Montréal: Will Houstoun workshop

From the Will Houstoun Workshop Facebook page:

Monday, 30 April 2012
5445 de Gaspé, Suite 1010

Exclusive 3 hour workshop with Will Houstoun - Only $50!

We are very excited to announce that on April 30, Will Houston will be presenting an exclusive, 3hr hands-on workshop where he will be teaching some of his favorite routines, both published and unpublished. This event is striclty limited to 10 attendees to ensure that everyone will receive personal instruction and will leave with new material to add to their acts.

Read more.

Got talent: And then there were none

Despite Oslen's efforts in this week's Canada's Got Talent semifinal episode, he did not progress to the finals.

Once again, here's a big shout out to all of the magicians featured on the show: Vladimir the Great, Neil Croswell, Ryan Joyce, Mike D'Urzo, Warren Toaze, Jordan Murciano, Edward Stone, Lucas Wilson, Oslen and Benoit Fournier.  You all did a fabulous job of representing the magic community and raising the profile of magic in the mainstream media with your appearances on CGT!

Remembering Doug Henning

Evelyn Matlin has a wonderful post up at the Perfect Magic blog describing Phil's encounter with Doug Henning.   From her post:

Once, many years ago, Doug Henning, the first celebrity magician in  50 years, came to Montreal to perform. At that time a customer, who was an ardent magic collector and a friend, was dying in the hospital. The friend’s wife phoned Phil and asked if there was any way for Doug Henning to come and visit her husband because it would mean so much to him. Phil said he would try.


Read more.

CAMaraderie: One day passes

From the April 20th CAM newsletter:

Want to come to CAMaraderie but can't take the time to come for the whole conference? We have a solution for you.

Although it hasn’t been widely advertised, we now offer 1-day convention passes. These passes costs $95.00 and deliver a whole bunch of magic.  Each day there are many fabulous lecturers as well as a variety of other events. Choose the Friday pass and you can attend the Close-up show. Choose Saturday and you can attend the Gala Show!

Read more.

Day passes are a wonderful way to make the convention more accessible to those on a shoe-string budget and those with scheduling constraints.  Thank you CAM for this opportunity!

Toronto: Call for volunteers

From Sharing Wonder:

Seeking volunteer magicians/performers for a Luminato show. No experience required.

Can the non-sighted experience the same sense of astonishment that those with sight feel when witnessing magic? For Chilean magician Juan Esteban Varela, anyone with an imagination can transform fantasy into reality. In From the Dark, he does just that. Each audience member is blindfolded, provided with a box of props and then, individually and collectively, directed by him to create magical feats. It is a unique and thrilling experience.

We are looking for volunteer magicians/performers to help make the magic happen!

Read more.

Please note that this is a Toronto-based opportunity.

Got talent: Will you be watching Oslen tonight?

According to the Canada's Got Talent Facebook page, Oslen (the only magician in the semi-finals) will be peforming live tonight.

Will you be watching?

If not, why not?

Toronto: Luminato tickets on sale now

From Sharing Wonder:

Luminato tickets can now be purchased by the general public, bringing you one step closer to Toronto’s  electrifying festival.

Magicana is proud to present three enthralling, cutting-edge shows that will surely challenge the way you perceive the world.

Read more.

The Luminato Mind Over Matter magic series features Banachek, Richard Turner and Juan Esteban Varela.  Buy your tickets now!

Calgary: Garden Variety Show

From the Garden Variety Show newsletter:

April 26, 2012 - 7:30 pm

Past the halfway point and entering the home stretch, the Garden Variety Show has almost finished their third season.  Spectacular juggling, mind blowing magic and illusions, and some of the best stand up comedians in Canada.  Every show seems to be better than the last, leaving every audience member with something wonderful to try and describe the next day at work.

This month on the Garden Variety Show, magician and expert balloon sculptor TD Sparks will be premiering a brand new magic effect, never before seen in Calgary.  YoYo master Song Yao will amaze and astound, along with our juggler Jeff Olynek. As usual we feature a local singer song writer every month, this month Kaley Kinjo bass player for the Plaid Tounged Devils and so many other popular Calgarian bands will present us with his unique solo project.

Read more.

If that wasn't enough talent, the show's hosted by magicians James Jordan and Ryan Pilling!

Montréal: Christian Cagigal - Now and at the Hour, May 7-26

From Théâtre Rialto:

Beyond the Mountain Productions présente la dernière pièce de Christian Cagigal: Now and at the Hour.

Nommé Best of the Bay par le San Francisco Guardian, Christian Cagigal est un comédien, un auteur et un magicien depuis maintenant plus de 14 ans.

Ses précédents spectacles "The 13 Steps" et "The Pandora Experiment" ont tous deux joué à guichet fermé et se sont prolongés dans de nombreuses supplémentaires. Le spectacle "Now and at the Hour" fut présenté en première à New-York lors du festival de théâtre FRIGID de 2009. Peu après, il a été repris à San Francisco pour 10 semaines pendant l’été 2009 et encore à l’hiver 2010.
Read more.

FISM 2012 Blackpool

The 25th FISM World championships of Magic will be held in Blackpool, England, this July 9th through 14th.

Canadians confirmed to be appearing at the 2012 FISM include: Matthew Johnson and Greg Frewin.


[h/t: Magic Convention Guide]

"Best Magician Contest 2012" results

From Arthur Poon:

After two hours of non-stop competition, “Best Magician Contest 2012” finally finished under the joy and good memories.

All of the contestants had shown their wonderful performance successfully, and all of the audiences were having a wonderful night!

In here, I would like to congratulate again those magicians who won the prizes in the competition!

Here is the result:
“Best Magician Contest 2012” 1st runner up: Jeffrey Tong
“Best Magician Contest 2012” Champion: Ryan Brown
“Best Magician Contest 2012” The Most Favourable Magician of the night: Neil Croswell

P.S. The Most Favourable Magician is chosen by all of the audience sending text message to complete the vote.

Read more.

Peter Mennie on Rogers Daytime

Watch Peter Mennie's recent appearance on Rogers Daytime via YouTube:

Train and Mayhew: Playing with your pack

From Ben Train:

Whether you do magic for hundreds of people or just for yourself, we are all looking for the same thing- powerful magic that’s fun to do. Using material from their critically acclaimed books, DVDs, downloads, and numerous magazine contributions, Ben Train and Chris Mayhew will help you discover strong magic that’s not just fun to watch, but fun to perform as well!

also:

Upcoming dates:

• CAM Convention: May 3rd to 5th, 2012
• Ottawa, ON: Tuesday May 15th, 2012
• Montreal: Thursday May 17th, 2012
• Quebec City, QC: Sunday May 20th, 2012
• Boston, MA: Tuesday May 22nd, 2012
• New York, NY: Saturday May 26th, 2012
• King of Prussia, PA: Tuesday May 29th, 2012
• Baltimore, MA: Wednesday May 30th, 2012
• The TFD Convention, Ohio: July 13-14, 2012
• Columbus, Ohio: Monday July 16th, 2012

Read more.

[h/t: magicinfo.ca]

Whitby: Harry Anderson lecture

The day after Harry Anderson's show in Whitby next month, Harry will be lecturing! 

From David Merry's website:

For Magicians who have purchased tickets to his show Harry is holding a magic Lecture the following Sunday @ 10 am

Read more and purchase your ticket.

Wayne Houchin: Canadian tour CANCELLED (for now)

From Wayne Houchin:

Yesterday afternoon I tried to cross into Ontario to begin a small tour that was to include Kitchener, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Niagara Falls. After looking at my tour schedule the border patrol told me they wanted me to obtain a labour market opinion and special permit as I "might be taking jobs from Canadian Citizens." They denied me entry into Canada. I obtained additional paperwork and tried to cross a second time - again I was denied entry.

Read the full statement.

Send healing thoughts for Volodymyr Martyniuk

Updated April 16th to add: You can leave your well wishes for Volodymyr via comment at the Canada's Got Talent website page titled "Volodymyr Martyniuk announcement."

From 680 news:

After appearing on Citytv's Breakfast Television in Toronto, Friday, Canada’s Got Talent contestant Volodymyr Martyniuk (aka Vladimir the Great) suddenly collapsed while leaving the Citytv building.

He was rushed to St. Mike’s hospital, where is undergoing treatment for a brain aneurysm.
Read more.

We wish Volodymyr a speedy recovery.


[With thanks to @daringderek for letting us know.]

Toronto: Wayne Houchin IMPORTANT UPDATE

If you had plans to see Wayne Houchin in Toronto this weekend, please read the following posted at the Browser's Den of Magic Facebook page:

IMPORTANT---We are TERRIBLY SORRY to inform you that we have to CANCEL THE WAYNE HOUCHIN LECTURE planned for this Sunday/April 15.
Wayne was not allowed to enter Canada. We are greatly sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.
Please contact us at Browser's Den for a full refund should you have already purchased a ticket.

A similar message is also posted at the Browser's Den of Magic website.

Please contact event organizers directly for the lastest information regarding Wayne's appearances.

Las Vegas: Murray SawChuck

From iTricks:

Murray SawChuck is taking a gig at the Laugh Factory. The comedy club at the Tropicana will be Murray’s home for a limited engagement beginning April 30th.

Read more.

Toronto: Luminato advance tickets

From Sharing Wonder:

We would like to extend the opportunity to buy advance tickets for Luminato 2012, before they go on sale to the general public on April 14.

From now to April 13, pre-sale tickets can be purchased online via the special BUY TICKETS links located throughout this blog (or by phone at 416-368-4849). Please use the code SEASONS for phone-based orders. Not only will you be able to purchase tickets for the magic programs (see below), but you will also have access to ALL Luminato ticketed events.

Read more.

Got Talent: And then there were two!

From Toronto.com:

Volodymyr Martyniuk the magician will join the semifinals on Canada’s Got Talent, host Dina Pugliese announced on Citytv’s Breakfast Television on Friday.

Read more.

You may recall that Vladimir the Great was the first magician put through after the auditions.  As of March 26th, Oslen (Nelson Chang) from BC was the last magician standing when the semifinalists were announced.

Both Vladimir and Oslen will next appear on Canada's Got Talent on April 22nd.

Good luck fellas!