What are the BEST Magic Shows (in Phoenix) for 2024?
During the summer when it is hot and dusty outside, head inside where it is cool. Plan a girl's night out, enjoy a Phoenix dinner show, or up the ante with one of Phoenix's favorite magic acts, which include the Carnival of Illusion Theater, Eric Giliam, or one of many touring artists. We've compiled a list of the best Phoenix magic shows so that snowbirds and locals alike can add a little excitement to their entertainment schedule. Phoenix gets a lot of traveling illusion shows as well as having some great long-standing acts that thrill audiences week after week. Keep checking back to see who might be coming to town. Phoenix may be hot, dusty and dry, but we're here to help you whet your appetite for some great magic.
SEE ALSO: BEST Phoenix Date Ideas
SEE ALSO: BEST Phoenix Events
ALSO: BEST Phoenix Date Ideas
ALSO: BEST Phoenix Events
ALL Phoenix Magic Shows TODAY
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Carnival of Illusion
Carnival of Illusion
Phoenix, AZ 85004Experience Arizona's FAVORITE show to Laugh, Have Fun and Celebrate!
Carnival of Illusion is an Old-World Illusion Show perfect for anniversaries, date nights, birthdays, and special evenings! Imagine a vaudeville-inspired theater show with old-world magic, add a twinkling hint of 1900's Parisian humor, shake and stir for 100 minutes for your passport filled with F.U.N. You are a passenger in this entertaining theater of illusion!
This is Arizona's longest-running theater show. Check their website for dates, locations, and ticket availability... Carnival of Illusion.
Show Duration: This show is 90-minutes with an intermission.
Food and Drink: Concessions available at all venues. All Phoenix venues have a bar.
Age Restriction: For ages 8 and up.
Parking: Parking varies by venue.
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Eric Giliam
Chandler Center for the Arts
250 North Arizona Avenue
Chandler, AZ 85225Eric became fascinated with magic at age 12 when David Copperfield came to his home town of Anchorage Alaska. He and his lovely assistant will perform a variety of magic classics as well as some of his own special unique illusions. Eric has performed around the world and now makes Phoenix Arizona his home. You will often find him traveling all around the Southwest with his magic. Eric has a public show that he does once a year in Arizona.
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The Illusionists - Magic of the Holidays
Mesa Arts Center
One East Main St
Mesa, AZ 85201Perfect for the holidays, this mind-blowing showcase features the jaw-dropping talent of the most incredible illusionists, and dazzles audiences with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic. This show is great for the whole family, for a holiday treat shared together.
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Michael Carbonaro
Desert Diamond Casino, Sahuarita AZ
1100 W Pima Mine Rd
Sahuarita, AZ 85629Michael is probably best known for his television show The Carbonaro Effect. He is a prankster at heart, and on his show he would pose as a regular Joe who then pulls magic tricks out of his hat (so to speak) to freak out the unsuspecting public. His sometimes ridiculous explanations for what was going on, (never letting on that it was magic), made the situation even funnier. In his live show Michael brings all his wit and quirky humor to the stage, with sleight of hand, performance art and bizarre antics that will surely make for an evening of upbeat fun.
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Craig Anthony
Mini Social
7116 E 5th Ave
Scottsdale, AZ 85251This holiday season see Mysteries of the Mind with mentalist Craig Anthony. This captivating night out will have you questioning reality and testing your intuition. Craig takes you on a journey of mentalism where psychology and storytelling set the stage for an exploration of the hidden powers of the mind. Laughter and surprise will co-exist during this entertaining trip into what you think you know about what is and isn't possible. Mysteries of the MInd is a must-see experience.
Food and Drink: Ticket prices include two glasses of wine provided by the Scottsdale Wine Club. Water will also be made available.
Age Restriction: This is an adult show and it is recommended for ages 16 and up.
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Champions of Magic
Mesa Arts Center
One East Main St.
Mesa, AZ 85201This popular and extremely successful touring show is back with all new magic acts, and a team that is full of surprises, thrills and mind-bending illusions. This magic is grand, with a flair for spectacle and showmanship. The cast brings high energy fun for the entire family. You'll laugh, gasp and have a great time with this show, aptly called Chasing the Unbelievable!
Show Duration: 2 Hours 15 Minutes with one intermission
Age Restriction: 5+
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Joshua Kane
Mesa Arts Center
One East Main St.
Phoenix, AZ 85201Can he read your mind? Join Joshua Kane for his show Borders of the Mind and you will discover your inner superhero. During his amazing interactive performance, the entire audience experiences simultaneous telepathy, and witnesses dazzling feats of lie detection. People of all ages leap to participate in the strange happenings at the Borders of the Mind. In 2022 the Psychic Entertainers Association awarded Joshua the Dunninger Memorial Award, their highest honor, “Awarded for Distinguished Professionalism in the Performance of Mentalism.”
Phoenix & Scottsdale Arizona Magic History
Arizona holds a peculiar beauty and magic—from the Grand Canyon to the petrified forest—it's an unusual place to find this mix. Most people wouldn't think of the desert as in this way, but Phoenix, Arizona is exactly that, a place of beauty and steeped in magic.
Way, way, waaayy, back in history there was a large patch of desert that looked great to the native peoples. So, they decided to build a civilization that thrived. Starting with the Hohokam tribe, who broke ground in the greater Phoenix area, they were eventually succeeded by the O'odham and other tribes. The heavy use of canals to divert water and make the ground farmable was a modern engineering feat that must have looked like magic to the newer kids on the block—the Spanish. And like almost every historical tale of discover and conquer, the Spanish showed up to claim that dry and dusty land for Spain. Maybe they realized it was really hot, or they couldn't figure out the magic of using canals, but they didn't do much exploring and/or building before 1800. Though with their "advanced" technology they must have appeared very magical to the native peoples.
As westward expansion thrived, people wanted the thrill of living on the surface of the sun, so they migrated to Phoenix in hopes of making a good life for themselves. And then it happened, the late 1800s saw Phoenix and the surrounding areas become incorporated into a city. Fast forward a century with the inclusion of the railroad and abracadabra, Phoenix is a thriving city. Post World War II saw the city swell with GI's returning to the land where they were trained. Shops, businesses, and entertainment also swelled to meet the demand of a growing city.
One pioneering magic entertainer was Bert Easley. Born in 1904 in Shawnee, OK, Bert migrated to Arizona in 1917 and started performing magic tricks during the Great Depression. Changing his focus from song and dance to magic, meant he had a paying job at a time when there were too many entertainers, none of which were making any money. Bert worked as a professional magician until 1947, when he returned to Arizona and opened his much beloved Bert Easley's Fun Shop in Phoenix.
Jack Sutherland was one of Easley's best salesmen and a practiced magician. He had a slick, almost Vegas style about him, and he was to become good friends with Harry Anderson, a well-known actor and magician in his own right. Jack loved to crack jokes and help the up-and-coming magicians learn new techniques and illusions. Jack eventually left Easley's to start his own business called Sun Magic. All seemed well in Jack's world until the fateful day when he was murdered. He was unable to magically dodge the bullet that killed him, shot by a jealous ex-boyfriend of his then wife.
Another magician who helped shape the Phoenix magic scene was Danny Dew. Danny was born in Mississippi but studied dance in St. Louis, before joining the Vaudeville scene. As part of Vaudeville, Danny fell in love with magic and started to study. He studied under greats like Vernon, Silent Mora, and Emil Jarrow and quickly became a talented performer. He and his wife settled in Arizona in 1944 and he continued to wow audiences with his magic. Contemporaries Bert and Danny weren't satisfied with simply pulling rabbits out of hats, and so they formed a magic club called Ring 55. The original founders were known as the Mystic 13 and oddly enough, very little is known about this mysterious founding group. Later, the group became part of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and rebranded themselves as IBM Ring 55 Magic Club. The club is still active today with some of the best magicians the area has to offer.
Today, there is no shortage of entertaining and mind-bending magic shows and illusionists. Artists like Carnival of Illusion, or other world-class acts, perform regularly for those who live in Phoenix or are just passing through. Phoenix truly is a place of magic.
PAST Scottsdale & Phoenix Arizona Magic Shows
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Scott Silven's The Journey
Online
Phoenix, AZJoin Scott Silven, illusionist, mentalist and performance artist, in his latest online interactive experience. This show will connect you with Scott, in his home in Scotland, and with amazing feats of illusion and imagination. Focusing on the concepts of place and home, this show is limited to 30 participants. It is recommended that the high-definition audio and visuals are enjoyed on an individual basis.
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Mario the Maker Magician
Children's Museum of Phoenix
215 N. 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034Sure David Blaine calls Mario "the best kids magician in the world!!" but it's a magic show for both kids AND adults! Mario has appeared on Sesame Street, and NBC's Universal Kids. His show is chock-full of magic, punk rock fun, robots and zany antics. This show is quirky fun, maker movement inspiration and more. So, even if you don't have children, gather up your nieces, nephews, cousins and friend's kids and bring them to the show! You'll all have an amazing time.
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Eric Giliam
Chandler Center for the Arts
250 North Arizona Avenue
Chandler, AZ 85225Eric became fascinated with magic at age 12 when David Copperfield came to his home town of Anchorage Alaska. He and his lovely assistant will perform a variety of magic classics as well as some of his own special unique illusions. Eric has performed around the world and now makes Phoenix Arizona his home. You will often find him traveling all around the Southwest with his magic. Eric has a public show that he does once a year in Arizona.
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Justin Willman
Rialto Theatre, Tucson AZ
318 E Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701Justin Willman is on the road with his Magic For Humans In Person tour, a show with oodles of incredible magic, illusion, and laughs. What is special about Justin? Well, for one thing, his quirky sense of humor. You might have seen him on his latest Netflix specials, Magic for Humans where he levitates while doing goat yoga, (yes I said goat), and does some very funny stuff with kids and marshmallows. Beloved by TV hosts such as Ellen and presidents such as Barack Obama, Justin has made a mark with his sometimes silly, but always fabulous illusions. His touring show is for all ages.
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Smokus Pocus
Third Street Theater
1202 North 3rd Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004Ben Zabin has a passion for weed and weed inspired magic. Billed as the World's Dopest Magic Show, this cannabis themed magic show is for those straight and high alike, and even if you are not stoned during the show, you will leave on a magical high. So for a boatload of Dank Debauchery and a barrel of Trippy Tricks, join Ben (ex pot dealer and all around cool guy), at this 420-themed attraction.
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An R-Rated Magic Show
Tempe Center for the Arts
700 W Rio Salado Pkwy
Tempe, AZ 85281This is not your grandfather's magic show or your grandmother's for that matter. This is the show that will have you asking, "How the ****?" and "What the ****?" This show will have you laughing and gasping out loud at the same time, as comedy magician Grant Freeman brings his unique, and oh so raunchy show to the Tempe Center for the Arts. Please note: This performance includes mature themes and language and is therefore not suitable for children.
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Rob Lake
Orpheum Theatre
203 W Adams St
Phoenix, AZ 85003Seen in Times Square and on the Vegas Strip, Rob Lake has done it all. His grand illusions have been seen on network television, and he has been named "The World's Greatest Illusionist" by NBC. Come see Rob as he spins storys around his mesmerizing feats of magic. A spectacular show for young and old alike.
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A Night of Magic, Mystery, and Mayhem
Tempe Center for the Arts
700 W Rio Salado Pkwy
Tempe, AZ 85281Whatever the reason, magic shows are a great way to spend an evening out. The Ryan Beyer Experience Tour brings you entertainment that will have you talking about the show for weeks to come. The Phoenix Edition blends magic, mentalism, and illusion into one amazing show. All ages are welcome at this family-friendly show. Ryan hosts a dynamic team of illusionists that include: Benny James, Dave Johnson, Gabe Lim, John Fitzsimmons, Valerie Spell, and Kent Axell.
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Michael Carbonaro
Desert Diamond Casino, Sahuarita AZ
1100 W Pima Mine Rd
Sahuarita, AZ 85629Michael is probably best known for his television show The Carbonaro Effect. He is a prankster at heart, and on his show he would pose as a regular Joe who then pulls magic tricks out of his hat (so to speak) to freak out the unsuspecting public. His sometimes ridiculous explanations for what was going on, (never letting on that it was magic), made the situation even funnier. In his live show Michael brings all his wit and quirky humor to the stage, with sleight of hand, performance art and bizarre antics that will surely make for an evening of upbeat fun.
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Penn and Teller
Mesa Arts Center
1 E Main St
Mesa, AZ 85201The "bad boys of magic" have been wowing audiences in Las Vegas for over 20 years. Why bad boys you say? Well, they have the bad habit of revealing how it's done! But it never seems to take away from the amazing wow factor of what they do! Their act is surprising, clownish, and well... unconventional. They have been making headlines for years with their many TV shows, Broadway performances, and sold out runs. The chemistry between this duo is magical and P&T tricks are some of the best in the business.
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Mike Super
Fox Theatre, Tucson AZ
17 W Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701Mike Super is the winner of NBC's Phenomenon, and a top finalist from America's Got Talent. He's also appeared on numerous TV Show's in the U.S. and abroad including Fool US and Ellen. His fans who call themselves "Superfreaks", number in the millions, and are a testament to the popularity of this magician. Winner of numerous awards, Mike's down to earth style and ability to connect with the audience are all part of his magical charm.
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Lance Burton
Casino del Sol
5655 W Valencia Rd
Tucson, AZ 85757Lance Burton is one of the 20th centuries most famous magicians. As far as stage magicians go many think of him as the best, after ruling the Las Vegas scene for over 30 years! Lance officially retired in 2010, but often performs for charity. Now Lance returns to the stage for a few special shows. So although this show is not specifically in Phoenix, we think this one is totally worth checking out. If you love magic, you'll want to be able to say, "I saw Lance Burton!"
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The Clairvoyants
Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson
1100 W. Pima Mine Road
Tucson, AZThe Clairvoyants with their holiday spectacular tour will bring mesmerizing wonders and enchantment to you and yours. They promise to dazzle and captivate audiences with a breathtaking array of new acts. From mindreading to illusions, they and their adorable friend Mr. Koni Hundini, will be bringing joy and laughter to all, transporting you to a realm of wonder.
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Johnathan and Dane Smith
Backstreet Asia Filipino & Asian Food Bistro
965 East Van Buren Street #Suite 123
Avondale, AZ 85323Prepare to be Amazed and step into a world where the impossible becomes reality, where thoughts are plucked from thin air, and predictions defy all logic. This is an unforgettable evening of wonder and intrigue. The Smith Brothers, Johnathan Smith - The Reality Twister, and Dane “The Mind” Smith, unite their exceptional talents in "Mentalism Unlocked." Witness mind reading that transcends the ordinary and predictions that will leave you speechless.
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