PRESS & REVIEWS

BWW Review:
MAGIC MONDAY Brings Astonishing Magicians
to the Santa Monica Playhouse

 

by Shari Barrett for Broadwayworld.com Los-Angeles  |  Apr. 10, 2019

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Albie Selznick, a lifetime member of the Magic Castle and the creator and performer of the hit theatrical magic show Smoke and Mirrors, brings his signature MAGIC MONDAY back to the Santa Monica Playhouse every Monday evening through the end of August. Every week delivers a fresh lineup of world-class, award-winning magicians and standout variety acts from The Magic Castle,America's Got Talent, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Masters of Illusion, and Wizard Wars, promising a memorable season of show-stopping feats that include sleight of hand, interactive parlor magic, and mind-blowing illusions.

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Every week, the first entertainer kicks off the evening at 7:30pm on the outdoor patio before the 8pm show inside the Playhouse's main stage theater. Don't forget to fill out a raffle ticket, since Magic Castle passes are handed out to those lucky enough to be chosen. Performances welcome everyone, are recommended for ages 8 and up, and run about 75 minutes...

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Magician & actor Albie Selznick

Photo by Courtnay Robbins Bragagnolo

Magic Missionary

Santa Monica’s Albie Selznick spreads the gospel of illusion

by Evan Henerson for The Argonaut

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Your child has been begging for more ever since that birthday party where a magician sawed a woman in half and pulled live rabbits from her stomach. Yet you don't know anyone at the members-only club of clubs, The Magic Castle, and you don't have the cash for a Vegas getaway. The YouTube clips and TV specials have worn thin. You want magic, and you want it live.

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Longtime actor-magician Albie Selznick not only understands that void, he has found a way to fill it: by giving a group of his magical friends a stage to perform their best routines and test out new illusions.

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Beginning May 2, a rotating roster of more than 20 illusionists takes the stage at the Santa Monica Playhouse for the second edition of Magic Monday. Selznick and producer Michelle Grant have booked eight May and June dates, hoping the variety show will grow into a long-running engagement with a new group of magicians each night...

Magic Monday Comes Back This May at the Santa Monica Playhouse

by BWW News Desk for Broadway World Los Angeles

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Feel the excitement of magic and captivating illusions with a rotating cast of master magicians each week in the Magic Monday cabaret at the Santa Monica Playhouse from May 2 through June 27.

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Created by the same team and star Albie Selznick behind the theatrical hit Smoke and Mirrors, this weekly variety show stands apart in Los Angeles for its accessibility and entertainment value. Everyone is welcome to see the finest in prestidigitation, the newest mind-blowing acts and unbelievable feats in an intimate setting that puts magic up close and personal, with a rotating roster of renowned magicians seen on TV and at popular venues worldwide.

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Following the successful Magic Monday shows at the Odyssey Theatre last year, this eagerly awaited series returns to the Santa Monica Playhouse for eight performances. Each show introduces a new lineup of world-renowned magicians, making every night a one-of-a-kind evening of magical entertainment...

Imaginary childhood companion Trix helps Albie escape his fear box

Photo by Michelle Grant

Review: A Grand Transformation Act in the Magic Show 'Smoke and Mirrors'

Critics Choice

by Philip Brandes for Los Angeles Times

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What frightens you the most? By asking the audience that question right at the start of his “Smoke and Mirrors” theatrical magic show at the Promenade Playhouse in Santa Monica, Albie Selznick sets the evening's central theme: conquering fear as a driver of extraordinary achievement.

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As an actor-magician, Selznick carries strong credentials in both fields — he is a company member of NoHo's the Road Theatre (which co-produced this show) and a lifetime member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood — though it is mainly his experiences in the latter role that drive this 90-minute semi-autobiographical narrative weaving together feats of illusion and legerdemain.

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Without giving away too much of the surprise, it's fair to say right away that the magic tricks — whether transforming objects, levitating or demonstrating telepathic powers — are first-rate...

'Smoke and Mirrors' creator possesses a magic touch

by Evan Henerson for Jewish Journal

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There may come a day when writer-actor Albie Selznick calls his magic-infused theatrical performance "Smoke and Mirrors" a finished work, but audiences probably shouldn't hold their breath. Since Selznick describes himself as a perfectionist and workaholic — and because there are always new illusions to learn — "Smoke and Mirrors" may keep evolving as long as its creator is willing to tinker. 

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"It has been constant rewriting, working, rewriting, working,” he said. “It's just never good enough. I keep finding ways it could be better. But I feel this is the closest it has ever come to being as good as it can be."

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Imperfect or not, the autobiographical show has been embraced by audiences and critics alike, earning Critic's Choice honors from the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly...