According to an interview in the June issue of Genii magazine, the touring magic show The Illusionists is coming to Broadway. The production would be the first magic show to appear on Broadway since David Copperfield's limited run of Dreams and Nightmares in December 1996. The Illusionists premiered in Sydney, Australia in January 2012 with a cast of seven conjurors who were positioned as a stylized squad of magic specialists. Comic magician Jeff Hobson was billed as "The Trickster," Kevin James was called "The Inventor," and Dan Sperry was labeled "The Anti-Conjuror." The others in the original cast were Brett Daniels, James Dimmamare, Philip Escoffey and Andrew Basso. Since then other magicians have replaced some of the original cast members in international tours which have included runs in Singapore, Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, Dubai and Great Britain.

When asked for more details about a Broadway run a representative for the show would only say "plans are still in formation and will be confirmed in a couple of weeks." The production has performances scheduled for Akron, Ohio in November and then a broader United States tour from January at least into June of 2015. Since some of the tour venues are promoting their booking of the show as a post-Broadway appearance and so far dates have not been announced for the end of November and December, one guess is that the production will appear in New York during the holiday season as a limited-run offering.

On May 17, 2014, Sol Stone was honored in New York City as Magician of the Year by the Society of American Magicians, Parent Assembly 1. The presentation was made during the annual Salute to Magic show, which this year was held at the Queens Theatre. Sol has been an influential figure in magic both as a creator of innovative close-up effects and as a mentor to many aspiring conjurors. He is known for his graceful and soft performing style and for the direct and very magical nature of the tricks he has created. In the 84 years in which he has pursued his interest in magic he has known or seen most of the greatest magicians of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Nate Leipzig, Dai Vernon, Al Flosso, Jean Hugard, and Al Goshman to name just a few. His life's work in magic was recently documented in the book The Essential Sol Stone, published in 2012. This video was shown at the Salute to Magic as an introduction to the Magician of the Year presentation.

The Parent Assembly of the Society of American Magicians presented its 105th Annual Salute to Magic on Saturday, May 17 to a packed house at the Queens Theatre. Jeff McBride was the evening's headliner, and he showed why he has become so widely recognized as a standout talent in magic. His Miser's Dream with an audience volunteer was utterly charming, particularly since he picked a kid who was naturally, but not overbearingly, funny. His other signature pieces, the water bowls, card manipulation, cup (bowl) and balls, mask sections, etc. were also very strong. Jeff left the audience filled with wonder (particularly about where he buys his suits!). Jay Scott Berry was the evening's Master of Ceremonies and also closed the first half of the show in a spot featuring his own elegant magic. Devlin performed illusions with his wife Bronwyn, and David Oliver delivered a set that involved audience volunteers to comic effect. David's most impressive trick--inflating a balloon with his recently transplanted lungs--now that was amazing (David urged audience members to think about becoming organ donors). As if all that wasn't enough, four teenage magicians performed walk-around magic before the show and during intermission.

It was very nice that Jeff McBride was on hand to help with the presentation of the Magician of the Year honor to Sol Stone, since Jeff is one of the magicians who Sol has so generously mentored. Sol has pursued his interest in magic over 84 of his 91 years. At age seven his father took him to see a performance by Howard Thurston, but it was the attraction in the lobby - a woman's talking head resting on a sword across two chairs - that infatuated Sol. Sol has known or seen most of the great magicians of the 20th and 21st centuries - Leipzig, Vernon, Flosso, LePaul, Goshman - to name a few - and he has contributed much to magic through his innovative close-up creations and his instruction and support of other magicians. Sol still actively participates in the New York magic scene, mostly through the Saturday afternoon get-togethers at Cafe Rustico. It's worth stopping by for a visit to say hello, for sure.

The Salute's location at the Queens Theatre provided a logical tie-in to the current celebration of the anniversaries of the 1939 and 1964 New York World's Fairs (the theatre originated as part of The New York State Pavilion built for the 1964 event). The role of magic at the two fairs was the focus of slide shows and videos shown during the Salute, and two PA1 members who had roles performing at the 1964 Fair were on hand to be recognized. PA1 President, The Great Throwdini, was acknowledged for performing a hand-balancing act at the 1964 event, and Kamarr the Magician was highlighted for his performances 50 years ago in the Greek Pavilion and at Mark Wilson's Hall of Magic. At the Salute Kamarr was invited on stage for a brief performance and he entertained with The Magic Square.

The sold-out Salute was produced by PA1 President Throwdini and Kenneth Ferst. Although this evidently was the first time the show has been held outside of Manhattan, the Queens Theatre was a comfortable and homey place for the event.