Michelangelo -- The New Renaissance of Magic -- About

Michelangelo - The New Renaissance of Magic

Creating the Perfect Blend of Art and Illusion

Michelangelo. A name to conjure with.
Embracing many artistic disciplines—painting, sculpture, architecture—the timeless beauty of his creations forever change the perceptions of people who see his work.

Of course, there is also that other guy who lived during the Renaissance.

A performance like Michelangelo's . . . can remind you what's magical about magic.

From the name alone, Michelangelo (the illusionist) knows there will be certain expectations.

"People expect artistic excellence. They need to see something new and beautiful and amazing. And, for some reason, they want to know if I've ever painted a ceiling."

Michelangelo has forged a highly successful career from these basic elements: make it entertaining, make it memorable, and make it personal. As one theater director noted, "It's more than a magic show, it's a show that's MAGIC!"

Like all the best magicians, Michelangelo sold his illusions not just with technical knowledge but with theatrical showmanship.

"After a show, I love it when people tell me what illusion or trick they liked best. That lets me know they were entertained. But often, when I ask them what they'll remember, I get a different answer.

"We all have seen a performance and thought, 'Wow! That was fantastic!' and then we go home and can't remember what we actually saw. When people tell me what they'll remember after they go home, it's usually a little moment from a story or something that made them laugh. That's when I know I've made that personal connection that goes beyond the tricks and illusions. That's the moment that mattered."

Virtually everything in Michelangelo's show was created by the artist himself. A perfect example is his revolutionary Picasso Princess illusion.

Once, stage magicians walked the Earth like giants; nowadays, we all seem too jaded to surrender to illusion—Michelangelo clearly isn't ready to surrender to a world without magic.

"Picasso was criticized for distorting the human form but it was his way of showing three-dimensional space and time in two-dimensions. It struck me that a modern art presentation would turn that concept around, as a real live girl becomes impossibly distorted, like the form in a painting."

Michelangelo designed and built the entire illusion from the ground up, even painting the distinctive picasso-style artwork that graces the illusion's façade. While there have been many illusions featuring a girl with a missing middle, Michelangelo's newest version is by far the most deceptive and "real." By making it so completely and visually real, it also becomes the most surreal.

Michelangelo is not only one of the world's foremost innovators in magic—he constantly creates innovative ways of bringing magic to new venues and new audiences. Few performers, if any, can list such a wide variety of production credits. An expert at adapting magic to suit any performing need, he has toured with an internationally recognized symphony orchestra, world-reknown dance troupe and the Winter Olympic Games, to name a few.

Michelangelo delivers beautiful assistants sawed in half, individuals transported from locked boxes and other mysterious disappearances. And he does it all with a stagecraft that reminds us how much of magic is the art of theatrical dazzle, combined with figuring out how to get you to look exactly where he wants you to look.

Michelangelo has performed throughout the United States and in six foreign countries. He is frequently called upon to create new illusions for stage productions, corporate events, and other magic shows. His designs and performances have won multiple awards, including the 2010 Arty Award from City Weekly Magazine. It is the first time this award for artistic excellence has been won by a magician. Quotes from their reviews are shown throughout this article.

Michelangelo's program is an unforgettable showcase for his many artistic influences: painting, architecture, theatre, music and even the technologies of the future. His theatrical repertoire is comprised of fifteen to twenty exclusive illusions, interludes, audience participation pieces and dance segments, depending on the venue and audience.

A beautiful girl vanishes into a painting and instantly reappears in the audience. A lady is divided into three separate pieces—and then divided yet again. Solid objects defy gravity. A random spectator thinks a specific thought and the entire audience somehow reads her mind. A woman survives a very close encounter with sixteen stainless steel blades.

Art—real art—is a discovery. It's something that hits us in a place that we didn't expect to find, making us think about things we didn't expect to think about, and feel things we didn't expect to feel. It's a dare—and sometimes it breaks rules.

Throughout each show, Michelangelo captivates the audience with his warm, engaging style. Of course, as he has done so often, he can adapt the show to suit a special need.

The one-of-a-kind illusions, the performances that are in turn dramatic, funny and amazing, the moments that will be remembered when the audience goes home—it's all there. And it all shows that Michelangelo is at the forefront of illusionary entertainment where art—and magic—beautifully dare to break the rules.

For Booking Information Contact
Michelangelo Magic Works, Inc.
1.800.901.4099

Winner—2010 Arty Award, City Weekly Magazine