Best Magician Contest

This Saturday, I will be competing in the "Best Magician Contest"[1] hosted by A1 Chinese Radio and Classic Force. We will be on stage at Market Village in Markham, Ontario on Saturday, April 13 at approximately 7:30 PM. This a free event being put on by the Radio Station. [Update June 3, 2013 - Performance footage, shot by Hansen Lau]

[1] It's not really a contest. The event is hosted in Cantonese. "Best Magician" has lost something in translation. Instead it's a gala performance with a mix of amateurs, hobbyists and professions with some judges thrown in for dramatic effect. There is some kind of prize for the act they like the best, but we're not sure what that is. To quote from Whose Line Is It Anyway, everything is made up and the points don't matter. But it should still be a great show!

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

On Thursday, February 21, I will be giving a lecture for the Joan Caesar Hat & Wand Club in Kitchener. I'm very excited for the lecture since it contains several things I have never shared except with close friends. Tickets are available at the door if you are interested in attending. However, I was a bit shocked when I saw the photo they used in promoting the lecture. Apparently this was modified by the secretary using an iPhone app.... Henceforth, I will have a new stipulation in my rider that promotional photos may not be altered... sigh.

Photo by Irina Popova, sparkles by Daryl Hutton

Cups & Balls on TV

This is an excerpt from my appearance on Toronto's Talent (Rogers TV) in 2011 hosted by Quinn Martin.

Lies at the Winchester

Later this month, my show will be at The Winchester Kitchen & Bar in Cabbagetown in Toronto.

January 18, 19, 20 at 8:00 PM. More information at www.abracadabaret.com 

Praise for Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks

It's been a fantastic summer that I won't soon forget. Between the Hamilton Fringe Festival and the Summerworks Performance Festival, I completed thirteen performances of Lies, Damn Lies & Magic Tricks. Here are some highlights of what people had to say:

Truly Entertaining NOW Magazine

Remarkable... This magician is one talented fellow. The Hamilton Spectator

Thought-provoking, funny, astonishing and thoroughly entertaining. It's a great magic display and that's all anyone needs to know. Ontario Arts Review

I promise you will be thinking about how it's done - during and after the show and probably the rest of the month. Thoroughly entertaining. Artword

Brimming with wicked wit and calculated comedy. The VIEW Magazine

To my eyes, James Alan is every bit as good as any magician I have seen on TV... Alan is very personable, he makes you laugh between the lies and tricks... It is very engaging and entertaining. An hour will fly by before you know it. Mooney on Theatre

Open Til Midnight Review

Open 'Til Midnight posted a very detailed review of my show - you can read the full review here. If you missed the show at Summerworks, you can see a tiny teaser from the show on their YouTube page: