Toronto: An adults-only kids’ magic show by Phil Pivnick [Jan 23]

Tickets and more information at Eventbrite. 

 

From the December 18th Facebook post by WonderPhil:

It’s finally happening! Tell your inner-child there’s a magic show just for them!
January 23rd, an adults-only kids’ magic show. Yeah. It can work 😇 

 

 

Previously shared on Facebook December 18. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic -- Holiday Spectacular" 2025

Catch them in Toronto until January 4.  Tickets at Ticketmaster.ca  

 

Yesterday, we made the trek to the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto.

• Regular readers may remember that Champions of Magic made their Toronto debut at this theatre in 2018.
• It is an intimate theatre with one balcony and a seating capacity of just over 800.
• The show is approximately 2 hours in length, including a 16 minute intermission.
• As always with this show we are genuinely afraid of posting spoilers.  The less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it!

 

 Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

On with the show...

Note to parents of young children:  The music can be very loud at times throughout the show.  There are also smoke and fog machines involved.  Forewarned is forearmed.

There's a videographer on hand to capture close-up miracles and project them on a big screen so everyone can see!

We're always excited to see
Champions of Magic!

Pre-show vibes

• There were plenty of families with young children in the audience.  The audience was definitely in the holiday spirit and well primed to be entertained.  
  
  
• Liberty Larsen, Fernando Velasco, Richard Young and Sam Strange all do what they do very well!  All of the performers showed us a side of their characters that we'd not previously seen.
    
  
• This show introduced us to Frances Morgan from Spokane who participates as crew as well as having her moment in the spotlight.  Frances kindly agreed to do an interview with us that we hope to share with you soon.
  
  
• The show is very different from the ones we've seen previously*.  There are significant changes in both the cast, and the structure of the production. 
  *Toronto 2018, Oshawa 2019, Kitchener 2022, Toronto 2023, and Hamilton in 2025.
    
• If memory serves, there are only 2-3 bits carried over from 2018, 3-4 repeats from 2023, and maybe 6 duplicates from earlier this year. Which works out to roughly 75 - 80% of the show being new from its most recent interation.  That's a lot of new magic!
  
  

They made some bold choices, that served them well!

• Every incarnation of the show offers imaginative narrative brought to life through full ensemble numbers.
  
  
• There are also plenty of moments for each of the acts to shine on their own.
  
  
• There was LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!  By our count, 14 volunteers were involved.  Many of the volunteers were able to do so from the comfort of their seats.  A lucky few were brought on stage for a fully immersive show experience!
  
  
• We were lucky to experience young volunteer Jamie who held the audience in rapt attention, as well as the tremendously delightful Emmy who instantaneously won the hearts of those in attendance.
  
  
  
• The lighting design for this show is visually stunning!
  
  

Whether you're new to magic or are a professional magician, there's something for everyone!

• Larsen has a very creative style that delivers personal and refreshing takes on some classics of magic.  As an added bonus for magicians, she spent a little bit of time talking about her magical family!  
   
  
• Velasco pivoted from his signature heart-stopping stunts.  Not to worry, he still performs escapes, albeit at a smaller scale.  He showcased a wider variety of his talents and had the audience eating from the palm of his hand.
  
  
• Young and Strange are always tremendously entertaining!  Both individually, and together as a double act, they consistently deliver impressive sleight of hand, laugh out loud comedy, and a truly exhilarating exhibition of grand illusion.  They get bonus points for mentioning Canadian born magician Dai Vernon.  (And a minor demerit for not mentioning Doug Henning when Doug appears in a video clip.)  We're sad to report that Young's homage to David Copperfield Easter egg is no longer in the show.

Larsen and Strange each did a particularly good job of staying in the moment and working with the unique 'gifts' this audience provided.

• A special shout-out to the videographer, whose quick thinking salvaged an effect when cards were scattered to the floor!
  
    

We highly recommend it!
(Even if you've seen it before.)

 

 

 

Post-show vibes

 

Disclosure:  We were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are entirely our own. We did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.

With thanks to Champions of Magic for the tickets.

 

 

  Champions of Magic Holiday Spectacular  

• In Toronto until January 4
  
  Tickets:  Ticketmaster.ca 

 

Read our interviews with the cast:

• Liberty Larsen  (2024)   
  
• Sam Strange  (2023) 
  
• Fernando Velasco (2023), and
• Richard Young  (2024)      

 
Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagicTour.com and follow them on Facebook, and Instagram. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gabriella Lester interviewed by Ellen at The Fame Reporter

From the article "Gabriella Lester || Now You See Me LIVE" by Ellen at The Fame Reporter:

At 14, you became one of the youngest performers to execute Houdini’s suspended straitjacket escape. What do you remember most vividly from that moment?

The straitjacket escape was my first career “child.” It was something I decided I wanted to do when I was around 13 years old. Not one person in the industry wanted to help. I was encouraged to stay “young and cute” and focus on smaller things – but it didn’t matter. 

This was one of the first times in my life that I learned to put blinders on and not care about the background noise. It taught me that success comes from a balance of caring deeply and not caring at all. 

Read more. 

 

Found at the December 24th post of Shawn Farquhar's Facebook feed. 

 

 

 

 

ICYMI: David Acer hosts the Happy Pawlidays Virtual Show

Previously shared December 25, 2021 and every year thereafter.  

 

This has come to be a holiday tradition at the blog.   Enjoy!

 

From the December 19, 2020 upload on the Official SuperDogs YouTube channel:

Join The President's Choice SuperDogs for their magical, musical holiday celebration, "Happy Pawlidays."

 

 

 

 

 

 

ICYMI: Happy Holidays from Lucy Darling, Miranda Allen, and Richard Lee

Previously shared December 25, 2024.  

 

From the December 21, 2020 Facebook post by Carisa Hendrix:

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Written and performed by
Carisa HendrixCo-staring Miranda Allen and Richard Lee
Special thanks to Jim Millan
Dedicated to the memory of Martin Gardner
Custom Music by Esin Aydingoz & Adam Traister

 

 

 

 

 

ICYMI: Wes Barker's Backwards Hallmark Movie

Previously shared December 25, 2024.

 

Nothing says Christmas like a good old fashioned Hallmark Christmas Movie!

From the December 4, 2024 Facebook post by Wes Barker:

 

 

 

 

 

 

ICYMI: Magical traditions from Tips & Tricks for Magicians

Previously shared December 24, 2024. 

 

From the December 4, 2024 Facebook post by Tips & Tricks for Magicians:

 

There's also this one from the December 22, 2022 Facebook post by Tips & Tricks for Magicians:

 

 

 

And last but not least, our favourite from the December 22, 2022 Facebook post by Tips & Tricks for Magicians: