STEVE MARTIN GOES TO MAGIC CAMP

From an article in the Hollywood Reporter we learn that Steve Martin is in talks to star in "Magic Camp," a new Disney project. 

The story tells of a straitlaced banker who returns to Magic Camp, which he attended as a shy child. This time he is a counselor who makes it his mission to improve the lives of all the kids while keeping an eye on his ultimate prize, the top spot at the Golden Wand competition.

As the article mentions, and as most magic fans are aware, Martin began his early performing career as a demonstrator at the magic shop on Disneyland's Main St.

HOUDINI PREMIERS ON HISTORY CHANNEL

Take a first look at Houdini, a two-night mini-series event, premiering Monday, September 1, at 9/8c.

JOANIE SPINA :: WE WILL MISS YOU

In March of 2010, I was thrilled to have the amazing Joanie Spina join me as a guest on the Magic Newswire podcast. On numerous occasions afterwards, we spoke about ideas for an ongoing series of shows to help coach performers. Sadly, we never put it all together. Hopefully, in this conversation you will find something of Joanie to inspire you as a performer. We will miss you my friend.

Previous Entry: Joanie Spina is our special guest on this episode of the podcast. If you're not yet familiar with Joanie, she acts as a performance coach to magicians, jugglers, dancers, singers, clowns, mimes, and actors. She offers a variety of services including theatrical direction, staging and/or choreography, individual performance coaching and promotional tape design and is best known to many as the co-director and choreographer for world renowned magician David Copperfield. If your demo tape does more traveling than you do, then sit back and enjoy the expert opinions of a master magic coach on This Week in Magic!

LISTEN TO JOANIE SPINA ON THIS WEEK IN MAGIC:

HTML 5 PLAYER ::

OTHER WAYS TO LISTEN:

RSS :: GET IT AT ITUNES :: MP3 DOWNLOAD

ENJOY THIS MONTAGE OF CHOREOGRAPHY BY JOANIE SPINA:

TELLER PREVAILS IN SHADOW SUIT

From an article in the Hollywood Reporter, I learned this morning that the silent half of Penn and Teller, who has been a guest on my podcast, has prevailed in a lawsuit against Belgian performer Gerard Dodge with regards to a lawsuit against Dodge and his performance of "Shadows", an act that Teller registered with the US Copyright office in 1983.  According to the article:

"While Dogge is correct that magic tricks are not copyrightable, this does not mean that Shadows is not subject to copyright protection," writes Judge Mahan in his ruling. "Indeed, federal law directly holds 'dramatic works' as well as 'pantomimes' are subject to copyright protection, granting owners exclusive public performance rights. The mere fact that a dramatic work or pantomime includes a magic trick, or even that a particular illusion is its central feature does not render it devoid of copyright protection."

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE HERE

TELLER TALKS VERMEER

ARE BLACK DUDES BLOWN AWAY BY MAGIC?

Aziz Ansari says, "Yes!"

This isn't new, but...

THE MAGIC WIZARD OF VINE

These days, if you aren't involved in social media, you're behind the eight ball. First it was MySpace, then Facebook, then Twitter and now it is Vine.  Well, thanks to Jonathan Townsend, we can introduce you to Vine's Magic Wizard, Zach King.  If we could only do this without Final Cut. Enjoy! 

IS THERE NO SHAME?

These Turkish performers appearing on one of the many America's Got Talent style shows that has popped up all over the world, claim to create their own routines.  I wonder what Jeff McBride, David Copperfield, Mac King & Tenn and Teller would hve to say about that. What do you think?

MNW337 :: DAVID ROTH

As I begin the 2014 season of the Magic Newswire's "Spirit of Magic" podcast, I am thrilled to introduce you to the Master in Residence of the Conjuring Arts Research Center,  the amazing David Roth.  In this first in an ongoing series of conversations, David will discuss a wide array of topics including the relevance of magic with coins at a time where the quarter is the largest coin that most Americans will be familiar with;  Dai Vernon's circumcision ; the Spaghetti Sessions ; the identities of the El Cerrito Seven and so much more.  

Of Roth, Dai Vernon is quoted as saying, ""First let me state that David Roth has an amazing ability when performing with coins. He is truly a genius. I have been fortunate to have enjoyed the confidence and friendship of the leading exponents of coin manipulation of the past. T. Nelson Downs, Allan Shaw, Manuel and Welch Miller all specialized in this branch of the magical art. To the very best of my judgment, David’s ideas and execution far surpass any one of them. I feel quite certain that if they could witness his performance they would not only be astounded but realize that they had seen the master."

 LISTEN TO MY CONVERSATION WITH DAVID ROTH:

OTHER WAYS TO LISTEN: ITUNES :: MP3

HTML 5 PLAYER ::

SCOTT LEWIS KILLED IN BALCONY FALL

From an article appearing in the Daily Mail, I have learned that Hypnosit Scott Lewis, a member of the Illusionists 2.0 touring show, has daied ater a fall from the 11th floor balcony of his Pyrmonth Apartment in Sydney.  Illusionists 2.0 opened at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday of last week.  Police say that they have ruled aout any suspicious circumstances. Speing with the Associated Press, show producer Tim Lawson said:

"The company is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Dr. Lewis," Lawson said in a statement.

"The entire company has decided to continue the show in his honor, and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends," he added.

Sydney Opera House said in a statement that Lewis "was a wonderful performer and he will be greatly missed."

Below is a preview of the show recorded by Scott: