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The 2002 Performers (in order of their appearance)
Max
Maven :: Marc DeSouza :: René
Lavand :: Robert E. Neale
Eugene
Burger :: Jeff McBride :: Abbi Spinner
:: Lawrence Hass
Max
Maven is the master mindreader of contemporary magic.
He has performed his highly acclaimed form of participatory theater in over two dozen countries. He has appeared on hundreds of television and radio programs, top talk shows, and variety specials including The World's Greatest Magic (1994, 1995, 1997), General Hospital, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Champions of Magic, The Art of Magic, The Secret World. He has also hosted and developed network series and specials in Japan (performing in Japanese), Thailand, the UK (Something Strange with Max Maven, Max Mystery Show, Heroes of Magic), Canada (The MAXimum Dimension), Norway, Sweden, and others.
Max is particularly well-known for his pioneering work in interactive broadcasting. He created the groundbreaking video Max Maven Mindgames for MCA and the acclaimed interactive computer game, Max Magic. His games are also featured in Caesars Magical Empire, performed by a holographic wizard named "Maximus Maven."
In 2000, Magic magazine named Max one of the "100 Most Influential Magicians of the Twentieth Century." He has received World Magic Awards for "Best Mentalist" and "Interactive Magic." In 1988 he received the Tenkai Prize, the highest award in Japanese magic. Max has also been named Lecturer of the Year by the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood, and in 1998 he was the recipient of a Creative Fellowship from that organization.
Beyond these many achievements and honors, Max has published over 1700 creations in the conjuring literature, and been an advisor to over a hundred television shows, consulting with David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Doug Henning, Penn & Teller, Lance Burton, and many others.
On September 3, 2002 Max Maven will offer a lecture for magicians (limited seating available; click here for details). On September 4, 2002 Max will inaugurate the Magic Program by performing his full evening show, "Max Maven in Concert," in the Baker Theater. On September 5, 2002 he will offer a performance-talk, "The Dark Ride: Exploring the Aesthetics of Mystery," in the Recital Hall.
Marc
DeSouza is an internationally recognized performer, inventor, author, and teacher
of magic. His work has been featured throughout North America, Europe, and Japan.
Marc's reputation has been established through a remarkable series of awards. He is the only two-time winner of the Society of American Magicians National Stage Magic Competition (1978, 1989). In 1993, he became the first magician in the history of the International Brotherhood of Magicians to place in both the "Stage Magic" and "Close-up Magic" International Competitions in the same years. In 1995, Marc became the first magician in that organization's history to win the prestigious Silver Medal in both the "Stage" and "Close-up" categories.
Marc made magical history again in July of 1996 when he became only one of two magicians ever to win "First Place" in "Close-up Magic" at both the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians competitions in the same year. As National Champion, Marc represented the S. A. M. at the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM) competition held in Dresen, Germany in 1997. This competition is only held every three years and is known the "Olympics of Magic." In February 2001, Marc was one of twenty magicians chosen nationwide to perform in Washington D.C. as part of the Presidential Inaugural activities.
Besides this history of extraordinary performance, Marc has authored a number of instructional manuscripts and video tapes for magicians featuring his own magical creations, most recently Award Winning Close-up Magic and Prize Winning Stage Magic. He is also the writer and performer of the CD-ROM, Magic: An Insider's View hosted by TV's Harry Anderson. Marc also served as magical consultant for the highly successful Off-Broadway show, Marc Salem's Mind Games, as well as Landis and Company's national tours of Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. Additionally, Marc was an advisor to The Theory and Art of Magic, Series I and served as one of the Instructional Jurors for the student performances in the studio arts course on magic that semester.
On Monday, September 30, Marc DeSouza will present "The History of Magic Through Performance" in the Recital Hall.
René
Lavand is the greatest living artist of magic with playing cards.
In his long, distinguished career, Señor Lavand has received countless awards and recognitions for his artistic achievements. He has been the featured performer, multiple times, at every major national and international magic convention. He has been seen on television many times, starting with The Ed Sullivan Show in 1962; he was recently featured on World's Greatest Magic (1995). His richly poetic presentations and original techniques have been the subject of several books and video tapes for magicians, including Magic From the Soul (1993) and The Mysteries of My Life (1998). As magicians all over the world regard him, René Lavand is "maestro."
These extraordinary achievements are amazing in themselves, but they are doubly so when one learns that René has only one hand. Losing the use of his right hand in an automobile accident when he was nine years old, René Lavand has created card magic from scratch, having to re-define highly sophisticated sleight of hand technique for performance with one hand. But this is not why René Lavand is so celebrated among magicians. As Mike Caveney has put it: "We [magicians] have all read. . .how routines should have meaning and be presented with emotion so that our audiences will care about what we do. Never have I seen this theory so graphically demonstrated than by this man who is unique in all the world. His. . .themes include love and life and truth. Card tricks are, for him, a means by which he can bare his soul." Indeed, René Lavand performs magic that is, at once, moving, inspiring, and unforgettable.
Coming to us direct from Tandíl, Argentina, on Wednesday, October 23, 2002, René Lavand will perform his full evening show with translation, "René Lavand, Magic From the Soul (René Lavand, Magia del Alma)," in the Recital Hall. On Thursday afternoon, October 24, he will present a talk, "A Magical Conversation with René Lavand," followed later that evening by a repeat performance of his full evening show in Spanish only.
Robert
E. Neale is a highly-acclaimed scholar, teacher, and creator of magic.
As an ordained minister, Robert taught twenty-four years as Professor of Psychiatry and Religion at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Since leaving Union, he has become a celebrated writer about and creator of magic; his performance ideas and novel illusions are being used by magicians all over the world. His books on magic include Life, Death, and Other Cards Tricks, Tricks of the Imagination, Tricks of the Imagination II, Magic and Meaning (with Eugene Burger), and Folding Money Fooling. He is the author of the scholarly books In Praise of Play, and The Art of Dying.
In The Theory and Art of Magic, Series I, Robert presented a series of three scholarly talks exploring the nature of illusion ("Psychological Illusions," "Spiritual Illusions," and "Performance Illusions"). Given the extraordinary reception of these talks - at the College and upon publication - we are delighted to have Robert return for a two-part series of talks on the nature of wonder.
On November 6, 2002, Robert E. Neale will provide a lecture, "Will Wonders Ever Cease," in the Recital Hall. On November 7, Robert will offer a lecture-workshop, "Wonderwork," exploring other themes in Seegers 108-110.
Eugene
Burger is one of the most influential magicians of our times.
As an internationally famous performer, he has amazed and delighted audiences from Las Vegas to Tokyo. He has appeared on television numerous times in Great Britain, Canada, Belgium, Finland, and Japan, and in the United States on such highly acclaimed shows as The Art of Magic (PBS) and Mysteries of Magic (The Learning Channel). He has been profiled twice on CNN. In 1998 and 1999 Eugene was named "Close-up Magician of the Year" by the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood. In 1998 he was the star of "Hauntings: A Shakespearean Séance" produced by the Shakespeare Festival of Los Angeles. In 1999 Eugene starred with Jeff McBride in "The Forbidden Secret of Magic," a show that played to rave reviews in Los Angeles.
Eugene Burger is also one of the great teachers and thinkers of the art of magic. He has written fifteen best-selling books for magicians, including The Experience of Magic, The Performance of Close-up Magic, Mastering the Art of Magic, Spirit Theater, and Magic and Meaning (with Robert E. Neale). He has starred in eight instructional videos, has lectured extensively to magicians' groups in over a dozen countries, and his writings have been translated into several languages. Indeed, his deep understanding of the psychology and philosophy behind magic have won him international accolades, and he has twice been named "Lecturer of the Year" by the Academy of Magical Arts. In 2000, Magic magazine named Eugene one of the "One Hundred Most Influential Magicians of the Twentieth Century."
Eugene inaugurated the First Series of The Theory and Art of Magic at Muhlenberg in Fall 1999. No program of this sort would be complete without his amazing presence and talent, so we are proud to bring him back as part of the Finalé for the Second Series
On November 14, 2002, Eugene Burger will offer a new performance-lecture, "The Secret of Magic: A Lecture-Demonstration," in the Recital Hall. On November 15, he will offer a lecture for magicians, "The Mystery of Myself: Uncovering Magical Personas" (seating limited available; click here for details). On November 20, 2002, he will star with Jeff McBride (along with Abbi Spinner) in "McBride Magic – The Secret Art" in Empie Theater.
Jeff
McBride is the leading innovator in contemporary magic. His magic is an unforgettable,
signature fusion of mask, myth, drama, and illusion. As Glenn Collins of the
New York Times puts it: "What Mr. McBride gives his audiences is
a mesmerizing performance. . .a magic show that is at once a celebration of
mystery and a struggle to understand powerful forces."
Jeff McBride currently headlines at Caesars Magical Empire in Las Vegas, where he was recently voted Critics' Choice as Best Magician in Las Vegas in the Review-Journal annual poll. Last year he was the featured attraction at the Monte Carlo Festival of Magic. Recently, his performances also have been featured on Champions of Magic (ABC), The Art of Magic (PBS), and World's Greatest Magic (NBC).
Prior to these successes, Jeff McBride's grand illusion spectaculars had been seen and widely acclaimed on three continents. His show, McBride - Real Magic, broke house records in Atlantic City. Earlier that season McBride guest-starred on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Joran, a role created especially for him. He was also the featured solo act with The Great Radio City Music Hall Spectacular National Tour. His first full-evening show, Mask, Myth & Magic won extraordinary acclaim Off-Broadway and on national tour, as well as at arts festivals in Barcelona (for the 1992 Olympics), London, Hong Kong, China, and Bangkok. His other television appearances have included CNBC's Dick Cavett Show, HBO's Entertainment Weekly, CNN's Showbiz This Week, PBS's The Ring of Truth, among many others shown nationally and in Europe and Asia
Jeff McBride is also one of magic's most honored artists. He has been named "Magician of the Year" by the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood, from who he also received the Blackstone Theater Award. He is the recipient of the prestigious French Mandrake d'Or. Other tributes include the Grand Prix Magiques de Monte Carlo, presented by Prince Rainier, "Magician of the Year" from the Society of American Magicians, and the rarely-bestowed Star of Magic from the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
In addition to his work as a performer, Jeff McBride is a renowned lecture and workshop leader for such diverse groups as the Smithsonian, the Disney Institute, and the International Brotherhood of Magicians among others. Jeff is the founder of the Mystery School (a unique experiential retreat for magicians) and the creator and co-founder of the WorldMagics™ Festivals, multi-cultural celebrations of magic and the environment.
On November 19, 2002 Jeff McBride will offer a Super Session Workshop for Magicians (limited seating available; click here for details). On November 20, 2002, Jeff will star with Eugene Burger (along with Abbi Spinner) in "McBride Magic – The Secret Art" in Empie Theater. On November 21, he will give a performance-talk entitled, "The Art of Magic: Awakening the Magician Within" in the Recital Hall.
Abbi
Spinner has been studying, teaching, and performing percussion, hand-drumming,
dance, and magic for the last twelve years. She is currently the lead singer
in a band called Zingaia in Las Vegas, and she previously played percussion
and did vocals with the Tantric Rhythm Ride. She has taught classes and
facilitated community drum circles throughout the United States, Europe, and
the Caribbean. For the past five years, Abbi has been the Lead Assistant and
Live Music Director for Jeff McBride.
On November 20, 2002, Abbi Spinner will be featured in "Magic - The Secret Art" (starring Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger) in Empie Theater. On the afternoon of November 21, she will lead an experiential percussion workshop, open to any member of the campus. (For information on or to participate in this workshop, please contact Dr. Lawrence Hass at LHass@Muhlenberg.edu.)
Lawrence Hass is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania where he teaches and publishes essays on phenomenology (the study of experience), post-modern philosophy, aesthetics, the history of philosophy, and performance magic. In 1999 he produced and performed in the highly-celebrated The Theory and Art of Magic, at Muhlenberg. This revolutionary program, designed as "a scholarly celebration of the magical arts," received national and international press and radio coverage, as well as the prestigious Howard Bamman Trophy from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Lawrence is also a magical consultant and teacher, and an award-winning author of inspirational essays for magicians on magical performance and theory. These essays have been published in such leading trade journals as Magic, The Linking Ring, La Circular de la Escuela Magica de Madrid (Spain), and Hokus Pokus (Switzerland).
On Thursday, August 29, 2002, Lawrence Hass will offer an introduction to the program, entitled: "What is 'The Theory and Art of Magic?'" in Seegers 108-110.
