SPENCERS: THEATRE OF ILLUSION AT THE PALACE THEATER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26TH AT 7PM
TICKETS: 203-346-2000
Prepare to be mystified as Spencers: Theatre of Illusion makes a stop at the Palace Theater on Friday, October 26, at 7pm. This is not your run-of-the-mill magic show; and the Spencers are not your typical magicians. The Spencers carry a lot of equipment in their 65 foot customized truck and trailer, but a rabbit and a top hat are not in the inventory.
Kevin and Cindy Spencer, known professionally as The Spencers, are among the world’s most recognized magical performers. They have mesmerized millions of people with sold out performances in 19 countries on 5 continents. And they have left a trail of accolades in their wake. They have been named Performing Arts Entertainers of the Year an amazing six times and, in 2009, were bestowed magic’s highest honor, the Merlin Award for International Magicians of the Year joining the ranks of Henning, Copperfield, and Penn & Teller.
The Spencers’ production is a unique fusion of magic and illusion, humor and mystery, and persona and personality. With a background in clinical psychology, Kevin likes to say, “I was going to help people’s minds but now I just mess with them.” Their show, Theatre of Illusion, stands in stark contrast to the traditional magic show. Spencer sees it not as a stage full of tricks used to fool people, but as a way to inspire viewers with a sense of wonder. By blending the theatrical elements of a Broadway-style production with the high energy of a rock concert, these artists take their audience on a journey to the brink of impossibility… and back again. Audience members don’t simply watch the show, but are also invited to participate in the magic. Using magic much like a storyteller uses words, Spencer fuses this family-friendly production with a gamut of emotions. And with the skills of a master showman, he creates a world where nothing is impossible and anything can happen.
Kevin Spencer has committed his life to magic both on stage and off. When he’s not working with his crew to set up a show, Spencer can be found spreading the word about the therapeutic and educational benefits of learning magic for persons with a variety of disabilities. He is widely considered the leading authority on the functional and academic benefits of the art of illusion. HEALING OF MAGIC uses simple magic tricks as a form of rehabilitative therapy. HOCUS FOCUS integrates magic tricks into the classroom as a way of motivating students in the learning process. Both projects have an international reputation with published research in leading scientific journals. Spencer received the Harry Chapin Award for Contributions to Humanity in recognition of his work in healthcare and education.
Magic is no longer merely about baffling the audience by doing something seemingly impossible. We’ve seen it all before. Magic these days is about spectacle, drama, danger, and personality. Kevin and Cindy Spencer are the masters of this new magic theatre. Entertainers come and go, but few make a lasting impression on their audience or their art.