MILLENNIUM MAGIC 2025 IS COMING THIS MONTH!
This super-affordable show is just what the doctor ordered right now! Millennium Magic is one of my favorite events of any year. And its cheeriness is what we all need at this moment. And I’m giving you a whole week’s notice this time, (it runs for all of next week-end—January 24-26,) so get your tickets now. (Tickets are free to first responders and their immediate families.)
The cast of the at previous Millennium Magic. Photo by Karen Salkin.
In case you’re not familiar with it, Millennium Magic is the wonderful annual fundraiser for Theatre West in the Valley. It’s full of magic, humor, and tons of fun. And the best news for you regulars of this usually-end-of-the-year show is that you did not miss it in November or December. The theatre decided to do it as a beginning-of-the-year event this time, which is so much better for us uber-busy-during-the-holidays folks.
The presentation is once again produced and hosted by professional magicians, and members of Theatre West, George Tovar and Jeanine Anderson, who are two of the most popular prestidigitators around.
Jeanine Anderson and a puppet pal with a couple of assistants at a previous Millennium Magic. Photo by Karen Salkin.
All of the acts are appropriate for every age audience member, (except for maybe babies and unruly adults,) so Millennium Magic is perfect to bring the children to. While the ladies in the crowd most likely look the most forward to seeing handsome George, the youngsters really love Jeanine, (who has been performing at children’s birthday parties for many years,) especially when she brings along some of her puppet pals. A few of the kids, (and, actually, grown-ups,) in the audience may even be called upon to be assistants, so make sure no one is doing something you wouldn’t want others to see in public; you never know when they, (or you,) will get to make their Theatre West debut, helping with a trick!
All three shows feature different magicians, so, if you love magic as much as I (and some of my friends) do, you can attend all of them and see something new each time.
Here’s the planned line-up of performers for the week-end. (But, if we’ve all learned anything so far in this young year, nothing is certain in this crazy world, so it’s subject to change):
Friday Jan. 24 at 8PM–*Charlie Mount, Steve Branham, Derek Ostovanti, and Tom Ogden, who I understand is very funny.
Saturday Jan. 25 at 8PM–*Charlie Mount, Ice McDonald, Chris Hart, and Cosmic Romantics.
Sunday Jan. 26 at 2PM—Simone Turkington, Alexander Great, Miguel Rangel (Migz), and Richard Raven.
George Tovar, in the center with a couple of audience volunteers, at last year’s Millennium Magic. Photo by Karen Salkin.
*[Note: Charlie Mount directed one of my absolute fave plays of 2024, The Goddamn Couple Down the Hall (Oh… and Merry Christmas), at this very theatre! So he’s a multi-talented man. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us this time.]
And, of course, Jeanine and George will do little bits in-between the other acts.
Millennium Magic is definitely the show for all fans of this art, especially people who have longed to get into the famous Magic Castle, which is private; non-members don’t have many opportunities to see these superb performers in person. In addition to this production featuring magicians who regularly appear at that venue, you will also see artists you might recognize from Las Vegas venues and TV series, such as Penn & Teller: Fool Us. And, for you world travelers, (of whom I am jealous,) some of them have even performed on cruise ships.
A fabulous act at a last year’s Millennium Magic. Photo by Karen Salkin.
So, instead of having to take to the high seas, or travel to Vegas, all you have to do to have this much fun is spend one evening or afternoon at a charming little playhouse right near Universal Studios! And you get to help-out the arts, an under-funded area of life, at the same time. To me, it’s a win-win.
I look forward to seeing you there. At any or all of the shows. I just hope that Mr. X doesn’t bribe someone to make me disappear!
Millennium Magic 2023 running only January 24-26, 2025
Theatre West 3333 Cahuenga Boulevard West 323-851-7977
www.theatrewest.org/on-stage/millenium-magic
