Michael Vincent on Fool Us

 

Lucy Darling at Lyric

 

Drag queen, magician and comic Lucy Darling perform to at Lyric on Feb. 21

Magician, drag queen and comic Lucy Darling — the alter ego of Carisa Hendrix — is bringing their “Simply Darling” show to The Lyric Baltimore in February.

The act is described on the theater’s website as a touring variety show featuring the “charming socialite and cocktail enthusiast” Lucy Darling, who is possessed of a “razor-sharp wit, unquestionable advice and skillful magic.”

Hendrix uses the pronouns “they,” “them,” and “theirs.”

The performer first became an answer to a trivia question in 2014. She wrote in a blog post that she made page 86 of the Guinness World of Records two years after she held a lighted torch in her mouth and without using her hands before a live audience in Rome, Italy for 2 minutes, 1 second — a feat that she said also was included in the 2013 “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.”

Clarification for the curious: Lucy Darling is a different character than Judy Darling. Though Judy also is a drag queen, magician and comic, she was created by Coleman Drew and is based in New York, not Canada.

Tickets for Lucy Darling go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Thursday on the Lyric website and will cost $48.65 to $104.65.

Article from Baltimore Sun 

Chris Funk at the Lackland Performing Arts Center

 

Centenary Stage Company will present "Redefining Wonder," featuring award-winning illusionist and musician Chris Funk, as part of the Winter Thaw Music Festival at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8 in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University at 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown.

"Redefining Wonder" is an immersive, genre-bending multimedia experience that has captivated family audiences nationwide. Blending illusion with live music, Funk’s production stands apart as a magic show unlike any other. Funk, known for his innovative fusion of magic and musicianship, has earned acclaim for creating visceral, imagination-sparking performances that engage audiences of all ages.

Tickets for this Winter Thaw Music Festival performance are $29.50 for adults and $17.50 for children under 12 and students when purchased in advance. All ticket prices increase by $5.00 on the day of the performance.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979-0900, or visit Centenary Stage Company online at centenarystageco.org. The box office is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and two hours prior to performance times. 

Article from: Observer Tribune

Eric Jones needs help

 

Earlier this year, Eric experienced a sudden medical emergency that brought everything to a halt. After extensive testing, doctors discovered that his heart was functioning at less than 20% capacity and that two blood clots had formed in the lower chambers of his heart. His cardiology team immediately placed him on blood thinners and recommended an urgent heart cauterization, which was performed the same day.

When Eric woke up from anesthesia, something was wrong—his speech was impaired, and he was unable to use his right arm. Doctors witnessed him having a seizure, and an MRI later confirmed that one of the blood clots had broken free, traveled to his brain, and caused a stroke.

To prevent further damage, doctors placed Eric into a medically induced coma. While his condition has stabilized, the stroke significantly affected his balance, speech, and strength on one side of his body. In addition to the stroke, Eric has suffered multiple heart attacks over the past several months. His doctors have now recommended a double bypass surgery, followed by an extended and carefully monitored recovery period.

The Impact

As a result of these medical events, Eric has had to cancel all work from October through March, with the likelihood of additional time away from performing after surgery. Like many professional performers, Eric’s livelihood depends entirely on his ability to travel and work—and right now, that simply isn’t possible.

Between mounting medical bills and months of lost income, the financial strain has been significant and ongoing as Eric focuses on healing.

How the Funds Will Be Used

Funds raised through this campaign will help cover:

Medical bills, surgery, and post-operative care

Rehabilitation, medications, and follow-up treatment

Income lost during recovery

Everyday living expenses while Eric is unable to perform or travel

How You Can Help

Many friends, fans, and colleagues have asked how they can support Eric and his family during this time. This fundraiser provides a direct and meaningful way to help ease the financial burden while he concentrates on recovery.

The fundraising goal reflects anticipated medical and recovery-related expenses, as well as income lost during this period. Updates will be shared as appropriate as Eric moves through surgery and rehabilitation.

Thank you for your generosity, encouragement, prayers, and support. It truly means more than words can express.

GoFundMe Link 

Invisible Zone by Tenyo

 The magician takes a pen and sticks it through the Invisible Zone case. When the case is opened the center of the pen is totally invisible even though the pen is moved back and forth! This one looks totally impossible.

English instructions included.

David Copperfield Biography: The Life and Career of Magic’s Most Successful Illusionist

                                       David Copperfield is one of the most famous and commercially successful magicians in entertainment history. Through groundbreaking television specials, international tours and a record-setting Las Vegas residency, Copperfield helped transform stage magic into cinematic storytelling.

Known for making the Statue of Liberty disappear, walking through the Great Wall of China and apparently flying freely across a stage, Copperfield created illusions that became part of popular culture.

In April 2026, he concluded his historic 25-year residency at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, closing one of the longest and most influential chapters in modern magic history.

David Copperfield’s Early Life

David Copperfield was born David Seth Kotkin on September 16, 1956, in Metuchen, New Jersey. His father, Hy Kotkin, owned a men’s clothing store, while his mother, Rebecca, worked in insurance.

Copperfield has described himself as a shy child who used magic to build confidence and connect with other people. He began performing around his neighborhood under the name “Davino the Boy Magician.”

At 12, he reportedly became the youngest person admitted to the Society of American Magicians. By his teenage years, he was already teaching magic classes and developing the combination of illusion, music and storytelling that would later define his career.

He selected the stage name David Copperfield from the title of Charles Dickens’ famous novel.

From The Magic Man to Television Stardom

Copperfield’s first major theatrical opportunity came when he was cast in the musical production The Magic Man. Still a teenager, he became the show’s star and helped it achieve a successful run in Chicago.

His national breakthrough arrived in 1977 when he hosted the television special The Magic of ABC. That appearance led to a long-running series of The Magic of David Copperfield television specials.

Unlike traditional televised magic shows, Copperfield’s programs often resembled short films. They combined large-scale illusions with dramatic lighting, popular music, choreography, romantic stories and emotional themes.

His television specials earned a reported 21 Emmy Awards from 38 nominations, helping establish Copperfield as one of television’s most recognized entertainers. (Kennedy Center)

David Copperfield’s Most Famous Illusions

Copperfield became internationally known for performing enormous illusions in recognizable locations. Instead of presenting each feat as a simple puzzle, he treated it as a theatrical event.

Among his most famous illusions are:

• Making a Learjet disappear
• Making the Statue of Liberty vanish
• Escaping from Alcatraz
• Walking through the Great Wall of China
• Surviving Niagara Falls
• Escaping from an exploding building
• Performing the “Death Saw” illusion
• Flying freely above the stage

His 1983 disappearance of the Statue of Liberty remains one of the most famous televised illusions ever presented. The performance used the monument not only as a giant object to vanish, but also as a symbol of freedom and the importance of protecting it.

Copperfield’s flying illusion also became a landmark in stage magic. He appeared to fly through hoops, inside a sealed glass box and while carrying a spectator, creating a sense of freedom rather than merely demonstrating a technical effect.

Storytelling Changed the Presentation of Magic

One of Copperfield’s greatest contributions was his emphasis on emotional storytelling.

Many magicians before him presented impressive illusions, but Copperfield consistently connected his magic to memories, relationships, dreams and personal experiences. Music, choreography, lighting and carefully constructed narratives became essential parts of his performances.

That approach influenced generations of magicians and illusionists. Modern theatrical magic—with its cinematic staging, emotional scripts and carefully selected soundtracks—owes a considerable debt to the style Copperfield developed on television and onstage.

A Historic Las Vegas Residency

David Copperfield became one of the defining headliners of the Las Vegas Strip. He performed at the MGM Grand for approximately 25 years, often presenting multiple shows each day inside a theater bearing his name.

His residency concluded with a final performance on April 30, 2026. The farewell marked the end of an extraordinary run during which millions of visitors saw Copperfield perform in Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Although the MGM Grand residency has ended, Copperfield has not publicly characterized the conclusion as his retirement from magic. As of July 2026, Ticketmaster lists no upcoming performances.

Awards and World Records

Copperfield’s career has earned recognition both inside and outside the magic community.

His honors include:

• 21 Emmy Awards
• A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
• A Living Legend designation from the United States Library of Congress
• Recognition from the French government
• Multiple Guinness World Records
• “Magician of the Century” and “Magician of the Millennium” honors

His official biography credits him with 11 Guinness World Records and claims he has sold more tickets than any other solo entertainer in history. (Official David Copperfield biography)

These achievements reflect not only Copperfield’s popularity, but also the extraordinary scale and longevity of his performing career.

David Copperfield’s Project Magic

Copperfield also created Project Magic, a rehabilitation program that uses simple magic tricks as therapeutic exercises.

The program brings magicians together with occupational and physical therapists to help participants improve dexterity, coordination, confidence, communication and cognitive abilities. Learning to perform an effect can give patients an enjoyable and measurable goal during rehabilitation.

Project Magic has been used with people facing physical, psychological and social challenges. More information is available from the program’s official website.

Preserving the History of Magic

Beyond performing, Copperfield has become one of the world’s most important collectors and preservationists of magic history.

He founded the International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts in Las Vegas after acquiring the Mulholland Library of Conjuring and the Allied Arts in 1991.

The collection contains historic posters, books, correspondence and apparatus connected to legendary performers such as Harry Houdini, Robert-Houdin, Chung Ling Soo, Dante and Orson Welles.

Guinness World Records has recognized it as the world’s largest collection of magic artifacts, reporting that it contains more than 150,000 items. The private museum is not regularly open to the general public. (Guinness World Records)

Copperfield shared part of the collection with the public through the 2021 book David Copperfield’s History of Magic, written with David Britland and Richard Wiseman and featuring photography by Homer Liwag.

David Copperfield’s Lasting Legacy

David Copperfield helped make magic one of the largest forms of mainstream television and theatrical entertainment.

His greatest achievement may not be any single disappearance, escape or levitation. It is the way he combined illusion with storytelling and encouraged audiences to care about the meaning behind an impossible moment.

His television specials inspired countless people to become magicians. His stage productions raised expectations for illusion shows, while his museum continues preserving the work of performers who came before him.

With the conclusion of his MGM Grand residency in 2026, an important era of Las Vegas entertainment has ended. However, David Copperfield’s influence remains visible in nearly every modern illusion show that combines magic, music, theater and emotion.

Check out the Statue of Liberty Vanish here...          

Piff The Magic Dragon celebrates 10 year at The Flamingo

 Piff has been performing at The Flamingo for 10 years and recently performed his 2000th show. 

Congradulations and we wish you many many more...