THE SPENCERS THEATRE OF ILLUSION

It’s Not Just Abracadabra…

It’s Hocus Focus & the Internationally Acclaimed Spencers Theatre of Illusion

INTERNATIONAL MAGICIANS OF THE YEAR TO PERFORM LOCALLY

IMMEDIATE  RELEASE

VALHALLA, NY     In the third and final featured event of the Blockbuster Series, Westchester Community College is honored to feature The Spencers Theatre of Illusion.  This performance takes place on Saturday, May 17 at 8pm in the Academic Arts Theatre on the Valhalla campus at Westchester Community College.

Theatre of Illusion is not your run-of-the-mill magic show; and The Spencers are not your typical magicians. The Spencers carry a lot of equipment in their 65 foot customized truck and trailer, but a rabbit and a top hat are not in the inventory.

Kevin and Cindy Spencer, known professionally as The Spencers, are among the world’s most recognized magical performers. They have mesmerized millions of people with sold out performances in 19 countries on 5 continents. And they have left a trail of accolades in their wake. They have been named Performing Arts Entertainers of the Year an amazing six times and, in 2009, were bestowed magic’s highest honor, the Merlin Award for International Magicians of the Year joining the ranks of Henning, Copperfield, and Penn & Teller.

The Spencers production is a unique fusion of magic and illusion, humor and mystery, and persona and personality. With a background in clinical psychology, Kevin likes to say, “I was going to help people’s minds but now I just mess with them.” Their show, “Theatre of Illusion”, stands in stark contrast to the traditional magic show. He sees it not as a stage full of tricks used to fool people, but as a way to inspire viewers with a sense of wonder. By blending the theatrical elements of a Broadway-style production with the high energy of a rock concert, these artists take their audience on a journey to the brink of impossibility… and back again.  Audience members don’t simply watch the show, but are also invited to participate in the magic. Using magic much like a storyteller uses words; The Spencers fuses this family-friendly production with a gamut of emotions.  And with the skills of a master showman, he creates a world where nothing is impossible and anything can happen.

Kevin Spencer has committed his life to magic both on stage and off. When he’s not working with his crew to set up a show, he can be found spreading the word about the therapeutic and educational benefits of learning magic for persons with a variety of disabilities. He is widely considered the leading authority on the functional and academic benefits of the art of illusion.  HEALING OF MAGIC uses simple magic tricks as a form of rehabilitative therapy. HOCUS FOCUS integrates magic tricks into the classroom as a way of motivating students in the learning process. Both projects have an international reputation with published research in leading scientific journals.  Kevin Spencer received the Harry Chapin Award for Contributions to Humanity in recognition of his work in healthcare and education.

Magic is no longer merely about baffling the audience by doing something seemingly impossible. We’ve seen it all before. Magic these days is about spectacle, drama, danger, and personality. Kevin and Cindy Spencer are the masters of this new magic theatre. Entertainers come and go, but few make a lasting impression on their audience or their art. The Spencers are that rare exception! This is one show you won’t want to miss!

Single tickets for The Spencers Theatre of Illusion are: $24 (general admission), $22 (for students/seniors/fac-staff), and $18 (children under 13).

Tickets can either be purchased in advance by mailing with a check or by cash at the Box Office, 30 minutes before the scheduled performance time.  For online credit card purchases, please visit…sunywcc.edu/SmartArts and click on the “Buy Tickets” link.

For more information about this performance or the many other exciting cultural events, please call the Office of Cultural Affairs at 914-606-6262 or visit us online at sunywcc.edu/SmartArts