Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Media Contact:
Lucy Friedman-Bell, PULSE Fellow
friedman@trustarts.org | 412-894-4202
Liberty Magic 2020-2021 Season Assets
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Announces
2020-2021 LIBERTY MAGIC SEASON
2020-2021 Liberty Magic Season and Liberty Magic @ Home series bring creativity and connection to Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is excited to announce the 2020-2021 Liberty Magic season, featuring a diverse lineup of magicians, including international innovators, world-renowned masters, and local luminaries. After a time of such uncertainty and fear, the art of magic has the power to remind us all of the warmth, wonder, and unpredictability of human connection – to lead us out of the darkness and isolation, like a red thread.
“What makes Liberty Magic a unique experience is its roots in parlor magic – a type of magic performed in an intimate space without a stage, breaking down the barrier between performer and audience and bringing out the inexplicable and fantastic in the interaction between them,” says Scott Shiller, Vice President of Artistic Planning for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Producer of Liberty Magic. “The 2020-2021 Liberty Magic season will give Pittsburgh audiences the opportunity to connect with some of the greatest magicians in the world. What happens at Liberty Magic sticks with you even after you leave the venue, making you wonder – if that’s possible, what else is? After these times of isolation, it is easy to lose the magic in everyday life and in everyday connections, and that is what Liberty Magic will bring us all back to.”
The first two rows of the theater are reserved for the truly adventurous. The Skeleton Key VIP Experience unlocks these first two rows in our theater, as well as a chance to become part of the performance (if you wish) and an exclusive meet and greet with the artist after the show, which includes private, close-up tricks. Members of the Skeleton Key VIP Experience can also purchase merchandise not for sale to the general public.
Subscription tickets are available now and can be purchased at TrustArts.org/Magic or by calling 412-456-1390. Subscribers receive first access as new acts come to town, along with other benefits such as flexible dates, the lowest prices, dining discounts, and more.
Single show tickets will be available for purchase in advance of each show's opening. Tickets can be purchased online at TrustArts.org/Magic, via phone at 412-456-6666, or in person at the Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Avenue. Tickets for groups of 10 people or more are available at a discounted price. Visit TrustArts.org/GroupSales to learn more.
LIBERTY MAGIC @ HOME
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is excited to announce Liberty Magic @ Home: a series of free livestreamed shows available every Friday at 7:30 p.m. on the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust YouTube Channel and Facebook Page, YouTube.com/CulturalTrust and Facebook.com/CulturalTrust. These sessions, hosted by Zoe Ruth, Venue Manager of Liberty Magic, will invite world-renowned magicians to our digital theater for conversation and magic tricks. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is excited to share up-close, personal experiences with some of the legends of magic. Visit Trustarts.Org/Magic to learn more.
2020-2021 LIBERTY MAGIC 2020-2021 SEASON SCHEDULE
Chris Capehart in Journey of the Master
Wednesday, September 16 – Sunday, October 25, 2020
Chris Capehart is an accomplished master, respected throughout the world by the most famous of magicians and sought after for repeat performances by critics and audience members alike. Over four decades Chris has performed in the world’s most prominent theaters, become an accomplished street performer, created routines for the biggest names in magic, and conquered the ancient techniques behind the linking rings. His skills in the art of close-up performance are no less than astonishing. He has been published and imitated throughout the world. Last, but not least, he was featured on the cover of Genii Magazine, where it took 23 pages to tell his story.
If you want to earn the journey, master the moment. Journey of the Master is the amazing true story of Chris Capehart and how he came to be regarded as "one of the important forces in magic today.” Chris’ one-man tour-de-force transforms century’s old magical props into modern, mind blowing, close-up illusions. Journey of the Master combines wit, comedy, and deception to amaze and thrill. As the ancient Chinese proverb states, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Join us at Liberty Magic as we kick off our second subscription series and see why Chris Capehart is held in such high esteem by magicians around the world.
Jon Tai in Zen & The Art of Mystery
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 – Sunday, January 3, 2021
Pittsburgh’s own Jon Tai is a performer with an eclectic background. A Cornell graduate with a degree in Psychology and minors in Information Science, Theater, and Philosophy, Jon has studied the craft of magic, mystery, and mindreading for the last seventeen years. His unique and personal approach to magic blurs the boundaries between fact and fiction. More than just tricks, his performances explore the questions and quirks of life through storytelling, letting guests be part of the fabric of the show, and connecting people through the shared experience of wonder and mystery.
After selling out his first headlining gig at Liberty Magic, Jon Tai returns by popular demand with his brand-new show, Zen & The Art of Mystery. A sophisticated and modern take on magic, Jon will make you laugh, gasp in astonishment, and leave you reveling in the inexplicable. Designed with the intimacy of Liberty Magic in mind, this poignant performance combines card magic and mentalism studied from all walks of the world, bringing you a truly inspiring and life affirming exploration of wonder and the role of magic in our modern lives.
Alba in Conexiones
Wednesday, January 6 – Sunday, February 14, 2021
Alba became the first female magician from South America to appear at Hollywood’s famous Magic Castle, going on to perform hundreds of shows (and counting) on all three of their main stages. Her tools of the trade are her magnetic personality, theatrical training, sleight-of-hand, and sleight-of-mind, plus a deep respect for the audience. This delicate combination has earned her international notoriety. She has written a book about restaurant magic and was featured in the 2018 novel The Secret History of Magic. Her work has been highlighted in many newspapers, magazines, and TV shows. A native of Argentina, Alba now travels the world sharing her unique style of magic.
Conexiones (Spanish for ‘connections’) stars international superstar Alba, as she introduces us to the Buenos Aires philosophy of magic: “The magic you are experiencing right now, at this moment, has never happened before and will never be repeated.” More than just a magic show, this is a unique experience that comes from the exploration of magical moments between Alba and the audience. Conexiones creates a wonderful gathering place filled with unusual stories, unexpected endings, prestidigitation, and more questions than answers. It will open doors to connections that we didn't know existed. It's an adventure in amazement and self-discovery, filled with laughs and emotions ... just like life itself! Performed entirely in English.
Henry Evans in The Enchanted Cards of Buenos Aires
Wednesday, February 17 – Sunday, March 28, 2021
No one is faster or more skilled with a deck of cards than Henry Evans. Nicknamed ‘Argentina's merry magician’ Henry is a FISM (the Olympics of Magic) European Champion. A performer, lecturer and creator of innovative card effects, Henry has become famous around the globe for his original and self-choreographed card routines. Recognized for excellence in over 40 countries, he holds more international championship wins than any other living performer. Henry has appeared on hit television shows worldwide, including Argentina, Chile, Spain, Lisbon, Japan, China, and Korea. Audiences around the globe revel in the grace, precision, and humor of Henry’s performance style. The best part of any Henry Evans show is that almost all of the magic happens in the audience’s hands.
Never before seen on U.S. soil, The Enchanted Cards of Buenos Aires brings one of Henry’s most popular performances to Pittsburgh as an American premiere. Part of Liberty Magic’s Focus on Argentina Series, The Enchanted Cards of Buenos Aires demonstrates why Henry Evans is regarded as the best card magician in the world. Every audience member in the theater has a perfect seat to witness over 52 mini-miracles each and every night. Deck after deck after deck, cards transform, suits change, and aces fly. With a whisper and a chuckle, Henry speaks to the cards and they bend to his will while resting in the hands of Liberty Magic’s guests. Don’t miss the show’s finale when a dozen strangers take the stage to reconstruct a magical feat only attempted once before in American history.
Steve Valentine in Life & Other Deceptions
Wednesday, March 31 – Sunday, May 9, 2021
As the star of NBC's Crossing Jordan, Disney's I'm in The Band, Major Crimes, The Big Bang Theory, Mike and Molly, Hot In Cleveland, Anger Management and over 200 hours of TV and film, Steve Valentine has carved out a unique place for himself in show business, constantly changing and morphing into a myriad of wild, quirky, funny, dangerous, and always unique characters. However, few know that Steve Valentine is internationally recognized as one of the greatest sleight-of-hand artists in the world, having received four coveted awards from the world-famous Magic Castle alone. He was named Close-up Magician of the Year two years in a row and most recently Lecturer of the Year. Steve has travelled the world, performing in over 25 different countries, and had the honor of entertaining our troops overseas. Pittsburgh audiences will surely recognize Steve as the scene stealing Conjurer in the Broadway production of The Illusionists Magic of the Holidays, which came to Heinz Hall in December 2019.
After years of honing his comedic chops on the stage and screen, Steve Valentine has finally merged his two loves - magic and acting - to create his autobiographical theater show, Life & Other Deceptions. Fusing his well known, wicked, and cheeky sense of humor with incredible magic and masterful storytelling, this hit one-man show takes you on a wild ride through Steve Valentine’s life, featuring fascinating stories, never before seen magic, and incredible sleight-of-hand. Part performance art and part intricate magic act, this show is hilarious, dramatic, touching, intimate, raunchy, and mind blowing.
Life & Other Deceptions was originally produced by James Baron at Two Roads Theatre in December of 2016, created and performed by Steve Valentine, with additional material by Chipper Lowell and Chris Philpott with stage direction by Chipper Lowell.
Paul Gertner in Steel City Sleight of Hand
Wednesday, May 12 – Sunday, May 23, 2021
Paul Gertner is widely recognized as one of the finest sleight-of-hand magicians in the world today. Paul holds multiple first place awards in international competitions, including a First Place at FISM (the Olympics of Magic) in Madrid, Spain. He has received Magician of the Year awards from the Magic Castle in Hollywood three times. Paul was the magic teacher to TV star Johnny Carson and has created magic for David Copperfield’s TV specials. He has performed in 40 countries, including a sold-out tour of 31 cities throughout China. Paul has been featured on NBC’s The Tonight Show and World’s Greatest Magic as well as ABC’s That’s Incredible! Paul is the only magician to appear on Penn & Teller: Fool Us three (or four) times, taking home multiple trophies. He even performed at the inauguration of the President of the United States!
Steel City Sleight of Hand is Paul’s newest 75-minute program of innovative theatrical sleight-of-hand magic based on his sell-out residency at the historic Omni Park House in Boston. A love letter to growing up in Pittsburgh, every magical effect is original material, created and performed in the unique Paul Gertner style. Watch closely -- you will not believe your eyes! He has fooled Penn & Teller (over and over), but can he fool you? This evening of close-up storytelling will fill you with wonder for years to come. Designed for adults and perfect for a date night, don’t miss this limited two-week engagement that is only available to Liberty Magic subscribers. And Paul’s extensive Pittsburgh family.
2020-2021 LIBERTY MAGIC SEASON SPECIAL
Lee Terbosic in The Life and Death of Harry Houdini
Thursday, October 29 – Sunday, November 29, 2020
The great Harry Houdini left this earth at exactly 1:26 p.m. on Halloween in 1926, but the secrets behind his life still fascinate the public to this very day. Join Lee Terbosic, widely considered one of the foremost magical experts on Houdini, on a remarkable exploration of the mysteries surrounding Houdini’s astonishing life and tragic death at the age of 52. In this updated and expanded one-man play, Lee recreates some of Houdini’s most magical moments nearly 100 years after the legend’s passing. Step back in time to become a party guest in Houdini’s home at 278 West 113th Street in Harlem, New York on the very last evening the master escape artist ever spent there. This intriguing story will leave you wondering what else Houdini had up his sleeve after he passed. The Life and Death of Harry Houdini returns after an incredibly successful run of performances during its 2019 debut at Liberty Magic.
Lee Terbosic is an internationally touring magician, comedian, actor, daredevil, and entertainer from Pittsburgh, PA who is proving that anything is possible. Lee is the co-star of Discovery Science Channel’s recent smash Houdini’s Last Secrets, a four-part TV docuseries that uncovers incredible secrets behind Harry Houdini’s life, family, and magic with Lee performing some of his most mind-bending stunts and escapes. Lee’s commitment and love for the city of Pittsburgh is no secret, with his stunt in 2016 Houdini 100 that garnered international attention, hometown show residency 52 Up Close at Hotel Monaco, and KDKA Pittsburgh Today Live TV series Monday Magic. Lee served as artistic advisor for the inaugural season of Liberty Magic.
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Liberty Magic is a space dedicated to elevating the art of magic. Located at 811 Liberty, on the same block where Harry Houdini mesmerized Pittsburgh crowds in 1916, Liberty Magic is an intimate, speakeasy performance space dedicated to the art of sleight of hand and prestidigitation. With less than 70 seats in four rows, the magicians and performers who appear at Liberty Magic offer you a one-of-a-kind experience that is easy to access and hard to forget. TrustArts.org/Magic
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts.
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