Eric Jones kicks off the opening of Liberty Magic, a new space dedicated to the art
of magic. Jones was a top 12 semi-finalist on the television show America’s Got
Talent where his sleight of hand illusions repeatedly mesmerized viewers and the
judges earning the descriptions: “Brilliant” (Simon Cowell), a “Superhero” (Mel
B.) and “Mindblowing” (Heidi Klum). I was excited to experience the Impossible “now you see it now you don’t”
tricks of Eric Jones up close in this new intimate theater.
Pittsburgh joins, Chicago, New York and Los Angles, with the opening of a club dedicated
solely to a magical art form. Liberty Magic located
in the same block that Houdini mesmerized Pittsburgh audiences in 1916, pays homage
to his famous Chinese Water Torture Cell illusion in the lobby. Upon entering, you
are personally greeted by The Host and Venue Manager (Graham Fandrei). He directs you past a room that looks like it
could be part of Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, before you enter the elegant theater where
the magic begins.
I have seen magic preformed in large venues and
on television (Day 254) but the experience at Liberty Magic is
like no other because with only 4 rows, totaling 70 seats, you become part of the magic. The wow factor is elevated
to a new level when you are close enough to watch every move of the artist and
you still have no clue how the illusions are done.
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| Theater with ornate tin ceiling and chandlers is an elegant comfortable inmate setting where you can bring your own wine and beer to enjoy during the show. |
Jones, a 10 year veteran of his art, made coins multiply, cards fly, and both
disappear and reappear in the hands of others. He challenged you to scan his every
movement. Even with your gaze permanently fixed on him, you’re repeatedly
thinking “how did he do that?” (watch here).
What makes the Liberty Magic experience so
unique is that in this intimate setting you have an opportunity to meet the
magician on a personal level. Jones amazed
us as he simultaneously shared his life story.
Living in an isolated rural part of Virginia,
Eric’s childhood fascination with magic drew him to read every book on the subject available
to him. He later discarded his full engineering
scholarship at Cornell University to pursue his passion for magic. Originally selling his tricks to others, he launched his own career when he stumped Penn and Teller with a coin illusion. This earned him a guest spot in their Las Vegas show. Everyone in the audience erupted into applause as our mouths dropped when he preformed this illusion for us.
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| Skeleton Key tickets gives you a VIP Experience for an after show exclusive meet and great |
Jones’ skill with cards and coins defied all
boundaries of reason. Being so close to the magic, you gain a heightened appreciation for the dexterity and talent
necessary to amaze. (Jones admitted that he practiced 12 hours a day in his early years).
Jones made you want to believe in magic because we saw the impossible, and thus we left his show believing in the impossible.
Jones made you want to believe in magic because we saw the impossible, and thus we left his show believing in the impossible.
(Liberty Magic is located at 811 Liberty Ave. Eric
Jones Impossible runs until March 17, 2019. For tickets to Impossible go to trustarts.org Lee Terbosic with his show In Plain Slight is the next magical experience on March 20 through May 12, 2019. For tickets to In Plain Slight go to here) .
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