magic is about honesty
everything here is true
except for the bits I made up
Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s sold out Magic & Martini at Sute 114. Here are some photos form the evening courtesy of Patrick Nemeth.
There are a few chances left to see the show. Readers can use the secret code olive for a discount on tickets reserved online.
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.
Later this month, I will be appearing at The Rec Room in An Evening of Mystery & Magic featuring the mind reading duo Beyond Mental Borders. The Rec Room, located near the SkyDome (or Rogers Centre… if you insist.) It’s stocked with arcade games galore and multiple restaurant and bar spaces. This performance is in their main theatre which offers full dinner menu & bar service so you can come and eat as you enjoy the show.
Sunday, August 18
8:00 PM (Doors open 7:00 PM)
The Rec Room
(255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto)
“Located at Roundhouse Park in downtown Toronto, just steps away from the CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Air Canada Centre and Billy Bishop Airport.
The Rec Room redefines the meaning of fun with over 40,000 sq. feet of great games, mouth-watering eats and amazing entertainment, all packed under 1 roof!
The Rec Room is the place to let go, be playful and experience something new and exciting. We’re Canada’s premier “eats & entertainment” hot spot, and we’re taking Toronto by storm!
With Canadian-inspired cuisine, virtual reality, video & redemption games, live entertainment, and more, The Rec Room is the ultimate gathering place to grab a pint, host an event, or just play.
Your new social playground has arrived!”
A little bit of a last minute announcement. I’ve been conscripted to host The Newest Trick In The Book, a weekly show put on by the Toronto Magic Company.
The concept of the show is to provide a safe space for magical experimentation, trying and testing out new material that is still under development. (In much the same way that comedy clubs host open mic nights.) True to form, I’ll be showing off something new, and joined on stage by magicians Jeff Hinchliffe, Rob Testa, Dan Stapleton, LEO and Ajay. One of those has been performing magic since before I was born. Another one, I’ve been doing magic since before he was born. So we’re covering the entire spectrum.
This is a pay-what-you-feel-like show hosted at Toronto’s nerd-bar See-Scape (Keele & Dundas, Toronto). We have limited seating so you can reserve tickets at the link below.
Tuesday, July 30 - 8:30 PM
See-Scape
347 Keel Street, Toronto
This weekend, I got to perform at the Pride festival in Toronto alongside my dear friend Ben Train. He neglected to mention it was a performance for children, but we should accept all people, even small vertically impaired humans who have been given too much sugar.
I often joke that I am an “indoor magician” but it was a perfect day to be outside for a show.
Photos courtesy of Patrick Nemeth.
Judge Steffi Kay
Last night was Cheap Tricks 2, the nightmarish magic contest envisioned by Mysterion, Canada’s most awesomely coiffed, sartorially resplendent mentalist and half of the mindreading duo The Sentimentalists. Each contestant receives a series of constraints and has to create their act in just a few hours before performing on stage at Revival.
I appeared alongside John Roldan, Jim Byrnes, Beyond Mental Borders, Jonah Babins, Harry Zimmerman, Jacqueline Swann and Shamus MacGregor. The contest was judged by Steffi Kay of the Sentimentalists, Ben Train, Rayn, and the previous champion Chris Westfall. (I was a judge on the first contest in 2017, but agreed to give up my spot to Chris.)
My set of constrains was that i had 3 hours to build an act using a budget of $5 with only material procured at a the nearby A&W. I also had to present in the theme of a XXX-rated Adult Film…. magic for grownups indeed. I’m so glad I forgot to invite my mother to watch. I’m more glad that magic elder statesman Mark Lewis was in the audience to witness me debasing the art of magic.
But a contest is a contest and I played to win (much to Mysterion’s regret.) You can watch the full performance below — cheaply filmed and edited by the Cheap Tricks elves. Although there’s not necessarily any reason you would want to. And certainly don’t do it with your children around:
The tl/dw is that I won…. proud of it, but not proud of what I had to do to get it. Thank you to the judges and to everyone who attended the contest.
James Alan & Mysterion the Mindreader
L to R: Shamus Macgregor, Beyond Mental Borders, Harry Zimmerman, Jacqueline Swann, James Alan, Jonah Babins, Jim Byrns, John Roldan
I can’t wait to get back to doing normal magic!
