Magician Adam Trent plans to blow your mind at Schuster show

Adam Trent, a crowd-pleasing entertainer who specialized in technology illusions as a member of the Broadway and touring companies of global phenomenon “The Illusionists,” brings his signature skills to the Schuster Center Sunday, Dec. 3, courtesy of the Victoria Theatre Association.

Influenced when he was younger by David Copperfield, Trent began performing at birthday party shows when he was 9 years old and contributed to larger events by the time he was 13. At 14, he started street performances which he regarded as “the most amazing and brutal training a performer could ever have.” After he had a change of heart about pursuing a degree in finance and entertainment marketing at a Los Angeles college, he found his purpose as a magician.

Determined to shatter stereotypes, he’s focused on reshaping magic for the next generation. His notable TV appearances include “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and “The Today Show.”

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The Colorado native’s solo tour is produced by the same creative team behind “The Illusionists.” The production promises to be an immersive, audience-friendly extravaganza filled with magic, comedy and dance. In advance of his appearance, Trent reflected on the show and what audiences should anticipate.

Q: Is this tour one of the largest you’ve done?

A: This show is on a different scale from the tours I used to do. I used to tour across the country in a rental car with just a briefcase. But this tour, with the exception of "The Illusionists," is probably the world's largest touring magic show. It's allowing me the capability to do all the things I've dreamed of doing my whole life. I never had the production to facilitate it until now.

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Q: Which aspects of the show are you particularly proud of?

A: I do a lot of hologram projections. I also clone myself and teleport across the stage. This show has a lot of really cool and wacky futuristic illusions in it which are far beyond what I've been able to do on my own in the past. With a tour of this size, I tried to figure out what were the most spectacular things I could do. I've been able to dream limitless.

Q: What do you feel are the special ingredients that make your show a success?

A: I think it's the audience involvement as well as the combination of music, comedy and magic. If you like magic, this show is for you. If you don't like magic, this show is for you. This show is for magic fans and non-magic fans alike. One of the biggest compliments I receive after the show is someone coming up to me and saying how different the show was from what they expected. They feel differently about magic after seeing this show. And I also enjoy taking volunteers from the audience.

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For instance, I’ll put someone’s phone in a blender and receive a lot of varied responses. Things like that make the show fun, unique and special. When I watch magic as an audience member, I never like it when magicians take themselves too seriously as if they’re trying to change the world. Magic shows are supposed to be fun and the whole family should be able to come and enjoy it. A 5-year-old should be laughing just as hard as the 95-year-old next to them.


WANT TO GO?

What: "The Illusionists Present Adam Trent"

Where: Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets, Dayton

When: Dec. 3; 7 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $35-$55

Tickets: Call (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com

FYI: The performance is slated to run 1 hour and 50 minutes including a 20-minute intermission.

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