 

Thank you to our personal sponsors for April 2022!

A quick reminder of our earlier Mail as Medicine request for Katie Hunt.  If you have the time, Katie and Doug would both benefit from hearing from their friends!

 --

Thank you to John Harrison, Richard Lyn, Joan Caesar, Ian Crawford, Matt DiSero, Doug Hunt, John Smithman, Richard Hough, Robin Dawes, Eric Bedard, Loran, Peter Mennie,  Gordon Precious, Colin Geddes, Graeme Reed, Gwyn Auger, Chris Gowen, and Cam Dix, for being Friends of Canada's Magic!

It's good to have friends like you.

You too can Be Our Friend for only $20 per year! 

Donations of any size are always welcome.