The Illusionists - Live from Broadway comes to New Orleans Oct. 25-30 at the Saenger Theatre

THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE FROM BROADWAY
COMES TO NEW ORLEANS OCT. 25 - 30 AT THE SAENGER THEATRE
Tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m.

"MAGIC'S CIRQUE DU SOLEIL"
-Times of London

NEW ORLEANS - (July 28, 2015) - On the heels of a highly successful multi-city tour and run on Broadway, the world's best-selling touring magic show, THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE FROM BROADWAY^TM, will arrive in New Orleans Oct. 25 - 30, 2016, at the Saenger Theatre as part of its current North American tour to more than 50 cities. Tickets for THE ILLUSIONISTS will go on sale Friday, Aug. 5, 2016, at 10 a.m. Presented by the New Orleans Theatre Association, THE ILLUSIONISTS is part of the East Jefferson General Hospital Broadway in New Orleans 2016 - 2017 season.

Tickets for THE ILLUSIONISTS start at $30 and will be available at the Saenger Theatre Box Office, 1111 Canal St., New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, BroadwayInNewOrleans.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and by phone at (800) 982-2787. Group sales are offered for groups of 10 or more and will be available by calling (504) 287-0372.

THE ILLUSIONISTS - LIVE FROM BROADWAY^TM is produced by Simon Painter, Tim Lawson and MagicSpace Entertainment. Conceived by Simon Painter, the show's creative team also includes executive producer Tim Lawson, director Neil Dorward and creative director Jim Millan.

Full of hilarious magic tricks, death-defying stunts and acts of breathtaking wonder, THE ILLUSIONISTS has shattered box office records worldwide. The show thrills audiences of all ages with a mind-blowing spectacular showcasing the jaw-dropping talents of seven of the most incredible illusionists on earth.

"We can't wait to bring this electrifying show to New Orleans for a truly entertaining experience for the whole family," Painter said. "THE ILLUSIONISTS is the most non-stop and powerful mix of outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on the live stage."

The seven stars, each a master in their own field, are:
• The Manipulator, Yu Ho-Jin. Considered a rising superstar in the world of magic, Ho-Jin was recently named the 2014 "Magician of the Year" by Academy of Magical Arts and was the first Asian to win the Grand Prix at the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques, also known as the "Olympics of Magic."
• The Anti-Conjuror, Dan Sperry. Described as Marilyn Manson meets David Copperfield, Sperry combines the art of magic with the macabre and is one of the top ten most Googled people, thanks to a legendary "America's Got Talent" appearance.
• The Trickster, Jeff Hobson, is the epitome of glamour and showmanship. Do not be fooled by his innocent appearance. Hobson has audiences laughing long after the curtain goes down.
• The Escapologist, Andrew Basso. Italy's star escape artist, Basso considers Houdini his hero and is becoming one of the world's most popular illusionists. He is the only person in the world to perform Houdini's famous Water Torture Cell with absolutely no covers.
• The Inventor, Kevin James, is known for innovative illusions. He is an inventor, comedian and collector of the strange and unusual. James is one of the most prolific inventors of magic in the world and has created some of the most celebrated illusions of the last century.
• The Weapon Master, Ben Blaque, has established himself as America's foremost master of the crossbow after appearing four times on America's Got Talent. He performs incredibly dangerous acts of dexterity using highly powerful crossbows to shoot various objects supported by his assistant.
• The Deductionist, Colin Cloud, is one of the greatest thought readers of all time and a psychic savant known as a real-life Sherlock Holmes. Don not play against him in a game of poker - he has never lost.

Simon Painter, creative producer
Painter is a visionary creative theatrical producer who hails from London. He started his career on stage as a classical violinist and performed the lead role for Spirit of the Dance in Las Vegas. The first show he produced, Le Grand Cirque, smashed box office records at the Sydney Opera House, selling over 40,000 tickets in ten days. Painter's two subsequent productions, Aerial Dreams and Adrenaline, also broke records in Sydney and across the world, in addition to achieving critical acclaim. In 2010, Painter had five versions of Le Grand Cirque playing concurrently. In late 2010, Painter joined forces with Australian producer and close friend Tim Lawson and began assembling the greatest magical minds from a wide spectrum of disciplines. His production of THE ILLUSIONISTS has already performed to record-breaking crowds in theatres and arenas across the globe, including Australia, Mexico, Latin America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In addition to THE ILLUSIONISTS, Painter's current projects include Le Noir (The Dark Side of Cirque) and Illusionists 2.0, both of which are currently playing extensive international tours.

Tim Lawson, executive producer
Lawson is the CEO of TML Enterprises, servicing Australia and international territories with first class musicals and family entertainment. His productions span across 100 cities in 20 countries. Australian theatrical touring credits include Sweet Charity, Buddy - The Musical, Jolson starring Rob Guest, Spirit of the Dance, Oh! What A Night, Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol, It's A Dad Thing!, Weary - The Life of Sir Edward Dunlop, Shout! The Musical, Brave Men Run In Our Family, Jekyll and Hyde starring Brad Little and The Rocky Horror Show narrated by Richard O' Brien. Lawson's award-winning production of A Chorus Line transferred to the prestigious London Palladium, and his production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang recently completed a 13-month tour. With partner Painter, credits include Le Grand Cirque, Ariel Dreams, Adrenaline, Le Noir - The Dark Side of Cirque, The Illusionists and The Illusionists 2.0, all enjoying record-breaking success and extensive international arena and theatrical touring. www.tmlenterprises.com.

http://www.theillusionistslive.com/

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About Broadway Across America
BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA is part of The John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com and is operated by John Gore (Owner & CEO). BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 38 markets. Current and past productions include Beautiful, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Quartet, Hairspray, On Your Feet!, The Producers, and Shuffle Along. Broadway.com is the premier theater website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales. For more information please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.

About MagicSpace Entertainment
MagicSpace Entertainment is headed by Lee D. Marshall, Joe Marsh, John Ballard, Steve Boulay and Bruce Granath and has been producing and presenting national tours, Broadway shows, concerts and museum exhibits worldwide for over 35 years. Consistently one of the top promoters in the world, MagicSpace Entertainment typically produces and presents more than 350 events worldwide per year. Recent Broadway credits include The Illusionists - Witness the Impossible (Broadway & West End), Donny & Marie - A Broadway Christmas, American Idiot and RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles On Broadway. National tour credits include The Illusionists - Live From Broadway, Lord of the Dance created by Michael Flatley, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage starring in Mythbusters - Unleashed, Alton Brown Live, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis, Donny & Marie Christmas, RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles, The Magic of David Copperfield, Circus 1903 - The Golden Age of Circus, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line and national concert tours by Janet Jackson, Cher and Fleetwood Mac to name just a few. Touring museum exhibitions produced include Juassic World: The Exhibition, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition, Titanic: The Exhibition and Diana - A Celebration, St Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes exhibition. MagicSpace Entertainment has offices in Park City and Salt Lake City, UT. www.magicspace.net.

Saenger Theatre
Originally built in 1927, the Saenger Theatre was designed to reflect a magnificent 15th century Italian courtyard and gardens, with a starlit evening sky ceiling, arched surroundings, statuary, columns and decorative moldings. In January 2012, the City of New Orleans, Canal Street Development Corporation (CSDC) and ACE Theatrical Group formed a public-private partnership to carry out a $52 million restoration project after the iconic theatre was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina. The Saenger Theatre reopened in the fall of 2013, authentically restored to the finest level of detail, with state-of-the-art technological improvements and updated first-class amenities. The theatre hosts a wide variety of performing arts attractions including live theater, comedy shows and musical acts. The Saenger Theatre is located at the corner of Canal and North Rampart streets in downtown New Orleans and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit http://www.saengernola.com for more information.

New Orleans Theatre Association (NOTA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation whose mission is to attract and present the finest theatrical and performing arts attractions available in New Orleans. NOTA is also dedicated to financial and technical support of local non-profit institutions in New Orleans that are dedicated to the furtherance of theatrical and musical education and production.