After three monthly shows with seats filled to capacity, the Denver Magic Show is on a roll. Held on the first Monday of the month at the intimate Avenue Theater in North Capitol Hill, the Denver Magic Show has demonstrated that there is a demand for grown-up caliber magic.
Each show features 3 or 4 magicians, each bringing a unique performing style to the stage. Next month’s show (on Monday, September 3 – Labor Day) will feature co-founder Gregg Tobo as the headliner.
Tobo cut his teeth performing on the Fringe Festival circuit that took him across the country from Washington DC to Hollywood, CA. His theatrical training led him to create a different kind of magic show – a show that fools the mind while it inspires the heart. And the Denver Magic Show is his latest endeavor to bring high quality magic to Denver.
“We knew the demand was out there. Magic for grown-ups can be seen on “America’s Got Talent,” on “Penn & Teller’s Fool Us,” on social media. But until now, there hasn’t been a good Denver venue for seeing live magic,” says Tobo. And, he says, the real test for any performing art is how the live audience responds.
Tobo has been performing magic as his full-time profession for twelve years and was deeply influenced by the many productions he worked on while studying theater at the University of Colorado. It was his theatrical experience that led him to combine storytelling with his magic.
“Storytelling is the most fundamental art,” says Tobo. “As soon as we acquire the language to dramatize an event from our lives, we begin perfecting the art of storytelling.”
So what kind of magic will you see from Tobo at the Denver Magic Show?
“My work is old-school magic show,” explains Tobo. “Sleight-of-hand magic like you’d have seen 300 years ago…before the iPhone, before the Internet, before bits and bytes. And the amazing thing is: it still mystifies people today.
“But we have two other magicians on the bill next month. Shawn Preston is a very funny comedy magician, and William Rader (the show’s other co-founder) brings a younger and more contemporary approach to magic.”
Watching Tobo perform, one can feel the deep respect he has for his art and for his audience. Nothing is done casually or frivolously. The great care taken in selecting and crafting his magic is evident throughout the show. His performance is different from the typical “pounding music, lasers, and fog” style magic show and more like a conversation with a friend (who just happens to have strange powers).
Tobo says the process of creating a new show is like writing a story: searching for a beginning that develops into a middle that leads to a satisfying ending. He is fascinated by the history of stage magic and has spent countless hours doing research in this largely unexplored field.
“I love to uncover forgotten stories, lost anecdotes, things that can put the magic in context and give it meaning for today’s audience,” says Tobo. “Stage magic in the West can be traced back to the late 1300s. Of course there are some earlier references, but the further back you go the murkier it gets and it becomes hard to separate fact from fiction.”
His extended exploration of magic has taught him that magic is more than mere trickery. For Tobo magic filters the way he sees the world – a world-view that he wants to share with his audiences.
“The purpose of magic is to remind you that anything is possible,” Tobo declares. “It awakens us to the fact that there are mysteries in the world that no science can fathom. And that is a wonderful thing.”
“Science is a good thing too,” he quickly adds. “But life is more than just an accumulation of facts and knowledge. And the existence of mystery allows us to experience humility, to know our place in the Universe.”
The next performance will be on September 3, 2018 (Labor Day) at 7:30pm. Tickets are on sale now.
SHOW DETAILS
WHEN: Monday, September 3, 2018 at 7:30pm
WHERE: Avenue Theatre, 417 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
PRICE: $20
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