TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS
AND THEIR PARENTS

A large-scale illusion show that
never loses its personal touch

Fernando Velasco in Champions Of Magic (photo by Ricardo Hererra)

Most of the magic shows I’ve been to have been small, intimate affairs, with an audience of fifty or less watching one magician perform an array of card tricks and sleights of hand. Champions of Magic, now on at Chicago’s Studebaker Theatre, entertains on a rather larger scale while still conveying a sense of closeness and familiarity. This is partly achieved through audience engagement, but also through storytelling. The result is a lively, family-friendly show that successfully balances spectacle with personality.

Sam Strange (photo by Bill Axell)

Champions of Magic advertises itself as suitable for children aged five and up; I can confirm that my five- and six-year-old children both loved the show and were able to stay awake past their usual bedtimes. Foul language and sexual innuendo are almost entirely absent. The only caveat is that my wife and I had to read any words that appeared on the screen to our children.

Richard Young and Sam Strange (photo by Ricardo Herrera)

Champions of Magic runs just over two hours, with a short intermission, and features four magicians. Richard Young and Sam Strange hail from England, offering a mash-up of buddy comedy and magic. Fernando Velasco is an escape artist and illusionist who performs the riskiest tricks (or is that part of the illusion, too?). Liberty Larsen comes from the dynasty that founded Hollywood’s Magic Castle. Her acts are the most narrative-driven of the four and include stories about her family.

The company pays tribute to Las Vegas (photo by Ramona Diaconescu)

Together, the four magicians put on quite a variety show. They sing, joke, dance, and draw. Sometimes the cast performs singly, sometimes all at once, as in the finale, inspired by Siegfried and Roy’s Las Vegas shows. Moreover, their magic touches on many of the classic routines, such as sawing people in half or making them disappear. Many of their acts involve audience participation, volunteer or not, and the performers are excellent at engaging both children and adults. When they walk up and down the aisles, the magicians are always followed by a camera so that the audience does not miss anything.

Fernando Velasco (photo by Pamela Raith)

The tricks are impressive, but the performers’ ability to connect with the audience is what ultimately sets Champions of Magic apart from many touring magic shows. Whether performing intimate sleight-of-hand or large-scale illusions, the cast consistently keeps the audience engaged, creating a show that appeals as much to adults as it does to children.

The company (photo by Bill Axell)

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photos courtesy of Champions of Magic

Champions of Magic
Studebaker Theater, 410 S Michigan Ave, Chicago
2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
ends on August 23, 2026
for tickets (from $69.50), visit Champions Of Magic Tour

for more shows, visit Theatre in Chicago

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Liberty Larsen