Tag: Magic
View All TagsMagic / Magicians / Michael Turco / Rampart Casino / Summerlin / Off Strip / → All Tags
Michael Turco's Magic & Mayhem Moves From Strip To Summerlin
We're not sure if we've discovered a trend or if all magic roads are currently leading to the Vegas suburb of Summerlin. In December, we alerted you to former Strip magician Rick Thomas's return to the Vegas scene. And, he chose to stage two gigs off-Strip at the Suncoast. Right next door, at the Rampart Casino we just discovered that magician Michael Turco will be performing February 15 in the Grand Ballroom.
Turco's Magic & Mayhem show was recently an afternoon show at the Saxe Theater in Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile Shops. A former America's Got Talent contestant, Turco left his PH spot in October. And in the unusual, but predictably musical chair world of magicians, Nathan Burton moved from the Flamingo to take his place in the Saxe Theater. Still keeping up? Nathan Burton was also a former America's Got Talent contestant.
Magic / Magicians / Freaky Friday / Amazing Johnathan / Bally's / Quitting Vegas / Sad Vegas / → All Tags
Amazing Johnathan Says Goodbye To Vegas
The Amazing Johnathan is quitting Vegas.
A long-running Vegas mainstay, Johnathan recently began a residency at Bally's. But, he's giving up after reportedly receiving no love from Caesars Entertainment when it came to letting folks know he was actually there.
Johnathan let fans know about his decision via his Facebook page early this morning:
Magic / Rick Thomas / Vegas Returns / Suncoast / Sad Vegas / → All Tags
Magician Rick Thomas Returns To Vegas Stage, Minus An Old Friend
Magician Rick Thomas is returning to Las Vegas. But, sadly, missing a long-time partner. Last month, Thomas tweeted the death of his 500-pound white Begal tiger named Samson. The tiger was a main feature of every Rick Thomas show, led into a large box and magically "shrunk." Here's some vintage video of the majestic Samson in action:
Thomas has performed at the Tropicana, Stardust and was the resident magician when the Sahara closed in 2011. Always a family friendly show, the big cats were a big attraction. He's spent the last six months on an Asian tour, but announced his return to Vegas with two performances at the Suncoast with an unexpected update:
Freaky Friday / Magic / Magicians / Tommy Wind / Clarion / Boulevard Theater / Seth Grabel / Royal House / → All Tags
Magic, Delays, Reality TV And Theatrical Musical Chairs
We were the first to tell you about the new Boulevard Theater opening on The Strip. And, we've been checking back to see when their roster of talent would be packing them in.
We see that Barbra and Frank: The Concert That Never Was, the Sinatra and Streisand tribute show is up and running. But, magician Tommy Wind's debut has now been delayed until November 23, according to the theater's website. With two shows a night, that's quite a void for a few weeks. Tommy Wind was previously performing at the Clarion, but we heard rumors he was very eager for a show on The Strip. And, we think we've discovered why.
Shows / Openings / SPANK / Rio / Kyle Marlett / Magic / Magicians / Tahiti Village / Theresa Caputo / Donny and Marie / Susan Boyle / Music / → All Tags
The Wild And Wacky World Of Vegas Entertainment
Just when we thought Saxe Theater at Planet Hollywood cornered the market on, uhh, interesting entertainment choices comes four more options for the Vegas visitor in search of the off-beat. Which usually goes hand-in-hand with something else we'd all prefer, the cheap.
Giving us both is SPANK! (their enthusiasm, not ours.. at least, not yet) appearing at the Rio November 1-10. Sub-titled as a Fifty Shades of Grey parody, the limited run production is billing itself as "part Second City, part Thunder from Down Under." Which is curious since the Chippendales are at Rio, not the Thunder. Oops. It's ok, SPANK! We prefer it that way, too.
Closings / Magic / Magicians / Nathan Burton / Flamingo / Saxe Theater / Planet Hollywood / → All Tags
Nathan Burton Disappears From Flamingo, To Reappear Down The Strip
Flamingo magician Nathan Burton is still plastered larger than life -- and upside down -- on the side of the hotel (just check the live cam), but he's vanished from the resort's website and its box office.
VegasChatter fan sammasseur informs us that the Flamingo's box office has posted signs saying that Burton's show has been "cancelled until further notice." An overheard conversation between two employees yielded the further information that the magician's production has been cancelled and that Burton is jumping ship to the Saxe Theater at Planet Hollywood.
Shows / Penn and Teller / Rio Las Vegas / Magic / → All Tags
Penn And Teller Keep Adding New Tricks, But Same Brilliant Show
Penn and Teller have been Vegas fixtures for eleven years, but continue to push their personal and professional evolution. Ostensibly a couple of magicians -- the tall one who talks and the small one who's silent -- they run a show with a blend of performance art, vaudeville skills and political and spiritual commentary.
Always a brainy anachronism for this, or any city, they have enough showbiz bravado to fit perfectly in Vegas. And, they keep adding elements to their act. So much so, the show we saw at the Rio might not be the one you'll get to see. Currently, there's a bunch of new tricks being rotated into the show, frequently mixing up the content. And, if its been a couple of years since you've seen the magic duo, this might be a good time for you to return.
Magic / Magicians / David Copperfield / MGM Grand / King of Magic / Magician of the Century / → All Tags
Magician Of The Century Now, Officially, King Of Magic
If you think David Copperfield lacks the bona fides to call himself "The King Of Magic," well he's got an award he'd like to show you. A really, really big award.
Newly situated outside MGM's Hollywood Theatre, home to his Las Vegas performing residency, you'll find a career-celebrating bronze statue and an enormous plaque celebrating his achievement as "Magician of the Century." Plus, that newly created super-title of "King of Magic." You can't miss it. It's a few feet high. Perfect for a photo opportunity. And, it comes with a mysterious back story.
Freaky Friday / Magic / Magicians / Gold Coast / Vegas Magic Theatre / → All Tags
Now Appearing at The Gold Coast: Magic! (Plus Bonus Variety Acts)
Add a little more variety to your Las Vegas magic fix. After a series of soft openings, Vegas Magic Theatre at the Gold Coast has officially been revealed. Created by British producer Paul Stone, and hosted by his son Ben, this new mix of specialty acts, songs and a ever-changing cast of very talented magicians, is a shift away from the usual one-person headliner. Seventy minutes and at an affordable price ($14.95 -- you'll probably spend more on the cab ride), it runs five times a week, and strives to create a completely different show each week.
The format is similar to Hollywood's Magic Castle, combining unfamiliar names, with performers you might just have heard of, or whose pedigree is strong enough for you give the show a whirl. Working in this type of smaller room encourages more audience interactions than a larger illusion act and the roster of magicians have been chosen for their experience in understanding the challenges of an intimate space. Illusions are possible, just not ones involving vanishing cars or helicopters.
VegasChatter Flashback / Rick Thomas / Magic / Magicians / Sahara / → All Tags
So, What Ever Happened To Rick Thomas Going to the Riv?
You know who we haven't heard about in a while? Rick Thomas.
After freaking the Sahara one last time back in May and learning from the man himself that he would reappear at the Riviera starting July 1, he just sort of vanished from our minds.
But, now it's November 3rd and Thomas is still doing what was only supposed to be a temporary matinee gig at the Saxe Theater at Planet Hollywood. His website only states that the new show is to be announced "soon," exclamation point.
Freaky Friday / Stephane Vanel / Paris / Magic / Magicians / Openings / Criss Angel / → All Tags
The Hot Magician Might Be The Most Magic Thing In The Magic Of Paris
Concentrate on the face, not the show
Oh. Dear. It was only a few weeks ago that we were looking forward to the launch of the latest Strip magic show, Stephane Vanel at Paris, and not only because he looks like a gloriously fine figure of a man. At the time, we said:
The show will center around Vanel’s sleight of hand, but also include marionettes and dancers, so it should be spectacular, whether spectacularly awful or brilliant we shall soon find out.
Well, sadly, we appear to have our answer: spectacularly awful.
Full disclosure: we haven’t yet seen the show. However, two of our friends have, and both of whom, who were predisposed to like it, said it was unbelievably, head-hanging-in-shame bad. One of them said to us, “You know how Peepshow isn’t very good* but it works because Holly’s in it and she’s pretty? Well, this totally plays off the fact that the man doing the magic is beautiful, except it doesn’t work. At all.”
Why not? Because, according to our friend, there isn’t as much actual magic as should be in a magic show. The magic, showgirls and marionettes are, she reckons, pretty much accorded as much time as each other. And when Vanel does do his stuff, she says, because it’s sleight of hand, it’s not an ideal kind of magic to be watching on stage – you need to be up close.
Freaky Friday / Magic / Magicians / Mac King / → All Tags
Californians Can Feel The Magic For Half-Off
Too bad remaining 49 states, this special is just for California.
Mac King is making half of his ticket price vanish for all Californians for the summer. If you have a Golden State ID, make it appear at Harrah's Box Office to get tix to this wholesome family fave for $14.95, plus tax, through August.
Mac King performs Tuesday through Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. You can already find him on our list of five magic shows to watch in Vegas.
