Jeff
McBride,
a three time award winner at the International Grand Prix of
Magic in Monte Carlo, is widely recognized as a foremost innovator
and most exciting performer in contemporary magic. Naming him "Vegas'
Best" Magician several years ago, the Las Vegas Review
Journal wrote: "Light years ahead of the pack.. McBride
is easily the most exciting and mesmerizing magician I've seen in
years."
Jeff
began performing magic at the age of eight, and by the time he was
sixteen was opening for the Fania Allstars on tour in Japan. He
found himself fascinated by popular Japanese Kabuki theatre, which
he immediately incorporated into his act, already filled with masks
and martial arts overtones. On completing high school, the young
magician moved into New York City and studied at the American Mime
School while working full time in the Flosso Hornman magic shop.
He was soon performing at New York clubs, including the popular
Club Versailles, where he was discovered by super agent Billy Barnes,
then manager to Tennessee Williams and Raquel Welch. Barnes immediately
signed the talented young artist, and moved him up to work as opening
act for such superstars as Tina Turner, Tom Jones and Diana Ross
for their sold-out concerts and Las Vegas appearances. McBride eventually
became a headliner at the Las Vegas Hilton's "Moulin Rouge"
revue at the age of 25.
McBride's
signature fusion of mask, myth, drama and illusion reflects his
lifelong study of magic's multi-cultural roots. His first full-evening
exploration of these themes, Mask, Myth & Magic, won
acclaim Off-Broadway and on national tour, as well as at arts festivals
in Barcelona (for the 1992 Olympics), London, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
He has been profiled in Elle Magazine, Town & Country, The New
York Times, Harpers and dozens of other publications worldwide.
For
several years, McBride headlined at Caesars Magical Empire in Las
Vegas, where he was voted critics' choice as Best Magician in Las
Vegas. His magic has been featured on every major television network:
"World's Greatest Magicians" on NBC, burned alive on ABC's
"Champions of Magic," heavily featured on PBS's "The
Art of Magic" and TLC's "Mysteries of Magic" - and
even "Gone where no magician had gone before" as a special
guest star on "Star Trek - Deep Space Nine."
In
addition to his work as a performer, McBride is a much sought-after
lecturer and workshop leader for such diverse groups as The Smithsonian,
The Disney Institute, MacDonald's 'Hamburger U,' the International
Brotherhood of Magicians, the Omega Institute and others. He combines
dynamic performance magic with deep insights into what makes magic
work, it's fascination and many uses - not only on stage but in
business and personal life as well. |
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