Broadway’s ‘The Illusionists’ comes to Koger Center

From card tricks to daring Houdini-like water torture escapes, one show making a stop in Columbia will showcase talents of some of the world’s top magicians.

“The Illusionists – Witness the Impossible” is the first show in the Broadway in Columbia series at the Koger Center for the Arts, showing Sunday and Monday, Nov. 8-9. The show was on Broadway in New York last year and will return at the end of November.

It brings together some of the most highly regarded magicians in the world, with each specializing in different areas.

Jeff Hobson, a magician and comedian featured in the show, is dubbed “the Trickster,” because of his unassuming look but mischievous onstage antics.

“I’m the sneaky one of the group,” he said.

His accolades include the Academy of Magical Arts naming him the Stage Magician of the Year and earning the Best Comedy Magic award from the International Magic Awards Association. He has been with “The Illusionists” for the past four years.

Unlike most Broadway shows, in which actors fill predetermined roles, “The Illusionists” is tailored toward each performer.

Hobson said the show always dazzles the audience because it uses different types of magic, ranging from dramatic to suspenseful to sleight of hand and grand illusions.

“We throw it all up on stage, and we give everybody a taste of magic that most people have never seen before,” he said. “We’re basically the magic show for people who didn’t know they liked magic shows.”

Audience participation plays a major part of the show, and he warned that audience members who sit toward the back are more likely to be selected.

“Beware, people, of where you sit,” he said.

Hobson said this will be his first time in Columbia. Aside from hoping to “get in a golf game” while here, he also wants to provide an entertaining distraction for those affected by last month’s floods.

“We want to put some smiles back on their faces and realize to look on the bright side,” he said. “Hopefully, we can supply that.”

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 4:19 PM with the headline "Broadway’s ‘The Illusionists’ comes to Koger Center."