About This Show
Abracadabra, Cincinatti Playhouse’s annual magic extravaganza (with a twist of comedy), is back. This year’s show will feature John Carney, Kohl & Company, The Great Tomsoni, and David Williamson.
John Carney is widely acknowledged as one of the top sleight-of-hand magicians, combining exceptional skills and resourcefulness with pure entertainment. He materializes fruit and lemonade from a portable black hole and makes playing cards float through the air, shrink to miscroscopic size and then dance around his body. His alter ego, Mr. Mysto, is a bumbling magician who makes audiences howl while also performing the impossible, from drawing a picture that comes to life to baking a cake in a man’s shoe. He has been awarded The Magic Castle’s magician of the Year Award six times — more than anyone else in the organization’s history — and is the only magician to have won in every category: stage performance, sleight-of-hand, parlor and innovation.
Kohl & Company is recognized by critics and audiences alike as one of the funniest magic acts of all time. Wizardry and mayhem are equal partners as the suave and sophisticated “Amazing Kohl” gamely meets every challenge thrown at him, only to fail miserably thanks to his crack team of totally inept assistants, Farky Hollis and his twin sister the lovely Farkamena. Between them, they can ruin just about any magic prop ever invented, and yet, the show always ends on a high note – everyone survives.
John Thompson (The Great Tomsoni) began his magic career in Nevada casino venues. Wife and partner Pamela Hayes – an actress, comedienne and student of thespian teacher Lee Strasberg – joined the act and the billing became The Great Tomsini & Co. The two have starred in the Lido de Paris, Folies Bergere and enjoyed numerous engagements in the Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City casino circuit, plus appearances on The Tonight Show, Magic with the Stars, World’s Greatest Magic, and the PBS special The Art of Magic. They are two-time recipients of the Stage Magician of the Year Award and the Society of American Magicians’ Superstar of Magic Award.
David Williamson is considered one of the world’ most talented magicians and was a favorite at least-year’s Abracadabra show. A born showman and an unusually accomplished sleight-of-hand artist, Mr. Williamson astounds audiencew with a unique blend of entertainment that combines hear-stopping magic with side-splitting hilarity. He twice ahs been voted Sleight-of-Hand Magician of the Year at Hollywood’s famed Magic Castle. He also has earned awards as Magic Castle Lecturer of the Year and Magic Castle Parlor Magician of the Year. In 2003, he earned the title of Most Wanted Magician at the International Federation of Magic Societies’ World Magic Championships.
The preview performance on Thursday, August 17 is scheduled for 7:00 PM.