We'd heard rumors that Malala Yousafzi had an interest in magic. Is it true she even took a magic lesson here in New York? In any event while in town to appear on Stephen Colbert's show she entertained the Late Show host with a little conjuring.

It's fair to say that David Roth is one of the most original and innovative coin magicians to ever have practiced the art. In the foreward to Expert Coin Magic, the book about David's work, Dai Vernon wrote "I have been fortunate to have enjoyed the confidence and friendship of the leading exponents of coin manipulation of the past. T. Nelson Downs, Allan Shaw, Manuel, and Welch Miller all specialized in this branch of the magical art. To the very best of my judgement, David's ideas and execution far surpass any one of them."

Aside from his technical innovation, David's chief accomplishment was to add theatricality and plot to coin magic, moving it beyond the quick, relatively simple effects that had previously been typical. Even though the routines he introduced were longer and more dramatic than what came before, in his hands they never lack clarity. His magical dramas, although only a few minutes in length, bring us into a unified realm of his imagination where coins are drawn from a portable hole in the table, appear out of an echo of their sound, and change back and forth in dimension when passing through the impossibly small neck of a tiny funnel.

The majority of David's work has been documented in Expert Coin Magic, written by Richard Kaufman, which itself could form the source of a lifetime of practicing. He has also released numerous videos, and there is hardly a coin magician anywhere today who wouldn't have to acknowledge his influence.

Most recently David was asked to appear on Penn and Teller: Fool Us, and succeeded in fooling the duo with a unique vanish sequence. In our conversation, recorded at Fantasma Magic, we start by discussing David's experience on the show, but  then we cross through a wide variety of topics including his background in magic, the creation of his most notable pieces, and his relationships with magicians like Dai Vernon and Ricky Jay. 

Axel Hecklau stopped in New York in August while on the way to Las Vegas for an appearance at Magic Live. During his visit he gave a lecture and performed at the close-up show A Taste of Magic. After the performance Axel was eager to try out the nearby Shake Shack, where we eventually conducted a short interview. Among the topics covered were the nature of the magic scene in Berlin, where Axel lives, his background in magic, the inspiration for his most well-known trick, Newsflash, and what magic is all about, anyway.

Magic Shows

A Taste of Magic
Fridays at 8 p.m., September 5, 11, 19 and 25.
Dock's Oyster Bar,  (September 5) 633 Third Avenue
Gossip Restaurant (Setember 11 and 25), 733 Ninth Avenue
Ben and Jack's Steak House (September 19), 255 Fifth Avenue
A Taste of Magic includes dinner plus performances of close-up magic before the meal and between courses. For more information: atasteofmagicnyc.com

Chamber Magic, featuring Steve Cohen
Fridays at 7 and 9 p.m.; Saturdays at 2, 7 and 9 p.m.
The Waldorf Towers, 100 East 50th Street.
For more information: www.chambermagic.com, or 866-811-4111

Determined: An Intimate Evening of Influence and Prophecy
A performance by Kent Axell
Friday, September 4, 8 p.m.
LATEA Theater, 107 Suffolk Street, #200
For more information: www.eventbrite.com/e/determined-an-intimite-evening-of-influence-and-prophecy-tickets-18045064273

Monday Night Magic
Note: Monday Night Magic has no shows scheduled for Monday, September 14 and Monday, September 21
Monday, September 7, at 8 p.m., featuring: Alexander Boyce, Chris McDaniel, and Chris Capehart (headliner), with Master of Ceremonies, Ben Nemzer. Close-up performances at intermission by: Joe Maxwell and Michael Chaut.
Monday, September 28, at 8 p.m., featuring: Will Shaw, Jon Armstrong, and Peter Samelson (headliner), with Master of Ceremonies, Todd Robbins. Close-up performances at intermission by: Noah Levine, and Jeffrey Kellogg
Players Theatre, 125 MacDougal Street. For information: mondaynightmagic.com/MainMenu.html, 718-575-1349

Parlor of Mystery
Magic & Comedy, featuring Francis Menotti, Matty Whipple, and Terry Parett
Sunday, September 27, at 7 p.m.
South Shore Theatre Experience, 315 West Montauk Highway
Lindenhurst, NY (Long Island)
For tickets and information: southshoretheatre.com
Parlor of Mystery shows are held the fourth Sunday of every month.

Sam Eaton's The Quantum Eye
Saturdays at 5 p.m.
(The show will not be performed September 19 through October 10)
Theatre 80, 80 Saint Mark's Place
For more information: www.thequantumeye.com

The Magician, featuring Dan White
An intimate evening of magic, mystery, and deception.
Usually presented Friday at 8 pm. and Saturday at 6 and 9:30 p.m.
Please check the show's web site for specific availability. Tickets for performances through October 17 are currently on sale.
Nomad Upstairs, The Nomad Hotel, 1170 Broadway (and 28th Street)
For more information: www.thenomadhotel.com/#!/experiences/nomad-upstairs

Lectures

Will Fern, September 10, Parent Assembly #1, Society of American Magicians
(at Fantasma Magic, 421 Seventh Avenue) sampa1.com

Bizarro, September 17, Tannen's Magic
Alex Pandrea, September 24, Tannen's Magic
45 West 34th Street, Suite 608, tannensmagic.corecommerce.com/Lectures-and-Classes/

Jon Armstrong, September 24, Fantasma Magic
421 Seventh Avenue, www.fantasmamagic.com/proddetail.php?prod=jonarm

Ricky Smith, October 2, Parent Assembly #1, Society of American Magicians
(Location to be determined)

Gatherings

Cafe Rustico II, 25 West 35th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
Saturdays from approximately noon to 5 p.m.
Magicians gather at Rustico on Saturdays, in a longstanding tradition to share information, help each other with tricks, and socialize. The group is attended by magicians of all levels from beginners to working pros. Many future magic greats got their start by learning from fellow magicians at this weekly get-together. Anyone interested in magic is welcome to attend. [Please note that the group normally does not meet on the weekends of major holidays such as Labor Day, Memorial Day, and July 4th].

The Magic Table
Times Square Diner & Grill, 807 Eighth Avenue (49th Street)
Fridays at 1 p.m.
The Magic Table is another longstanding gathering for magicians. It has always been based in the Times Square area, harking to the time when the neighborhood was home to multiple magic businesses like the Tannen's and Max Holden magic stores. The get-together is open to anyone interested in magic.

Magnets
The Atrium, 601 Lexington Avenue
Mondays at 6 p.m.
Magnets is a newer group that meets for weekly jam sessions and also occasionally sponsors its own lectures, workshops and shows. This group is also open to everyone interested in magic.

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The Parent Assembly of the Society of American Magicians has announced its first three lecturers of the year: Will Fern (September 10), Ricky Smith (October 2), and Shoot Ogawa (December 4). Additionally, on November 6, George Schindler, National Dean of the S. A. M., will spearhead an event on Houdini, marking the 89th anniversary of the celebrated escape artists' death.

Will Fern, who is one of the area's busiest and most solid working pros, also regularly performs at the Magic Castle and at Dickens Parlour Theater. He'll be teaching some of the strongest effects from his repertoire including the card piece that he has used consistently as the opener in his Magic Castle act and the coin routine that won him the title of strolling magic champion at International Brotherhood of Magicians competition. Ricky Smith is known in inner magic circles for his graceful, innovative, and very proficient sleight-of-hand with cards. He has released several videos through Dan and Dave, who also published his book, Nothing as It Seems. Ricky will present a version of the well-received lecture that he recently gave at the Golden Gate Gathering in San Francisco. Shoot Ogawa is an internationally-recognized, award-winning magician who will teach several of his signature effects including the Ninja Rings, color changing thimbles, wands, coin matrix and much more. George Schindler, who is National Dean of the Society of American Magicians, is organizing a program on Houdini which will include performances, film footage, and historical commentary. The event will be held the day following the Assembly's annual visit to Houdini's grave site.

Attendance at these events is is available to Parent Assembly members as part of their regular club dues. Non-members of the S. A. M may attend the lectures for $25 each. Members of other S. A. M. assemblies may attend for $20 each (other events during the year, such as the Houdini presentation, are for members only). The September 10 meeting will be held at Fantasma Magic, 421 Seventh Avenue, Third Floor (enter on 33rd Street). The lectures began at approximately 8 p.m., following the Assembly's regular business meetings which start at 7:15. Information about joining the Parent Assembly can be found at: sampa1.com/contact-us/