PLAY DEAD OFF BROADWAY

The New York Post discusses several upcoming Off Broadway productions including "Play Dead"

Teller (the silent half of Penn & Teller) directs and spiritualism expert Todd Robbins stars in this show which they co-wrote, about death. Players Theater, 115 MacDougal St.; 800-745-3000. In pr

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LUNA :: OUTLAW EFFECTS

LUNA : FROM OUTLAW EFFECTS

A replica of the 1936 Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum Patient Registry.

A Victorian beast of a structure built in 1851, Colney Hatch was the largest asylum in Europe and boasted the longest single corridor, which was more than a quarter of a mile, while the building itself had over six miles of corridors to house over 3000 patients in 32 different wards. 

Some of the more famous residents included Aaron Kosminski, one of the men suspected of being Jack the Ripper, and two wives of Aleister Crowley (Rose Kelly and Maria Teresa de Miramar), the famous British occultist, writer, philosopher, mystic, and influencial member of the Golden Dawn, the Argenteum, and Ordo Templi Orientis.

Luna is over 150 pages and 100% examinable.

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MNW #198 :: DAVID POGUE

David Pogue is the personal-technology columnist for the New York Times. Each week, he contributes a print column, an online column, an online video and a popular daily blog, “Pogue’s Posts.” David is also an Emmy award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News, and he appears each week on CNBC with his trademark comic tech videos. Why are we telling you all of this on a magic podcast? With best selling books in print selling more than over 3 million copies, David is one of the world’s bestselling how-to authors in the world including Magic For Dummies and six other titles in that series. His interest in magic dates back to the 400 plus shows that he performed in high school and is now manifest In a children's book "Abby Carnelia's One and Only Magical Power." Join us now on the Spirit of Magic for a conversaton that combines magic and technology in all of the best ways!

LISTEN TO THIS CHAT WITH DAVID POGUE:

OTHER WAYS TO LISTEN: ITUNES :: MP3

Here is the clip of David Blaine with the other "David" aka, Mr. Pogue:

Here's a clip from the upcoming PBS NOVA series:

BROKEN WAND :: FRANK BRENT

It is with great sadness that I tell you of the passing of another legendary magician, the incomparable Frank Brent.

From Michael Lee:

It is with profound Sadness that I report the passing of my dear friend, Frank Brents of Louisville, KY. (1926-2010)  Frank was recognized as America's  Black Magician.

Frank Brents was recognized as a noted dove worker, and is best remembered by the public as the Duck Magician having vanished Geronimo the Duck world wide for more than 30 years. Frank never ceased to win over any audience with his winning smile.

 (In this day and age where everything is incredibly accessible on DVD or the internet, Frank learned his craft the old fashioned way- trial and error, sweat, failure and brushing yourself off and doing it yet again. In my book, this is a Pro.)

Frank unselfishly gave of his time and knowledge to myself as well as  many of the younger performers here in the NY area. He was a wealth of knowledge and information and  always delightful company. Frank always had a solution no matter when or what time I called. 

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MURRAY JUST MISSES TOP TEN ON AGT

From Robin Leach & Las Vegas Weekly:

“I had a dream to redo what Terry Fator achieved on America’s Got Talent. I wanted to also show people I was as good as Nathan Burton was on the show. They really inspired me to keep going. I saw what Terry did and thought, man, a ventriloquist who became the ultimate success story with his own show on the Vegas Strip. I got to know Terry and knew my show had to be dramatic and amazing without turning into a disaster!

THE "KING OF MAGIC" LEAVES AGT

To date, Michael Grasso has been the most successful magician to compete on America's Got Talent. Unfortunately, the first magician to make it to the Top 10 on the world's favorite talent competition was eliminated tonight in favor of Prince Poppycock. For anyone that missed it, here is a retrospective of Michael's appearances on the show:

And here here is the results video:

BLAINE WOWS FASHION WEEK CROWD

According to an article in the Huffington Post, David Blaine helped to kickoff Fashion Week last night during a dinner at the Flatiron Building in New York:

The magician wowed a crowd of fashion and social notables including Lorenzo Martone, Waris Ahluwalia, Fernanda Motta, Devon Aoki, Maria Cornejo and Mark Borthwick, Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos of Shipley and Halmos, Claude Morais and Brian Wolk of Ruffian, Christopher Kunz of Nicholas K, creative sisters Poppy and Daisy de Villeneuve, Sabine Heller, Serena Merriman, Chessy Wilson, Bonnie Morrison, Ashley Wick, Sean Macpherson andRachelle Hruska, Eric Villency, Frances Tulk-Hart, Jon Neidich, Kyle Hotchkiss Carone, Jennifer Pastore and Karen Duffy.

CHAMBER MAGIC ROAD TOUR

From our friend Steve Cohen we have learned that Chamber Magic is hitting the road!

I will be touring later this month, and hope you can help spread the word. Tickets are now available for Chamber Magic performances in Boston and Los Angeles. The show will be identical to my long-running Waldorf-Astoria show in New York.

I’m excited to announce the following tour dates:

BOSTON: 
The Fairmont Copley Plaza
September 17
(2 performances: 7pm and 9:30pm)
Click HERE for tickets

LOS ANGELES:
The Beverly Wilshire
September 24 and 25
(4 performances: 7pm and 9pm each night)
Click HERE for tickets

If you have friends or family in these cities who you think would enjoy Chamber Magic, please tell them to reserve their tickets now. I look forward to welcoming them to the show!

LANCE BURTON'S FINAL BOW

As everyone knows, Lance Burton wrapped up his 14 year run at the Monte Carlo last week. Thanks to his crew, we have this video of the final moments.

MICHAEL GRASSO CONTINUES TO IMPRESS

Michael Grasso has delivered another impressive performance on tonight's episode of America's Got Talent. If you missed it live, here's the video: