Juan Tamariz Creates Pure Card-Magic Joy in a Classic 1989 Television Performance

 An archival television appearance by Juan Tamariz offers a wonderful reminder that the Spanish master’s greatness was never limited to difficult sleight of hand. He could make a shuffled deck, a freely named number and a simple request to “say stop” feel like the ingredients of a joyful impossibility.

The eight-minute video preserves Tamariz’s appearance on The Best of Magic, the British television series produced by Thames Television for ITV. The episode was broadcast on October 4, 1989, and the segment features Tamariz performing with Annabel Croft and Simon Mayo.

The linked timestamp begins near the setup of the performance’s remarkable finale, but the entire clip is worth watching. It captures Tamariz at his most recognizable: playful, apparently chaotic, completely connected to his spectators and always several steps ahead.

“The Fastest Card Trick in the World”

Tamariz opens by announcing that he will perform the fastest card trick in the world. A spectator selects a card, it is returned to the deck and Tamariz attempts to reveal it almost immediately.

The first attempt appears to go wrong because the spectator has not seen the card. The second attempt becomes another comic misunderstanding when the card is remembered but not shown to the audience. On the third attempt, Tamariz seems to lose the selection after it has been returned to the pack.

Each apparent failure makes the routine funnier and increases the audience’s investment. Finally, a card is selected, displayed and returned. With a quick magical gesture, Tamariz reveals it at the top of the deck and receives a burst of applause.

What might have been a brief card location becomes a complete comedy routine. Tamariz does not hurry past the misunderstandings. He turns each one into entertainment while quietly establishing his central promise: when the magic finally happens, it will happen faster than anyone expects.

Two Shuffled Decks and an Impossible Challenge

After a playful red-and-black packet sequence, Tamariz moves into the portion highlighted by the linked timestamp.

Two decks have been shuffled and placed into their cases. Tamariz repeatedly reminds the audience that the spectators performed the shuffling and that there has been no secret agreement between them. The conditions are made clear before the mystery begins.

He asks Annabel Croft to name any number between one and 52. She chooses seven.

Tamariz immediately turns the decision into comedy, gently suggesting that another number might be more attractive. He offers alternatives, praises the number 10 and even jokes about the meaning of seven in Spanish. Croft remains firm: she wants seven.

That comic exchange is more than entertaining. By the time it ends, no viewer can reasonably believe the number was casually accepted because it happened to suit the magician. Seven feels unmistakably like the spectator’s choice.

Tamariz then moves through the other deck and asks for a stop. The card reached is the Ace of Spades. Now the challenge is stated openly: Tamariz will attempt to make the Ace of Spades occupy the seventh position in the other spectator-shuffled deck.

“I Believe in Your Magic”

The final moments demonstrate Tamariz’s extraordinary ability to make a spectator feel responsible for the miracle.

He refuses to handle the deck at the crucial point, joking that the audience might otherwise accuse him of locating the Ace of Spades and secretly moving it into position. Instead, the spectator opens the card case, removes the deck and counts the cards personally.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

The next card is isolated as the seventh.

Just before the revelation, Tamariz tells his helper, “I believe in your magic.” The spectator turns over the card herself. It is the Ace of Spades.

The studio erupts.

The mystery is powerful because the audience has been allowed to remember every condition. The decks were shuffled. Tamariz appeared not to touch the target pack after the choices were established. Seven was freely named and defended. The Ace of Spades was reached through a separate decision. The spectator completed the count and turned over the final card.

There is no need to explain the method—and doing so would miss the point. What matters is the experience Tamariz constructs from those conditions: the growing conviction that the card simply could not be there, followed by the joy of discovering that it is.

Tamariz Turns Procedure Into Theater

Many card tricks require the audience to follow several instructions. In less experienced hands, that procedure can become dry. Tamariz makes every stage feel alive.

His attempts to persuade Croft to abandon the number seven create a comic struggle without making the spectator uncomfortable. His accented English becomes part of the rhythm rather than a barrier. His facial expressions, changes in energy and physical gestures communicate as much as his words.

Most importantly, Tamariz never treats the spectators as props. He gives them decisions, listens to their answers and allows their personalities to influence the performance. By telling the participant that he believes in her magic, he transfers the emotional ownership of the climax from himself to the person turning over the card.

That generosity was central to Tamariz’s appeal. He could be the most animated person in the room while still making everyone around him feel essential.

A Performance That Shows Why Magicians Revered Juan Tamariz

Tamariz was already internationally celebrated when this appearance was recorded. He had won the World Card Magic Prize at the 1973 World Congress of Magic in Paris and was becoming as influential for his theories of performance as for his technical ability.

The 1989 clip shows those ideas in action. Attention is carefully guided. Every possible explanation seems to become less convincing. Comedy strengthens the fairness of the choices instead of distracting from them. The final revelation is delayed until the audience fully understands why it should be impossible.

The performance also feels spontaneous, even though its structure is exceptionally precise. That balance—careful construction disguised as joyful play—was one of Tamariz’s greatest gifts.

Remembering Juan Tamariz Through His Magic

The video carries additional emotional weight following the death of Juan Tamariz in Madrid on August 18, 2026, at the age of 83. His daughter Ana Tamariz confirmed the news, bringing tributes from magicians and admirers around the world. RTVE reported his death and celebrated his ability to reach generations through magic and television.

Obituaries will record his championships, books, television appearances and enormous influence on card magic. This clip preserves something statistics cannot: the feeling of being in the room with him.

It shows the laughter, the apparent confusion, the rising impossibility and the delight on Tamariz’s face when the spectator discovers the Ace of Spades exactly where it should not be.

That feeling is why Juan Tamariz was loved—and why his magic will continue to matter.

Anthony Asimov Goes Nuts on Penn & Teller: Fool Us With an Impossible Card Mystery

 A freely named number, the Four of Diamonds, a bowl of walnuts and a tiny alien named Pickle collide in Anthony Asimov’s wonderfully strange appearance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

In the performance video, Asimov presents his signature routine, This Is Nuts, during the Season 3 finale of the television magic series. The episode, titled “Can Penn & Teller Fool Penn & Teller?,” originally aired September 16, 2016.

The routine is a strong example of how an original character and an unusual collection of props can turn a straightforward magical premise into something audiences remember long after the final revelation.

Anthony Asimov Brings His Own World to Fool Us

Before walking onto the Las Vegas stage, Asimov describes himself as a “prop magician.” He explains that he spent years performing for corporations and private parties before stepping away from magic and moving to Los Angeles to work as a producer in the horror-film world.

After approximately 12 years away, Asimov felt drawn back to playing cards and live performance. He believed that age and experience had made him a stronger magician, while his love of horror gave his work a distinctive visual identity.

That combination is immediately apparent in his Fool Us appearance. Asimov’s performance is playful rather than frightening, but it borrows the atmosphere and imagery of an old science-fiction or horror movie. The result feels like a small theatrical world built specifically for him.

Penn’s Number Leads to the Four of Diamonds

Asimov begins by inviting two audience members to confirm that the playing cards are different and mixed in no obvious order. He then asks Penn Jillette to name any number from one to 52.

Penn chooses 12.

The cards are counted openly, with the spectators helping to keep the count honest. The card at Penn’s freely named position is the Four of Diamonds. Asimov emphasizes that continuing the count would have produced different cards, making the selection appear especially fair.

He then introduces the strangest member of the act: Pickle, a small alien assistant who arrives to ominous music before being greeted by the entire audience. The Four of Diamonds is placed in Pickle’s hand so everyone can remember the identity of the selected card.

The theatrical entrance earns laughs, but Pickle also gives the routine its personality. Instead of presenting another serious card experiment, Asimov transforms the effect into a miniature science-fiction comedy.

A Chosen Card Appears Inside a Walnut

Asimov turns his attention to a bowl of ordinary walnuts. He removes several and asks the audience to spell the name of the Four of Diamonds. One walnut is selected through that process and placed directly into a spectator’s open hand.

Other walnuts are cracked to establish what the props are supposed to be. Then, with Pickle supposedly contributing a little extraterrestrial assistance, the walnut held by the spectator becomes the center of the finale.

Inside is a folded duplicate of Penn’s Four of Diamonds.

The effect is easy for viewers to understand and seemingly impossible to explain: Penn names a number, that number determines a card and the same card is ultimately discovered inside a walnut that has been resting with a spectator.

The routine has since been marketed as Asimov’s “Any Card to Any Walnut” effect and is described as one of his signature show closers. Its commercial description confirms that This Is Nuts was the routine he presented on Fool Us. Read more about the routine.

Did Anthony Asimov Fool Penn and Teller?

The linked video focuses on Asimov’s introduction and performance, ending before the complete judging sequence. In the full episode, Penn and Teller determined how the illusion was accomplished, so Asimov did not receive a Fool Us trophy.

That result did not prevent Penn from offering enthusiastic praise. He complimented the artistic way Asimov established the card, celebrated the act’s eccentric personality and jokingly placed him at the top of what he called the “nut index.” Penn also singled out the alien character as an effective part of the presentation.

Asimov accepted the verdict with humor, bowed to Penn and emphasized how much fun he had performing for the duo. The exchange can be read in the complete episode transcript.

The moment is an important reminder that success on Fool Us is not limited to winning the trophy. Some appearances are remembered because the magic is clear, the performer is distinctive and the audience has a wonderful time. Asimov achieved all three.

Originality Is the Real Secret of the Performance

After the routine, host Alyson Hannigan asks Asimov whether he created it himself. He explains that his creative process often begins when another performance inspires him to ask what he would do with the underlying idea.

The goal, he says, is not to copy another magician but to develop magic with his own sensibility.

That philosophy is visible throughout This Is Nuts. Card-to-impossible-location effects have a long history, but the walnuts, horror-inspired entrance, comedy and alien assistant make this version recognizably Anthony Asimov’s.

Pickle could easily have been a disposable gag. Instead, the character establishes the act’s tone, provides a place to display the selected card and gives Asimov a playful explanation for the impossible duplication. Every element belongs to the same unusual world.

Why This Is Nuts Is Still Worth Watching

Years after its original broadcast, Asimov’s Fool Us performance remains an entertaining lesson in making magic personal.

The premise is uncomplicated. The audience always knows what matters: Penn’s number, the Four of Diamonds and the walnut held by a spectator. Around that clear structure, Asimov adds character, suspense and humor without allowing the presentation to bury the effect.

Most importantly, the act does not feel interchangeable with the work of another magician. It reflects Asimov’s interests, comic rhythm and creative point of view. That individuality is what turns a clever trick into a memorable performance.

Anthony Asimov may not have fooled Penn and Teller, but he gave the studio audience—and viewers watching years later—a finale that fully lived up to its name.

Juan Tamariz Dies at 83: Magic World Mourns a Legendary Master

 Juan Tamariz, the beloved Spanish magician whose joyful performances and revolutionary thinking transformed modern card magic, has died at the age of 83.

Tamariz died Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid. His daughter, magician and educator Ana Tamariz, confirmed the news on social media. In her farewell, she remembered her father as an extraordinary and deeply loved person and wrote that “his memory and his immeasurable work will always be with us.”

The news was reported by RTVE, ARA and other major Spanish news organizations.

For the public, Tamariz was an unmistakable television personality: energetic, funny, unpredictable and often accompanied by the sound and movement of his imaginary violin. For magicians, however, he was something even greater—a master performer, influential author, generous teacher and one of the most important thinkers the art has ever produced.

From a Childhood Fascination to a Life in Magic

Juan Manuel Tamariz-Martel Negrón was born in Madrid on October 18, 1942. His fascination with magic reportedly began when his parents took him to see a magician at a theater when he was about four years old.

By his teenage years, magic had become far more than a childhood interest. Tamariz attempted to join the Spanish Society of Illusionism at 16 but was considered too young. He returned at 18, passed the organization’s examination and was admitted despite still being below its usual minimum age.

He studied physics and later filmmaking, but magic remained the force that shaped his life. Those interests were never entirely left behind. His performances often reflected the curiosity of a scientist, the structure of a filmmaker and the emotional instincts of a born entertainer.

A World Champion Who Changed Card Magic

Tamariz’s international breakthrough came in 1973, when he won the World Card Magic Prize at the World Congress of Magic in Paris. The victory established him as an exceptional technician, but technique alone does not explain his lasting influence.

Tamariz understood that a great magic performance was not simply a puzzle with a hidden answer. Every movement, joke, pause and apparent possibility could shape the spectator’s experience. He devoted much of his career to studying how audiences think, where their attention travels and how a magician can create an experience that feels genuinely impossible.

His ideas helped generations of performers think more deeply about construction, misdirection, timing, emotion and the elimination of possible explanations. He did not merely teach magicians how to perform tricks. He encouraged them to understand why a magical experience succeeds.

Books That Became Modern Classics

Tamariz’s influence can be found on bookshelves and rehearsal tables throughout the magic world. His works include The Five Points in Magic, The Magic Way, Sonata, Mnemonica, Verbal Magic and The Magic Rainbow.

The Five Points in Magic explored how performers can use their eyes, voice, hands, body and feet to direct attention and strengthen communication. The Magic Way offered a profound approach to constructing magic so that possible explanations gradually disappear from the audience’s mind. Mnemonica became one of the most influential works on memorized-deck magic ever published.

These were not books meant merely to supply another trick for the next show. They invited serious study and rewarded repeated reading. Many professional magicians can trace part of their artistic development to an idea first encountered in Tamariz’s writing or lectures.

His generosity was equally important. Tamariz traveled internationally, sharing his work with other magicians and treating the exchange of ideas as an essential part of the art. As he once explained in an interview quoted by El País, the beautiful thing about magic was sharing it.

A Television Star Who Made Wonder Feel Personal

While magicians studied his theories, millions of television viewers simply knew that Juan Tamariz made them happy.

His appearances on Spanish television, including Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez, helped make him a familiar figure across generations. His glasses, expressive face, unruly hair, humor and signature imaginary-violin celebration created a performing identity unlike the formal, tuxedo-clad magician audiences had come to expect.

Tamariz could appear wonderfully chaotic while maintaining extraordinary control over every detail of a performance. His laughter lowered an audience’s defenses, but the magic remained strong enough to fool even the most knowledgeable experts. He demonstrated that technical excellence and uninhibited joy did not have to compete; together, they could make each other stronger.

Through television and live appearances, he also helped bring close-up magic into the cultural mainstream in Spain and throughout the Spanish-speaking world. His performances made a deck of cards feel as theatrical and emotionally engaging as a grand stage illusion.

Honors for a Lifetime of Artistry

Among his many honors, Tamariz received Spain’s Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts in 2011. The award was formally recorded by the Spanish government, recognizing his contribution not only to magic but to the country’s wider artistic culture.

Yet no award can fully measure his importance. His true legacy lives in the countless performers who studied his books, attended his lectures, adopted his theories or simply watched him and realized that a magician could be completely original.

Juan Tamariz’s Magic Will Continue

Ana Tamariz continues the family’s commitment to magic through her school in Madrid, while her father’s books, recorded performances and ideas remain an enduring education for magicians around the world.

The death of Juan Tamariz marks the loss of one of magic’s rare complete artists: a performer who delighted the public, fooled experts, advanced the theory of the craft and generously helped others become better magicians.

His imaginary violin may now be silent, but the wonder he created will continue every time a magician opens one of his books, studies one of his performances or attempts to give an audience the feeling Tamariz valued above all—the joyful certainty that, for one unforgettable moment, the impossible had truly happened.

Juan Tamariz was born October 18, 1942, and died August 18, 2026. He was 83.

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Dave Franco Confirms Now You See Me 4 Script Is Underway

 The Four Horsemen’s next cinematic act has moved one step closer to the screen. Dave Franco has confirmed that work is underway on the screenplay for Now You See Me 4, offering fans the clearest progress report yet on the next chapter of the popular magic-heist franchise.

In an exclusive update shared by ScreenRant, Franco was direct about the sequel’s current status: “They’re writing [it] right now!”

It is a brief update, but an important one. Lionsgate previously announced that a fourth film was in development, and Franco’s comment confirms that the project has advanced into active writing. The story, title, production schedule and release date have not yet been revealed.

Now You See Me 4 Is Officially in Development

Lionsgate announced Now You See Me 4 during CinemaCon in April 2025, months before the third movie reached theaters. Ruben Fleischer, who directed Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, was also announced as returning to direct the fourth installment.

At the time, the announcement demonstrated the studio’s confidence in the series before audiences had even seen the Horsemen’s return. Franco’s new update indicates that development has continued and that writers are now shaping the next illusion-filled adventure.

The identity of the current writer or writing team has not been officially revealed. There is also no indication that the screenplay is finished. Film scripts commonly pass through multiple drafts before production begins, so the news does not necessarily mean cameras will begin rolling soon.

For now, the most accurate description is that Now You See Me 4 is moving forward at the screenplay stage.

The Four Horsemen Made a Successful Return in 2025

The franchise returned in November 2025 with Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, nearly a decade after Now You See Me 2. The third movie reunited Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher as the original Four Horsemen while also introducing a younger generation of illusionists played by Justice Smith, Ariana Greenblatt and Dominic Sessa.

That long absence did not prevent the movie from finding an audience. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t opened at number one in North America with approximately $21.3 million and earned an estimated $75.5 million worldwide during its opening weekend, according to the Associated Press. Its eventual worldwide total approached $247 million.

Those results proved that audiences were still interested in the Horsemen’s combination of elaborate illusions, heist-movie plotting and rapid-fire twists. The commercial response also gave Lionsgate a strong reason to continue developing the fourth film.

Will Dave Franco Return as Jack Wilder?

Franco has portrayed card expert and sleight-of-hand specialist Jack Wilder since the original Now You See Me arrived in 2013. His willingness to discuss the new screenplay is an encouraging sign, but his comment should not be treated as formal confirmation that he has signed on to appear.

A complete cast for Now You See Me 4 has not been announced. Jesse Eisenberg has publicly expressed strong interest in returning as J. Daniel Atlas, describing the franchise as his “happiest place,” but enthusiasm from the actors is different from a finalized contract.

The third film’s expanded ensemble gives the writers several possible directions. A fourth movie could reunite the original Horsemen, focus more heavily on the younger illusionists or combine both teams for another large-scale mission. Until Lionsgate releases a synopsis or cast announcement, those possibilities remain speculation.

Why the Next Film Matters to Magic Fans

The Now You See Me movies occupy an unusual place in modern cinema. Few current film franchises place magicians, illusionists, escapologists and sleight-of-hand performers at the center of a major theatrical adventure.

Although the series frequently stretches magic beyond what would be possible in a live performance, it has also encouraged its actors to study genuine techniques. For the third film, members of the cast trained at Hollywood’s Magic Castle and practiced skills including card work, pickpocketing and card throwing. Director Ruben Fleischer and the performers also emphasized using practical magic when possible, according to Reuters.

That effort matters. When real technique, convincing performance and cinematic spectacle work together, the magic feels more exciting because audiences can sense that at least part of what they are seeing is genuinely being performed.

The fourth movie now has an opportunity to build on that approach. Magic fans will likely be watching to see whether the new screenplay gives its illusions room to breathe, allows the performers’ skills to remain visible and creates surprises that feel earned rather than relying entirely on visual effects.

When Will Now You See Me 4 Be Released?

Lionsgate has not announced a release date or filming schedule for Now You See Me 4. With the screenplay still being written, any prediction about when the film might reach theaters would be premature.

The important news is that the project has not disappeared. Dave Franco’s update confirms that the next adventure is actively taking shape—even if the filmmakers are not ready to reveal the trick just yet.

For fans who waited nearly 10 years between the second and third films, knowing that the next screenplay is already underway is a promising sign. The Four Horsemen may not be ready to step back into the spotlight, but preparations for their next act have officially begun.

Read the original ScreenRant report.

How Muhammad Ali Inspired Dr. David Shareef’s Remarkable Life in Magic

 Las Vegas magician Dr. David Shareef has built a life that combines magic, martial arts, psychology and extraordinary perseverance. During a new Salmond Sit Down interview, Shareef explained how an encounter with boxing legend Muhammad Ali helped ignite his passion for performance—and how he fought his way back to the stage after surviving multiple severe strokes.

The segment, hosted by News 3 Sports Director Bryan Salmond, offers much more than a look at the magician’s sleight of hand. It tells the story of a performer whose life has repeatedly demanded the same qualities that made Ali an icon: confidence, discipline, resilience and the determination to keep going when the odds appear overwhelming.

Muhammad Ali Sparked a Lifelong Interest in Magic

Shareef’s fascination with magic dates back to his elementary-school years. In an earlier profile, he recalled seeing Muhammad Ali during a school visit and watching the heavyweight champion demonstrate magic for the students. Ali’s charisma and larger-than-life showmanship left a lasting impression on the young Shareef.

For many fans, Ali is remembered primarily as one of boxing’s greatest champions. He was also a master entertainer who understood timing, personality and the power of creating anticipation. Those same qualities are essential to a successful magic performance, and Shareef recognized something unforgettable in the way Ali held an audience.

What began as a childhood spark eventually developed into a lifelong career. Shareef took his magic beyond the United States, performing in more than 10 countries and building a reputation as a magician, illusionist, mind reader and entertainer.

A Career Shaped by Magic, Martial Arts and Psychology

Dr. David Shareef’s accomplishments extend far beyond the magic stage. According to the News 3 profile, he is an eighth-degree black belt and holds a doctorate in psychology. Each discipline reflects a different part of the performer audiences see today.

Martial arts requires control, repetition and focus. Psychology offers insight into attention, perception and human behavior. Magic brings those qualities together through presentation, surprise and audience interaction. Shareef’s varied background has helped him develop a performance identity that is distinctly his own.

During his career, Shareef has also worked with or spent time around major figures in magic and entertainment, including David Blaine, David Copperfield, Criss Angel and Penn & Teller. His journey has placed him within the orbit of some of the best-known magicians in the world while allowing him to follow a path rooted in his own personality and life experiences.

Dr. David Shareef Returns After Multiple Severe Strokes

The most powerful part of Shareef’s story may be what happened away from the spotlight. After surviving multiple severe strokes, he faced a recovery that could easily have ended his performing career.

Returning to the road following such serious health challenges is an achievement greater than any single illusion. A live performer must remember material, communicate clearly, maintain precise timing and remain fully engaged with an audience. Shareef’s ability to return demonstrates the depth of his commitment to magic.

His comeback also gives new meaning to his connection with Muhammad Ali. The inspiration was not limited to style or showmanship. It can be seen in Shareef’s refusal to allow adversity to write the final chapter of his career.

Now back on the road and performing again, Shareef is proving that recovery can become part of an artist’s story rather than the end of it.

Close-Up Magic Comes to the News 3 Studio

Shareef did not simply talk about magic during the interview—he brought it directly into the studio. He performed close-up card magic and sleight of hand for Bryan Salmond and studio director Lourdes Trimal, creating astonishment at close range while the cameras rolled.

The performance gives viewers an immediate glimpse of the personality and audience connection behind Shareef’s long career. No explanation of the secrets is needed. The reactions tell the story: Shareef can still create a moment of impossible wonder with a few cards, strong presentation and years of experience.

A Magic Story About Perseverance

Dr. David Shareef’s journey is remarkable because it cannot be defined by only one accomplishment. He is a magician who has performed internationally, a martial artist who reached the eighth-degree black-belt level and a scholar who earned a doctorate in psychology. He is also a survivor who overcame major health setbacks and found his way back to the work he loves.

The new Salmond Sit Down segment captures the full arc of that story—from a young student inspired by Muhammad Ali to an experienced Las Vegas magician once again entertaining audiences.

For magicians and magic fans, Shareef’s story is a reminder that performance is about more than techniques or secrets. The strongest magic often begins with character, perseverance and the ability to make an audience believe that the impossible may still be within reach.

Cosentino Brings TRICKED: An Evening of Wonder to Whyalla

 Internationally recognized Australian illusionist and escape artist Cosentino is bringing his newest theatrical production to Whyalla, South Australia, for one night only.

TRICKED: An Evening of Wonder will be presented at Middleback Theatre on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. The performance is part of Cosentino’s regional Australian tour and promises an ambitious mixture of large-scale illusions, close-up magic, mentalism and daring escapes.

The upcoming appearance was highlighted by The Whyalla News, which described the production as Cosentino’s biggest and most ambitious live show to date.

A Full-Scale Magic Production for Whyalla

TRICKED is designed as more than a sequence of individual magic tricks. The show combines theatrical lighting, music, choreography and audience interaction to create an immersive journey through Cosentino’s mysterious world.

Audiences can expect grand illusions large enough to fill the stage, intimate magical moments and escapes intended to place the performer in seemingly impossible situations.

The production is scheduled to run approximately 110 minutes, giving Cosentino time to explore several different forms of magic. That variety should make the show accessible to devoted magic fans as well as families experiencing a major theatrical illusion production for the first time.

According to the official Country Arts SA event listing, the performance is suitable for audiences ages five and older. The show includes strobe lighting, theatrical haze and loud music.

Cosentino’s Combination of Magic, Dance and Danger

Cosentino has developed a performance style that combines traditional magic with contemporary dance, theatrical storytelling and escapology.

Rather than presenting every illusion as a formal demonstration, he surrounds the magic with movement, music and strong visual imagery. His background in dance also gives his productions a faster and more physical style than many conventional stage-magic shows.

Escapes have become another defining part of his career. They introduce genuine tension into the performance, asking audiences to watch as Cosentino attempts to free himself from increasingly dangerous-looking situations.

That combination of spectacle and danger helped introduce him to a national audience when he finished as the runner-up on Australia’s Got Talent in 2011.

From Australia’s Got Talent to an International Career

Cosentino has since become one of Australia’s most recognizable magical entertainers.

In 2013, he demonstrated another side of his performance ability by winning Dancing with the Stars Australia. His television specials have subsequently been broadcast in more than 40 countries, helping his blend of illusion and escapology reach an international audience.

Cosentino also appeared as himself alongside Jackie Chan in the 2017 science-fiction action film Bleeding Steel. Beyond television and film, his touring productions have played throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

His official biography lists several Merlin Awards, including recognition as International Magician of the Year and International Escape Artist of the Year. Read more about Cosentino’s career.

Bringing Major Magic Productions to Regional Audiences

The Whyalla performance is part of a regional tour that takes TRICKED beyond Australia’s largest cities.

Touring a full illusion production presents challenges that smaller theatrical shows do not face. Large props, specialized lighting, sound, scenery and safety equipment must all travel between venues and be adapted to fit different stages.

The result, however, gives regional audiences an opportunity to experience the kind of large-scale magic production that might otherwise be available only in major metropolitan theaters.

Middleback Theatre provides an established performing-arts setting where Cosentino can present the theatrical scale of TRICKED while maintaining a stronger connection with the audience than might be possible in a massive arena.

More South Australian Performances Follow Whyalla

Following the Whyalla engagement, Cosentino’s regional tour will continue through several additional South Australian communities.

Upcoming performances include:

• August 24 at Chaffey Theatre in Renmark
• August 26 at Northern Festival Centre in Port Pirie
• August 29 at Barossa Arts Centre in Tanunda

The tour then continues into September with performances scheduled in Narre Warren, Wonthaggi, Wangaratta and Sale. The complete schedule is available through Cosentino’s official tour page.

A Night of Magic for the Entire Family

Cosentino’s Whyalla appearance offers audiences a chance to see several branches of the magical arts brought together in one production.

Fans of grand illusion can enjoy the spectacle, while those who prefer close-up magic and mind reading will find smaller mysteries included throughout the evening. The escape sequences add suspense, and the choreography helps connect the individual routines into a cohesive theatrical experience.

For young audience members, the show could provide their first opportunity to see a nationally recognized illusionist perform live. For longtime magic fans, it offers a chance to experience how Cosentino continues to combine classic magical ideas with modern staging and his own highly physical performance style.

TRICKED: An Evening of Wonder will be presented at Middleback Theatre in Whyalla on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets and complete event information are available through Country Arts SA.

Keelan Leyser Brings AI, Robots and Magic to Mandalay Bay in HACKED

 British magician and digital illusionist Keelan Leyser is bringing a distinctly technological vision of magic to the Las Vegas Strip with his new production, HACKED.

Now playing at Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, HACKED combines traditional magic and mentalism with artificial intelligence, robotics, live screens and a retro-futuristic atmosphere inspired by the 1980s.

The show represents the fulfillment of a dream that began when Leyser was only four years old. His journey from watching Lance Burton on television to starring in his own Las Vegas production was recently detailed in an exclusive interview with Melanie VanDerveer for The Blast.

A Childhood Dream Inspired by Lance Burton

Leyser’s interest in magic began after seeing Lance Burton portray a Las Vegas magician on an episode of Knight Rider. The appearance inspired him to request his first magic set and begin learning everything he could about the art.

Several years later, Leyser watched a world-champion magician perform an elegant dove act on television. He eventually realized that performer was also Burton.

The young magician began modeling his aspirations on the Las Vegas legend, although moving from the United Kingdom and opening a show on the Strip seemed almost impossible.

Years later, Leyser contacted Burton and shared videos of his work. Burton responded with a letter of recommendation that became part of Leyser’s effort to obtain a United States green card. Support also came from Teller, Uri Geller and the president of The Magic Circle, alongside Leyser’s British awards and television credits.

That assistance helped him relocate to Las Vegas and move closer to the dream he had carried since childhood.

HACKED Combines Magic With Modern Technology

The idea behind HACKED began developing approximately a decade ago. Leyser already had experience incorporating contemporary technology—including tablets, drones, holograms and virtual reality—into his performances.

As artificial intelligence and advanced robotics became part of everyday conversation, he saw an opportunity to build a theatrical magic experience around the questions those technologies create.

Can audiences still trust what they see? Could an artificial intelligence predict someone’s decisions? Would viewers recognize a deepfake? What parts of human creativity and connection can never be replaced by a machine?

Rather than simply adding technology to a conventional magic show, HACKED uses those questions as part of its story. According to the official production website, the show is part live magic performance, part cyber-mystery and part immersive theatrical experience.

Meet LILA, the Show’s Live AI Character

One of HACKED’s central characters is LILA, the Lazer Interactive Logical Assistant.

Designed with a retro-futuristic personality reminiscent of early visions of artificial intelligence, LILA is presented as a live AI presence that watches, listens and responds inside the theater.

Leyser told The Blast that the character is not particularly fond of magicians, despite being forced to work alongside one. LILA scans the room, interacts with guests and humorously targets audience members as part of the production.

The character also helps the show explore serious concerns surrounding AI-generated content and deepfakes. Those themes are balanced with comedy, magic and a broader message about qualities technology cannot reproduce—including empathy, imagination, human touch and the ability to dream.

Humanoid Robots and a Magic-Performing K9

LILA is not the show’s only technological character.

The production also features Navitron, an autonomous humanoid robot that appears alongside Leyser during the performance. The official website describes Navitron as an adaptive robotic operative capable of observing and responding in real time.

A four-legged robotic K9 unit also enters the action and performs an unexpected magical feat of its own.

Leyser says these appearances represent the first humanoid robot and robot dog to perform magic on the Las Vegas Strip. Those claims give HACKED an unusual position in a city already filled with innovative illusion shows.

The technology does not replace traditional magic. Audiences can still expect sleight of hand, mind reading, mentalism and interactive routines alongside the robotic performers and digital effects.

An Intimate and Interactive Las Vegas Experience

HACKED is presented inside Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce, an intimate cabaret-style venue located at Mandalay Bay.

The room initially presented some challenges because magic must be carefully staged around audience sightlines. Leyser adapted the production to embrace the venue instead of trying to transform it into a conventional theater.

The smaller space allows guests to remain close to the performance and gives Leyser opportunities to interact with people throughout the room. Numerous audience members are invited to participate, while others may find themselves incorporated into LILA’s surveillance-themed presentation.

That intimacy is especially useful for a show combining close-up magic, mentalism and behavioral observation. Guests are not watching the production from a distant seat in a massive showroom—they are placed inside the experience.

Vegas Navigator Helped Leyser Build His Audience

Many Las Vegas residents and visitors know Leyser through a very different identity: Vegas Navigator.

After moving to the city, Leyser recognized that producing a show was only part of the challenge. He would also need to create an audience capable of supporting it.

He launched Vegas Navigator as a social-media platform highlighting Las Vegas attractions, events and experiences. Instead of making the account entirely about himself or his magic career, he focused on the city.

The strategy allowed him to build relationships with local creators, public-relations companies and members of the Las Vegas entertainment community. Leyser described the project as becoming his own “marketing machine,” providing him with a Vegas-focused following before revealing his new production.

Interestingly, many of his social-media followers knew him as a Las Vegas content creator without realizing that he had spent decades working as a professional magician.

A Modern Show With a Nostalgic Heart

Although HACKED explores some of the newest developments in entertainment technology, the show also looks backward.

Its ’80s-inspired aesthetic connects the production to Leyser’s childhood and to an era when artificial intelligence, home computers and robots were still largely the subjects of science fiction.

The combination gives the show a distinctive personality. Audiences encounter modern AI and robotics through the visual language of an earlier generation’s imagined future.

Beneath all the screens, lasers and robotic characters, however, HACKED remains a story about a magician who refused to abandon a childhood dream.

From watching Lance Burton on television in the United Kingdom to starring in his own production at Mandalay Bay, Keelan Leyser’s journey is an inspiring reminder that the most ambitious ideas can become real through persistence, creativity and years of preparation.

Where to See HACKED in Las Vegas

HACKED is playing at Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, located at 3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas.

Show information and tickets are available through the official HACKED website.