Last week I had the opportunity to spend 4 amazing evenings in the presence of The Maestro.

Juan Tamariz has been visiting from Spain and magicians from across the country descended on The Magic Castle in Hollywood, where he has taken residency for a few weeks.

There was a formal Q&A, two command performances, casual gatherings over dinner discussing magic theory, and sessions that ran into the wee hours of the morning.

A select few of us were even invited to give a spontaneous performance for The Maestro. I’ve never been so giddy in my life.

Thrilled. Inspired. Filled with joy.

PS - And I’m not being dramatic when I say “The World's Greatest Magician.” Read about Juan in The NY Times.

Is it a trick? A puzzle?

Many people see it that way; the challenge of figuring it out and catching the Magician. Some even want to see me fail. Mostly I believe people want to see me succeed because they want the experience. 

But what is that experience? 

Movies and theater are magical; novels, paintings, music, all magical. Although they have the ability to transport us to another place you can also see the craft in them. You know your favorite actor did not really die in the movie. She is crafting an illusion. You know that Superman doesn’t really fly. It’s CGI. It’s crafted to feel like these things happened. 

That crafting helps you get lost in the journey and in that moment you’re on the ride and it doesn’t really matter that someone might be stealing your car at that moment.

For magic to work, the “secret” must not only be kept hidden -- it must not even be suspected. Because the moment you even suspect a sneaky move…POP! The bubble bursts and there’s no magical experience. No mystery. You are thrown out of the experience and you’ll never reach your destination.

This is a challenge I accept.

Piedmont Living Magazine came to see the February installment of CONJURING WONDER and shared a brief interview with their readers in their March 2023 edition!

Up-Close & Personal: Magician Dennis Kyriakos

by Karen Silva

The exciting world of magic thrives in Oakland. Magician Dennis Kyriakos is presenting his one-man show, CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close & Personal. 

Dennis Kyriakos’ CONJURING WONDER amazes and delights audiences at the Claremont Club & Spa every month

Dennis said, “CONJURING WONDER is a rare, intimate experience of close-up magic presented in the stunning lobby bar of the Claremont Club & Spa. We limit seating to thirty guests, so you’re close enough to touch it. And people often do. It’s a wonderful evening out and a great date-night.” Dennis shared, “Working up-close is demanding and exciting but so is changing people’s perspective about what magic can be.”

Dennis has been steeped in magic for over 40 years. He said, “There were two moments when I was about 10 years old. I remember watching a magic show on Saturday morning TV and distinctly recall the feelings of wonder, astonishment, and joy.” 

“Magic thrives in Oakland....experience a delightful evening of mystery and wonder...”

— Piedmont Living Magazine

He stated, “Then I discovered a handful of old magic books at our local library and realized I could learn to create the same experience for others. So, first I was enchanted and then obsessed.

While magic might look easy to some, it requires dedication and practice.

Dennis said, “The real secrets of magic come from careful study, thoughtful practice, real-world experience, and they are passed along through mentorship and community. There’s no shortcut.” He stated, “For many years I worked at a weekly magic show in New York City and that became my training ground. It’s where I got close to a couple of the world’s greatest sleight-of-hand artists and magical thinkers who became my mentors and I'm fortunate to be part of that unbroken chain of sharing secrets with like minds.”

To experience a delightful evening of mystery and wonder, check out Dennis’ show at the Claremont. Visit www.conjuring.live for information and tickets.

CONJURING WONDER celebrates National Magic Week with a special performance on October 26th

OAKLAND, California — San Francisco Magician Dennis Kyriakos currently offers the only close-up magic show in the Bay Area. Fans are lining up to experience CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close & Personal each month at the Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley.

Since May, Kyriakos has been entertaining sold-out audiences at the Claremont with his high-caliber magic and mind reading show. His next performance is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit conjuring.live or watch the highlight video:

“To celebrate Halloween, our October 26th performance will feature an act rarely seen by modern audiences,” Kyriakos explained.

“More importantly October 25 - 31 is National Magic Week, which celebrates the charitable contributions made by the Society of American Magicians throughout the years. In that spirit, all proceeds of this month’s performance will go to the Jazy and Angel Scholarship Fund.”

Jazy and Angel Sotelo Garcia, two Berkeley HS students and brothers were shot and killed at a house party in Oakland on October 1st.

Asked why he decided to donate ticket sales, Kyriakos said, “I’d like those affected by this tragedy and our community to know that even though there may be darkness in the world, you will also find joy and wonder and light in equal measure.”

For the past 25 years, Kyriakos has provided entertainment at corporate meetings, incentive weekends, trade shows, fundraising gala, and high-end private events across the country and around the world.

He has been a featured performer and host of Monday Night Magic – New York City’s longest-running magic show – and Magical Nights at Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency – The Nightclub of New York. He has been a repeated guest lecturer at NYU's Psychology Department and at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California, talking about "Visual Perception in Magic" and "Lying and Deception." He has also been featured on the popular website The Art of Manliness.

Kyriakos is available for interviews and demonstrations for reporters at television stations, radio, and newspapers.

For more information, visit conjuringwonder.com. He can also be followed on Instagram and Twitter at @conjuringwonder.

###

Tickets for this SPECIAL EDITION of CONJURING WONDER are on sale now!

Excited to share the new promo video for CONJURING WONDER - Magic: Up-Close & Personal.

Join us monthly at The Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley for The Bay Area’s Premiere Close-Up Magic Experience.

Tickets available at www.conjuring.live.