Illusionist appears at Center for Arts
Fresh from a two-month trip to Shanghai and other cities where he performed magic with internationally known stage magician Brett Daniels to stadiums with thousands of spectators, illusionist Jason Michaels brings his own bag of major tricks, sleight of hand, mentalism, comedy and dance to Murfreesboro’s Center for the Arts starting Jan. 9.
The Chinese swarmed to see Daniels and Michaels on stage. The Chinese media had billed Daniels’ production as a Las Vegas-style event. One particularly sophisticated crowd was laughing at the English jokes before they were translated.
In fact, the Chinese government has invited Daniels and his elaborate extravaganza, including a mock fighter jet and a bevy of beautiful dancers, back to China. This means a return also for Michaels, for a late January national TV special that the government promises will be seen by hundreds of millions.
Feted with lavish banquets by local dignitaries in city after city on his recent trip, Michaels grew used to the challenging, exotic delicacies, from jellyfish to pig ears. “They might cook a chicken and leave its head on the plate staring up at you,” Michaels said. “It was a lot different from the local steakhouse.”
In China, Daniels and Michaels had to tone down their comedy and stage banter because of the language barrier. They noticed that their foreign audiences particularly liked pyrotechnics and dazzling spectacles but, because of cultural differences, often reacted with stony silence to stunts that routinely killed audiences in America.
Between gigs, government emissaries interviewed the two magicians on what China should do to become a world power in the field of magic, telling them that the government had scoured the populous country of 1.2 billion and found five potential superstars.
From Jan. 9 through 11, the 27-year-old Michaels, who has spent 11 years honing his illusions – some requiring months of practice, Las Vegas dancer Jen Alexander and Nashville magician-comedian Rick Green will present The Magic World of Jason Michaels at the Center for the Arts. The show features complicated and spectacular illusions including a trademark Harry Houdini crowd-pleaser, sleight-of-hand, mentalism, playlets, comedy and dance.
An MTSU theater grad and actor as well as magician, Michaels innovates the traditional magical show into a hybrid of comedy, theater drama and illusion, creating colorful characters ranging from the hilariously annoying 70s guy Uncle Dan, who marauds through the audience bedecked in medallion and garish attire hitting on women and doing tricks – to a serious, spiritual shaman who initiates a disciple into magic at great risk to her life.
During his 11-year career, Michaels has performed on stages from Tunica to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, at one point serving as the show closer at a national magic convention in Vegas.
Show times are Jan. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 904-2787 or visit boroshows.com.