Magic & Martini in Oakville

Thanks to everyone who attended our sold-out show at O'Finn's Irish Temper in Oakville on Friday night. It's the largest crowd we've had for one of those shows. 

Our next event out that way is Friday, April 21, 2017. Readers can use the code secrets for a discount on the price of tickets when purchasing online. 

Here are some photos from the show:

Photos by Tyler Williams

Magic in the community

One of the quirkier bits of performing I get to do is a special series of shows organized by Magicana as part of their Senior Sorcery program. The program is designed to bring live magic to seniors no longer living at home. Thanks to some support from the Slaight Family Foundation, these performances are often offered to these centres at specially discounted prices.

It's a challenge to assemble a show which is built with allowances for an audience's diminished mobility or cognitive issues, but having got the hang of it a few years ago, I now find these performances to be a lot of fun and tremendously rewarding. Plus sometimes someone will come up after the show with a very interesting story to tell me. 

These shows are often centred around holidays throughout the year. The past week saw Valentine's Day and Family Day, so I did several shows in quick succession. Ordinarily because of privacy concerns, it's difficult to share photos from these shows, but at two performances, a very judicious photographer captured the very attractive backs of people's heads (and the moderately attractive overdressed magician on stage.) 

It's a wonderful program. If you would be interested in bringing the program to a retirement or long-term card facility you're affiliated with, I encourage you to reach out to Magicana. 

I really have no idea what's inside that giant egg. I was nervous that partway through the show, Lady Gaga would pop out and do a number. 

A magician can dream; can't he?

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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Photos from Magic & Martini

We had another sold out Magic & Martini last night at SpiritHouse in Toronto. Here are some photos from the show. You can also see many of the lounge's signature cocktails and some of the amazing food. 

There are several upcoming dates with tickets available in Toronto (and also for our shows in Oakville and Hillsburgh.) The show is an intimate evening of fine dining and incredible magic. Readers of this blog can use the code SHAKEN for a discount on the price of tickets when purchasing online. 

Photos by Tyler Williams

A Lecture on Magic

Next Wednesday, I've been invited to give a lecture for the KW Hat & Wand Club in Kitchener, Ontario. (Having been the president of the Sid Lorraine Hat & Rabbit Club for three years, I can confirm that it is legally required that these clubs have goofy names held over from ages past.)

Years ago, Kitchener was home to a biannual magic convention where I had some of my earliest opportunities to meet world renowned magicians, so I have lots of fond memories. I'm also in the neighbourhood performing at private engagements fairly often.

I don't do this type of presentation often, since I have been performing magic professionally for a short amount of time compared to some. At some of these magic gatherings, I can single-handedly drop the average age in the room by five to ten years. 

I'll be sharing some of the material from my show and the thinking behind it. For those interested in seeing how the magic sausage is made, guests welcome.

The lecture is at 7PM on Wednesday, February 15 at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (54 Queen Street North, Kitchener - map)

Magic & Martini Returns to Oakville

After a break for the busy holiday season, my eccentric one-man magic show for grownups, Magic & Martini is back at O'Finn's Irish Temper last night for an evening of food, adult beverages and mystery. Even though it was cold and windy, we had a packed house. Thank you to everyone who attended.

Special thanks to the young gentleman who features somewhat prominently in these photos. He discovered that the fastest way to get on stage in a magic show is to come to be before the performance and say, "It's my girlfriend's birthday today. She's really shy. You should pick her." #PoeticJustice

Photos by Tyler Williams

Tickets are now available for upcoming performances of Magic & Martini in Toronto, Oakville and Hillsburgh. Readers of this blog can use the code secrets for a discount on the price of tickets when reserving online.