Magic Tonight at the Social Capital

Coming up September 14, we’re having a Magic Tonight revival!

For three years (2013-16) I had the pleasure of hosting a weekly show in downtown Toronto (and occasionally in Mississauga, Oakville and Pickering). It was a wonderful collaborative endeavour where each show featured a different guest and it gave me the ability to work with a wide variety of different performers; from magicians, to mentalists to unusual sideshow performers; from seasoned world travelling professionals to novices finding their footing on stage. While there are currently other opportunities we do sometimes get together to share some magic and mystery for old times’ sake.

This time we’re back, sponsored by the Soul City Social Club at the Social Capital Theatre (Danforth & DVP) for one night with two of my favourite guests from the show; both dear friends and wonderful performers.

Nicholas Wallace

A magician that conjures with the thoughts of his audience, he plays with luck, strange conspiracies and occasionally talking to the dead. Recently featured on America's Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Nick Wallace may seem sweet and innocent, but he is the devil; pure evil wrapped in Mr. Rogers' sweater. Come and see one of Ontario's foremost purveyors of astonishment.

Ben Train

Ben Train is like a magician, but for real... whatever that means. He has performed across Canada, the US and Europe. Locally he is a feature performer at Dave & Busters where he presents his show Weirdo, he is also the host and producer of the acclaimed Art of Magic.

So please come and join us for an amazing night of fun and magic. Tickets are available below.

 

The Grumpy Old Men of Magic

I'm pleased to announce a special appearance coming up in September at the Social Capital Theatre in Toronto. I will be appearing with Matt DiSero and the legendary Glenn Ottaway. 

He was the host of Canada's longest running magic dinner theatre, A Little Night Magic in Toronto. He's old, he's grumpy and he's been making Canadians laugh since before just about everyone you've ever met was born. He also knows magic, so watch out! (We guarantee almost every word out of his mouth is inappropriate so consider yourself warned.) 

Matt has worked with comedy greats such as Drew Carey & Jerry Seinfeld, has appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us and at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood California.

Accompanied by his trusty companion Hartnell (his pet chicken) this bow-tied bedazzler is one of Canada's national comedy treasures.

 

Saturday, September 15, 2018 - 8:00 PM

Social Capital Theatre
154 Danforth Avenue
Toronto (Danforth & Broadview)

Tickets $20

For information contact:
Steve@soulcitysoial.com
416-915-6677

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Presented by the Soul City Social Club and 

Photos from Magic & Martini Featuring The Evasons

Last night's sold out Magic & Martini was an unbelievable treat for me. One of the most rewarding things in this industry is collaborating with other performers. For two and a half years, I had that chance every week when I was hosting Magic Tonight. But there was one act that was never able to perform on the show.

The Evasons, while originally Canadian, perform now almost exclusively in the US. And since Magic Tonight wrapped, Magic & Martini has been a solo endeavour. But the opportunity presented itself and I couldn't resist, so last night's show featured a brief interlude from the world's foremost mentalist duo. (Which was a total surprise to most of the ticket buyers since we only decided to do this on Wednesday!)

Jeff & Tessa Evason

They are unquestionably the top in their field, if not in the world then at least in the English-speaking world.) There's something that happens when your name becomes synonymous with what you do. The way you reach for a Kleenex and you don't "search" for things on the internet, you Google them. Among magic-folk, what was — once up on a time — "Second Sight" is now just known as "The thing the Evasons do."

Thank you to everyone who attended the show. Here are a few photos from the night from Tyler Sol Williams. 

We have some dates with space still in August. Readers can use the code olive for a discount on the price of tickets when booking online. 

Photos from Magic & Martini in Oakville

Last night, we had another sold out Magic & Martini at O'Finn's in Oakville. Thank you to everyone who attended. Here are some photos from the event from Tyler Sol Williams.

Our next performance is already full but tickets are available for our show on Friday, June 16. Readers can use the code olive for a special discount on tickets purchased online. 

Magic Tonight Returns

After a very long hiatus, I'm delighted to announce a special instalment of Magic Tonight. 

What eventually, after more name changes than a reasonable human could be expected to keep track of, became known as James Alan's Magic Tonight was a show that ran in downtown Toronto for twenty-eight months. It was a variety show. A long list of friends and colleagues (and the occasional special guest from out of town) would perform with me, creating a show that was never quite exactly the same from one week to the next. And when magicians get together, we really have a lot of fun!

The show has been on hiatus for about a year. Our last performance was February, 2016 — almost exactly one year ago. During that break, I've been busy with other projects, including my new show, Magic & Martini. Now, by special arrangement with the Soul City Social Club and the Social Capital Theatre, we're back teaming up for one more night of magic, Saturday, June 17, 2017.

I'll be joined by James Harrison, Canada's foremost theatrical pickpocket, and the delightfully charming and indescribably zany Rob Testa (a man who possesses no setting between off and eleven.)

The Social Capital Theatre
154 Danforth (@ Broadview)

7:30 PM - Doors Open
8:00 PM - Showtime

Tickets $20

 

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The weirdest thing to ever happen to me on stage

For the past four years, I have been allowing members of the audience to blindfold me with duct tape (of various and assorted colours). Some would say that this strikes most of the audience as unusual and sends a rather strange message about what my personal boundaries might be. Admitting all that, nothing like this has ever happened to me before: (No spoilers, see for yourself, apologies for the poor video quality)

This was filmed at Magic Tonight If you would like to see what the whole trick actually looks like, in colour, you can watch it here.