With This Ring by Dave Hill – Color-Changing Rope Ring Magic Trick

Now available at www.magiciansmagicshop.com

 Add a bright, funny and highly visual moment to your children’s or family magic show with With This Ring by Dave Hill!

The magician displays separate woven rope rings in different colors. After a series of amusing magical changes, the individual rings are placed together and transformed into one large, multicolored rope ring!
This routine is colorful, easy to follow and designed to encourage plenty of audience participation. The repeated transformations make it especially effective for birthday parties, school shows, library programs, family events and children’s entertainment.
Features:
* Colorful, visual rope magic
* Excellent for children’s and family shows
* Built-in comedy and audience interaction
* Packs small but plays well onstage
* Includes the colored rope rings and multicolored finale ring
* Easy to perform

AGT Magic Shake-Up: James & Marina Advance as Joel M Is Eliminated

 

Magic received both good and disappointing news during the first round of America’s Got Talent Judges’ Callbacks.

Mentalist duo James & Marina earned a place in the upcoming live shows, while magician Joel M was eliminated despite delivering an impossible-looking routine with a ring borrowed from Spice Girls star Emma Bunton.

The results ensure that mentalism will remain represented as the competition moves forward, but viewers will not get another opportunity to see what Joel M had planned for the live stage.

Emma Bunton Joins Mel B for the AGT Judges’ Callbacks

The new Judges’ Callbacks format gives selected contestants another opportunity to prove that they deserve one of the remaining places in the live shows.

Each America’s Got Talent judge was assigned a group of returning acts and joined by celebrity guests to help make the difficult decisions.

Mel B invited her longtime friend and fellow Spice Girls member Emma Bunton—better known to millions of fans as Baby Spice—to help evaluate her performers.

The Spice Girls reunion added some fun and nostalgia to the episode, but Bunton soon found herself directly involved in two of its biggest magical moments.

James & Marina Turn Emma Bunton Into a Mind Reader

Married mentalist duo James Harrington and Marina Liani, who perform professionally as Mind2Mind, returned with another demonstration of their unusual connection.

Rather than simply asking Emma Bunton to observe, James & Marina placed her at the center of the experience. Their presentation created the impression that Bunton was developing mind-reading abilities of her own, producing a series of surprising revelations that left both her and Mel B struggling to explain what they had witnessed.

The routine preserved the qualities that made their original audition memorable: speed, confidence and the apparent ability to share information under impossible conditions.

Their decision to involve Bunton also gave the performance an important emotional advantage. Instead of watching two mentalists demonstrate their abilities, the audience watched a famous guest experience the mystery firsthand.

That approach worked. Mel B selected James & Marina to advance to the America’s Got Talent live shows.

James & Marina Return After an Earlier AGT Appearance

This is not James & Marina’s first journey through the America’s Got Talent competition.

The couple previously auditioned during Season 17, earning four “yes” votes from the judges. Despite the positive response, they were not selected for that season’s live shows.

Their return in 2026 offered the duo an opportunity to demonstrate how much their act has developed since that first appearance.

Between their two AGT runs, Mind2Mind built an impressive international résumé. In 2025, James & Marina won first prize in the Mental Magic category at the FISM World Championship of Magic in Turin, Italy. They have also performed internationally and established themselves as one of the most recognized mentalist partnerships working today.

According to the official FISM results, Mind2Mind earned the top Mental Magic score at the 2025 competition.

Their advancement on AGT now gives American viewers an opportunity to see what the world-champion mentalists will create for the larger live-show stage.

Joel M Borrows Emma Bunton’s Ring

Joel M, whose full name is Joel Mawhinney, also returned after one of the most talked-about magic auditions of the season.

For his callback performance, Joel needed to borrow a personal object. Unfortunately for Emma Bunton, the magician decided that one of her rings would be perfect.

Bunton reluctantly handed it over and asked him not to lose it. Joel then appeared to do exactly that, dropping the borrowed jewelry into a haystack.

Finding a tiny ring in a pile of hay would have been difficult enough, but Joel had a much stranger ending planned. Moments later, the ring was discovered in an impossible location—inside a walnut that was cracked open during the performance.

The revelation produced a huge reaction from Bunton, who appeared both relieved to have her jewelry back and stunned by where it had been found.

The routine was an excellent follow-up to Joel’s original audition because it maintained the sense that valuable borrowed possessions might be in genuine danger while still delivering a satisfying and impossible conclusion.

Joel M’s Original AGT Audition Targeted Mel B’s Bracelet

During his first 2026 AGT appearance, Joel M created an especially tense moment by taking a sentimental bracelet belonging to Mel B.

The bracelet had been given to her by the other members of the Spice Girls for her 50th birthday. Understandably, Mel B was not pleased when Joel appeared to place it in danger.

Joel also collected a framed photograph from Sofía Vergara and Howie Mandel’s phone. He then appeared to destroy the borrowed belongings before making everything reappear unharmed.

That audition established Joel as a performer willing to take major theatrical risks with objects that held genuine importance for the judges. His callback with Emma Bunton’s ring cleverly continued the same theme.

Why Was Joel M Eliminated From America’s Got Talent?

Despite the strong performance and memorable reaction, Mel B did not select Joel M for the live shows.

Joel was eliminated alongside comedian Lachlan Patterson and singing duo Madelyn Tallent & Malachi Martin. James & Marina advanced with musical acts Béty and Butter & Grit, according to NBC’s official Judges’ Callbacks results.

The result may be disappointing for magic fans, especially after Joel delivered two highly visual routines involving the Spice Girls.

However, elimination from America’s Got Talent does not necessarily indicate that an act performed poorly. The judges have a limited number of places and must consider how different performers will fit into the overall live-show lineup.

Joel M successfully created two of the season’s most memorable magical moments. His callback performance also received national entertainment coverage, with Entertainment Weekly highlighting the borrowed-ring routine.

Mixed Results for Magic on AGT

The callback decision produced a bittersweet result for magic fans.

Joel M’s elimination removes one of the season’s most unpredictable magicians, but James & Marina’s advancement gives an accomplished mentalist act the opportunity to compete before a live television audience.

The two acts also represented dramatically different styles of magical entertainment.

Joel created suspense by placing valuable possessions in apparent danger before delivering an impossible restoration. James & Marina focused on human connection, shared thoughts and the mystery of whether two people can communicate without ordinary words.

Both approaches produced memorable television, even though only one act received a place in the next round.

What Will James & Marina Do in the AGT Live Shows?

The biggest question now is how James & Marina will expand their performance for the live stage.

Their callback succeeded by involving Emma Bunton and making her an essential part of the experience. The live shows will give them access to a larger audience, additional production possibilities and the pressure of performing in real time.

As FISM Mental Magic champions, James & Marina already possess the experience and technical confidence needed for that challenge. Their next goal will be creating a presentation that connects with viewers at home as strongly as it affects the people participating onstage.

Joel M may be leaving the competition, but his two appearances gave AGT viewers some unforgettable magic. Meanwhile, James & Marina will carry the art of mentalism into the live shows—and magic fans will be watching closely to see what they do next.

America’s Got Talent airs on NBC and streams the following day on Peacock.

Happy 41st Birthday to Dan Sperry, Magic’s Anti-Conjuror

Magic fans around the world have a reason to apply a little extra black eyeliner today: Dan Sperry is celebrating his 41st birthday.

Born August 7, 1985, in Litchfield, Minnesota, Sperry has built an international career by combining magic, dark comedy, punk-rock attitude and unexpected theatrical mayhem. Known as “The Anti-Conjuror,” he rejected the traditional image of a polished magician in a tuxedo and created a character that could never be mistaken for anyone else.

From America’s Got Talent and Masters of Illusion to Broadway, Las Vegas and international touring productions, Dan Sperry has spent decades demonstrating that magic can be strange, funny, shocking and thoroughly original.

Today, Magic News Daily wishes Dan Sperry a very happy 41st birthday while looking back at the career of one of modern magic’s most distinctive performers.

Dan Sperry Found His Style at an Early Age

Sperry began pursuing magic while still a teenager and quickly distinguished himself from other young performers.

Rather than copying the familiar presentation styles he saw around him, Sperry drew inspiration from rock music, horror, underground culture and his own offbeat sense of humor. His appearance—complete with dark makeup, black clothing, unusual hair and an intentionally unsettling presence—became inseparable from his magic.

The character was different, but it was never simply a costume. Sperry’s Anti-Conjuror persona gave him a theatrical framework through which he could present everything from close-up magic and manipulation to large illusions.

His advice to other performers has frequently centered on being honest about who they are. Sperry’s own career demonstrates the value of that philosophy. He did not soften his personality to resemble a conventional magician; he built a successful brand by amplifying the qualities that made him different.

From Minnesota to the Magic Castle

Dan Sperry’s career began gathering momentum at a remarkably young age.

According to Dan Sperry’s official biography, he won national magic awards in Las Vegas and became one of the youngest performers invited to headline a full week at Hollywood’s Magic Castle.

By the time he was 21, Sperry was regularly traveling to Las Vegas as a guest performer in casino showrooms while also touring colleges across the United States. His unusual style attracted an increasingly devoted following that responded to both the magic and the performer behind it.

Sperry appeared for several years in The World’s Greatest Magic Show in Las Vegas and later created productions and tours including Magic No Longer Sucks, The Strange Magic Tour, Distorted Sorcery and his off-Broadway production MagicshoW.

These early accomplishments established Sperry as far more than a novelty act. Beneath the shocking imagery was a skilled, experienced magician capable of entertaining audiences in intimate rooms, major theaters and large touring productions.

America’s Got Talent Introduced Dan Sperry to Millions

Dan Sperry reached an enormous new audience during the fifth season of America’s Got Talent in 2010.

His audition immediately stood apart from everything else on the program. Sperry’s appearance, delivery and unnerving presentation created a memorable reaction from the judges—especially Howie Mandel.

Sperry ultimately reached the semifinals, an accomplishment that helped introduce his Anti-Conjuror character to millions of television viewers. His time on the show proved that an unconventional magician could succeed in a mainstream competition without abandoning the qualities that made his work unique.

He later returned to America’s Got Talent for additional guest appearances, reinforcing his status as one of the most memorable magicians from the show’s history.

Dan Sperry Became a Breakout Star of The Illusionists

One of the biggest chapters in Sperry’s career came when he joined the original cast of The Illusionists.

The production assembled magicians with dramatically different personalities and specialties, making Sperry’s darkly comic Anti-Conjuror a perfect addition to the lineup. He remained one of the show’s featured performers for five years.

With The Illusionists, Sperry performed at prestigious venues around the world, including the Sydney Opera House, the Kennedy Center and major theaters across Europe and North America.

The production also brought him to Broadway for two blockbuster engagements. The Illusionists became one of the most commercially successful magic productions in Broadway history, helping introduce live stage magic to a new generation of theatergoers.

Sperry’s presence helped give the show variety and unpredictability. Audiences never knew whether his next moment would make them laugh, gasp or instinctively look away before curiosity pulled them back.

Eleven Seasons of Masters of Illusion

Dan Sperry has also become a familiar face to television magic fans through his numerous appearances on Masters of Illusion.

His official biography credits him with appearances across 11 consecutive seasons of the long-running CW series. The program has allowed Sperry to showcase different sides of his performance style, from visually striking stage pieces to magic built around suspense and comedy.

His other television credits include The Today Show, Cake Boss, The Jonathan Ross Show, MTV and international editions of the Got Talent franchise.

Sperry was also a top-three finalist on the German competition series Das Supertalent, further demonstrating the international appeal of his largely visual performance style.

An Award-Winning Original

Throughout his career, Dan Sperry has received numerous honors recognizing both his technical abilities and his originality.

His awards include Most Original Magic at the World Magic Awards, the World Magic Seminar’s 25th Anniversary championship and multiple Awards of Merit from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He has also received recognition for bringing a cutting-edge approach to modern magic.

Those awards are significant because originality has always been central to Sperry’s identity.

Magic has no shortage of performers who can execute difficult techniques. Sperry’s greater accomplishment has been turning those abilities into a recognizable artistic voice. A viewer can see only a few seconds of one of his performances and immediately know that they are watching Dan Sperry.

Making Magic Strange Again

Dan Sperry’s influence extends beyond any individual trick or television appearance.

He helped demonstrate that a magician does not need to fit the clean-cut, family-friendly or formally dressed stereotype traditionally associated with the profession. His success opened additional space for performers who draw inspiration from horror, alternative music, bizarre magic and underground culture.

At the same time, Sperry’s performances contain far more humor than his appearance might initially suggest. Much of the fun comes from the contrast between his intimidating character and the playful, self-aware personality that emerges during the show.

The result is a performer who can shock an audience without taking himself too seriously. That balance has allowed Sperry to remain original without becoming trapped by his own image.

Happy 41st Birthday, Dan Sperry!

At 41, Dan Sperry has already performed at the Magic Castle, headlined in Las Vegas, reached the semifinals of America’s Got Talent, appeared on Broadway, toured the world with The Illusionists and become a recurring favorite on Masters of Illusion.

More importantly, he has remained unmistakably himself throughout every stage of that journey.

Dan Sperry’s career is proof that being different can become a performer’s greatest strength when it is supported by talent, experience and a clear artistic vision.

Everyone at Magic News Daily wishes Dan Sperry a happy 41st birthday and many more years of strange magic, hilarious mayhem and unforgettable performances.

Learn more about upcoming performances and projects by visiting the official Dan Sperry website.

Tina Lenert’s Legendary “Maid in Heaven” Act at FISM 1988

 A remarkable archival video takes magic fans back to 1988, when Tina Lenert presented her now-classic “Maid in Heaven” act at FISM in the Netherlands.

Also known to many magicians as the “Mopman” act, the performance combines magic, pantomime, comedy and genuine emotion. Rather than presenting a rapid collection of unrelated tricks, Lenert creates a complete theatrical story without speaking a single word.

Tina Lenert Appeared on the FISM Winners Gala

Although the video is sometimes described as a FISM competition performance, Lenert was not one of the competitors.

In a 2005 profile published by Genii magazine, Lenert explained that she was invited to present the act during the prestigious Winners Gala. The appearance proved to be an important moment in her career and reportedly led to years of additional performing opportunities throughout Europe.

Being selected for the gala placed Lenert before an audience filled with knowledgeable magicians, producers and international entertainers. Her performance demonstrated that the most memorable magic does not always depend on the size of the props or the number of surprises. Sometimes a well-defined character and a powerful story can create the strongest impact.

A Cleaning Woman and Her Unlikely Companion

“Maid in Heaven” introduces audiences to a weary cleaning woman accompanied by an ordinary mop and cleaning cart.

In Lenert’s hands, however, nothing on the stage remains ordinary for long.

Through expressive movement and carefully constructed magical moments, the mop gradually develops a personality of its own. What begins as a collection of cleaning supplies becomes the setting for a tender fantasy about loneliness, friendship and transformation.

The act contains comedy, but Lenert never plays the character simply for laughs. She allows the audience to care about this woman and understand her hopes without relying on dialogue or lengthy explanations.

That emotional connection makes each magical development feel like part of the story rather than an interruption created solely to display another trick.

Magic and Mime Become One Art Form

Tina Lenert’s background helps explain why “Maid in Heaven” feels so different from a conventional magic act.

Lenert studied classical guitar before becoming fascinated by mime. After seeing performer Robert Shields at a Renaissance fair, she changed direction and eventually became a founding member of the Los Angeles Mime Company.

A visit to Hollywood’s Magic Castle later inspired her to combine pantomime with magic. That unusual mixture became the foundation of her distinctive performing style.

Every gesture in the FISM video communicates something about the character. Lenert’s posture, facial expressions and interactions with the mop tell the audience exactly what is happening—even though she never says a word.

The magic is so thoroughly integrated into the pantomime that separating the two would weaken the performance. The illusions are not merely things that happen to the character; they reveal what the character is feeling.

A Cinderella Story Told Through Magic

At its heart, “Maid in Heaven” is a magical variation on the Cinderella story.

The audience watches an overlooked cleaning woman escape into a fantasy in which beauty, companionship and possibility suddenly enter her life. Her physical and emotional transformation gives the act a clear beginning, middle and end.

Lenert also avoids overloading the presentation. She gives every surprise enough time to register and allows the audience’s emotions to grow naturally. The result is an act that can produce laughter, wonder and sympathy within only a few minutes.

That balance is extraordinarily difficult to achieve. Many silent magic acts use music to connect a series of visual effects, but Lenert uses magic to advance an actual story.

“Maid in Heaven” Became a Magic Classic

The act began taking shape during the mid-1980s and reportedly made an early appearance in 1985 at a Halloween production organized by Harry Anderson’s Bubonic Players.

Its presentation continued to develop with input from several respected creative minds in magic and entertainment. By the time Tina Lenert brought the act to FISM in 1988, it had become a polished example of character-driven theatrical magic.

The FISM appearance helped introduce the routine to a wider international audience. Lenert went on to perform around the world at venues including Berlin’s Wintergarten, the London Palladium and the Princess Grace Theatre in Monte Carlo.

In 1994, the Academy of Magical Arts named Lenert its Stage Magician of the Year, placing her among the most respected theatrical performers in magic.

Why Tina Lenert’s FISM Performance Still Matters

Nearly four decades after this video was recorded, “Maid in Heaven” remains a valuable lesson in how to make magic meaningful.

Lenert does not ask the audience to care about a prop or puzzle. She asks them to care about a person. Once that connection has been created, every magical moment carries greater emotional weight.

The performance also demonstrates the universal power of visual storytelling. Because the act does not rely on spoken language, it can connect with audiences in almost any country—an ideal quality for an international gathering such as FISM.

Tina Lenert’s 1988 FISM appearance is more than an entertaining piece of magic history. It is a beautiful example of what can happen when an artist combines technical knowledge with character, movement, comedy and heart.

“Maid in Heaven” does not simply fool the eye. It reminds viewers that the very best magic can make an audience feel something—and that is why Tina Lenert’s unforgettable performance continues to inspire magicians today.

Neil Croswell and Ashley Da Silva Dazzle on Penn & Teller: Fool Us

 Canadian illusionist Neil Croswell and his onstage partner Ashley Da Silva brought a fast, stylish and thoroughly modern piece of grand illusion to Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

The performance, featured during the show’s third season, begins with a relatable question: What happens when someone finds the perfect dress but cannot decide which color to buy?

Croswell’s solution is naturally far more magical than a return trip to the store.

With upbeat music driving the action, Ashley moves through an eye-catching series of dress transformations built around the choice between red and blue. The routine combines fashion, movement and large-scale magic into a polished television presentation that requires very little dialogue once the illusion begins.

A Modern Approach to Grand Illusion

Before his performance, Croswell explains that growing up in Toronto helped shape his urban approach to magic. He draws inspiration from music, movies and hip-hop culture, giving his work a noticeably different personality from the traditional image of an illusionist in a tuxedo.

That modern influence is easy to see in this Fool Us performance. Croswell’s casual wardrobe, the energetic soundtrack and the routine’s fashion-centered premise make the illusion feel current while still preserving the mystery and theatrical impact audiences expect from grand illusion.

The magic is not presented as an isolated stunt. It is a complete production number with a clear premise, escalating visual surprises and a strong finish.

Ashley Da Silva Is Essential to the Performance

Ashley Da Silva brings much more to the routine than simply stepping into an illusion.

Her background in classical and contemporary dance helps give the performance its precision, rhythm and elegance. Every movement appears carefully timed to the music, allowing the magical moments to arrive quickly without making the presentation feel rushed.

Croswell and Da Silva also revealed that they were a couple both onstage and away from the spotlight. Croswell shared the charming story of how Ashley first became involved in his magic after discovering an illusion at his home and asking what it did. She tried it, loved the experience and wanted to see more.

That natural chemistry is visible throughout their performance. They operate as a team, with Ashley’s confidence and stage presence contributing just as much to the routine’s success as Croswell’s direction and showmanship.

What Did Penn & Teller Think of Neil Croswell?

Although Neil Croswell and Ashley Da Silva did not fool Penn and Teller, the legendary Las Vegas duo offered meaningful praise for the construction and presentation of their act.

Penn specifically highlighted the fact that the illusion could be presented with visibility from multiple directions. That is a significant accomplishment in grand illusion, where many routines depend heavily on controlling exactly where the audience and cameras are positioned.

Penn also recognized the contemporary touches that Croswell and Da Silva brought to the performance, including the modern wardrobe and the visual use of the different dresses. Their version respected the history of stage illusion while giving it a fresh identity.

Not winning a Fool Us trophy did nothing to diminish the quality of the act. Penn and Teller clearly understood the extensive thought, rehearsal and technical precision required to make the performance look so effortless.

An International Career in Magic

Croswell’s appearance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us was one part of a career that has taken him to audiences around the world.

According to the official Neil Croswell Magic website, Croswell became the youngest performer to win gold at the Canadian Championships of Magic. He later earned another gold medal at the invitation-only Magic of China International Magic Championships.

Croswell and Da Silva have performed across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Their television appearances have also included Canada’s Got Talent, Masters of Illusion, Italy’s La Grande Magia and France’s Le Plus Grand Cabaret Du Monde.

Those international appearances make sense when watching this routine. As Croswell says in his introduction, visual magic can communicate with an audience without the performer needing to say a word. The red-and-blue dress illusion is a perfect example of that universal appeal.

Neil Croswell and Ashley Da Silva Make Magic Look Effortless

The best grand illusions do more than leave viewers wondering how something happened. They create a memorable theatrical moment.

Neil Croswell and Ashley Da Silva accomplish exactly that in their Penn & Teller: Fool Us performance. The routine is colorful, energetic and beautifully staged, while their chemistry gives the act a personality beyond the illusion itself.

Even without fooling Penn and Teller, Croswell and Da Silva demonstrated why they have built an international career together. Their appearance is a strong reminder that success on Fool Us is not measured only by winning a trophy. Sometimes the real victory is presenting excellent magic before two legends of the art—and earning their respect.

The Best Christmas Motto by Duane Laflin

 Now available at www.magiciansmagicshop.com 

Add an uplifting and interactive moment to your holiday performance with The Best Christmas Motto by Duane Laflin.
The performer introduces four colorful angel cards, each representing an angel’s entry in a contest to create the perfect Christmas motto. An audience member makes a seemingly free selection, and the chosen angel is revealed to have the one motto that truly captures the spirit and meaning of Christmas.
This entertaining routine combines colorful visual props, audience participation, storytelling and a heartwarming message of encouragement. Although inspired by the biblical Christmas story, the presentation was designed to work equally well in church programs and traditional family Christmas shows.
The Best Christmas Motto is an excellent choice for:
* Christmas magic shows
* Church and ministry programs
* Holiday family entertainment
* Sunday school and children’s ministry
* School and community Christmas events
* Collectors of Duane Laflin magic
Originally produced by Laflin Magic, this vintage Christmas effect is no longer commonly available and would make a wonderful addition to a working performer’s holiday show or a Duane Laflin collection.

Magical Katrina’s Spy-Themed Magic Show Opens in Los Angeles

 Magician and mentalist Katrina Kroetch is accepting another assignment in Los Angeles—but she continues to insist that it has absolutely nothing to do with espionage.

Kroetch, better known professionally as Magical Katrina, brings her one-woman production I Am Not a Spy. This Is a Magic Show. to the Theatre 68 Arts Complex for two performances on August 7 and 8.

The comedic noir production combines magic, mentalism, audience participation and spy-movie storytelling. It returns to Los Angeles following successful appearances at the Hollywood Fringe Festival and Australia’s Melbourne Magic Festival.

Magical Katrina Returns to Los Angeles

I Am Not a Spy. This Is a Magic Show. will be presented in the Rosalie Theatre at the Theatre 68 Arts Complex in North Hollywood.

Performance details are:

• Friday, August 7, 2026, at 8:45 p.m.
• Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 5:15 p.m.
• Theatre 68 Arts Complex, 5112 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, California

Ticket information is available through the Theatre 68 Arts Festival.

The two-night engagement gives Los Angeles audiences another opportunity to experience the production after several of its Hollywood Fringe performances sold out earlier this summer.

Magic Meets a Comedic Spy Thriller

The show places magic and mentalism inside a continuing spy narrative rather than presenting a traditional collection of unrelated routines.

Katrina portrays a glamorous femme fatale who may—or may not—be conducting a secret operation. Audience volunteers can find themselves recruited as agents, while suspiciously accurate predictions, classified files and impossible mysteries become part of the story.

The production draws inspiration from the approximately 100 spy movies Kroetch watched while developing the show. Its style blends elements of classic noir, espionage thrillers and absurd comedy with Katrina’s theatrical approach to magic.

According to the Los Angeles production announcement, the one-woman show emphasizes character and narrative while still delivering the visual magic, mentalism and audience interaction expected from a Magical Katrina performance.

Hollywood Fringe Success Leads to Theatre 68

Kroetch premiered the production during the 2026 Hollywood Fringe Festival, presenting seven performances at the Madnani Theater in June.

The show earned enthusiastic responses for its unusual combination of magic, comedy and an ongoing storyline. Several audience reviews specifically praised the way Katrina incorporated the magic into the plot instead of pausing the story to present individual tricks.

The production also received the Take the Stage Award, presented by the Theatre 68 Arts Festival and Theatre 68 Arts Complex. The Hollywood Fringe’s official award announcement named I Am Not a Spy. This Is a Magic Show. as the award’s recipient.

That recognition makes the August engagement especially meaningful. The organization that honored the production at Hollywood Fringe is now bringing it to Theatre 68 for two additional Los Angeles performances.

Magical Katrina Takes the Spy Show to Australia

Following the Hollywood Fringe run, Magical Katrina carried the production to Australia for the Melbourne Magic Festival.

The show played five nights at The Cardini Cabaret from July 7 through July 11. It marked the production’s first international engagement and Katrina’s first appearance at the festival.

The Melbourne Magic Festival promoted Katrina as an international guest from Hollywood and highlighted her combination of theatrical flair, intelligence, mystery and interactive charm.

The Australian run also demonstrated that the show’s spy premise could connect with audiences outside Los Angeles. Espionage movies, mysterious characters and impossible predictions offer a storytelling language that can travel easily between countries.

Who Is Magical Katrina?

Katrina Kroetch has performed magic in more than 20 countries and has appeared on stages and television programs around the world.

Her credits include touring internationally with Champions of Magic and appearing on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Masters of Illusion and the children’s program Blippi. She also appeared alongside Chappell Roan in the “Red Wine Supernova” music video.

Kroetch has performed at the Academy of Magical Arts’ Magic Castle in Hollywood and is a member of The Magic Circle in London. In addition to performing, she lectures for magicians on both the creative and business sides of professional magic.

Her work is known for combining drama, mystery, comedy and audience interaction. I Am Not a Spy. This Is a Magic Show. brings those different parts of her performing personality together in a single theatrical production.

A Story-Driven Approach to Magic

The return of Magical Katrina’s spy show reflects a growing interest in magic productions built around characters and complete stories.

Instead of treating the show like a playlist of separate tricks, Kroetch has constructed a narrative with a beginning, continuing mission and unexpected turns. The magic supports the character, while the character gives the impossible moments a reason to happen.

That approach gives audiences something to follow beyond the question of how an individual mystery was accomplished. Viewers become part of the adventure and may leave wondering about both the magic and the identity of the woman at the center of the mission.

Los Angeles audiences have only two opportunities to investigate the evidence at Theatre 68.

Katrina Kroetch says she is not a spy. Whether audiences choose to believe her is another matter entirely.