New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
The secret life of magicians
Bill Gates knows how to do magic. He knows how to do magic because Greenwich magician Bill Herz taught him face to face.
“[We taught him] to make money appear, of course. We taught him to turn a computer into a bowl of cash,” Herz said of an illusion he performed that made it seem as if a computer magically turned into a bowl of cash.
The trick was also a metaphor that’s all part of want Herz does. He’s a professional corporate magician, which means he shows up to events for big corporations and does magic that intersects with whatever message the boss is trying to convey.
Herz also owns his own Greenwich-based company called Magicorp Productions that represents some of the most famous magicians in the world, such as David Blaine, Michael Carbonaro, Piff the Magic Dragon and David Copperfield.
Tom Pesce is one of the magicians Herz represents, and he lives in Ridgefield.
Pesce performs for large corporations all over the world including Google, Amazon and Microsoft, and he’s also a sixth grade English teacher in Rye Brook, N.Y.
“It’s a wonderful combination because I enhance my teaching with magic, and I enhance my magic with what I know through school district administration,” Pesce said.
“I’ve taught elementary and middle school students for 18 years so kind of putting in some of that child psychology when I’m working with adults — all of that expertise can work together, which is really fun,” he said.
While Pesce teaches children as his day job and does magic for corporations by night, Dan Trombetto, also known as Danny Diamond is almost the opposite.
Trombetto was born and raised in Stamford and is a website and graphic designer by day and a children’s magician on the weekends. Working the Magic by Danny Diamond business part time, he does 100 or more shows a year and has kept it up for the last 17 years.
And Trombetto said his side job requires a lot of time and energy.
“On a busy Saturday I could do three shows possibly… So, I’m bouncing from loading up the car in the morning, heading out, putting a ton of miles on the car, unloading setting up the show, performing, being high energy, packing up at the end and heading to the next place.”
“You know it’s just like,
there’s a lot more that goes on than just those 45 minutes [clients] see,” he said. “Some people only see ‘oh you just get up there and kind of goof around for 45 minutes and do a couple tricks’ but there’s quite a bit more that goes on.”
Connecticut has a sort of secret world of magic right under everyone’s noses. There are magicians associations, a magic conference and young magicians groups that
meet around the state and exchange tips and tricks.
Dana Herz, Bill’s daughter, was one of those young magicians who showed up to young magician group meetings and blew the group out of the water with tricks she learned from her dad. Dana now lives in California, but grew up in Greenwich.
“I’ve been doing magic since I was, you know, two years old and I would get my allowance as a kid by going
to the Society of Young Magicians meetings,” Dana said. “It’s so normal for me because it’s all I’ve known my whole life.”
As a kid, Dana pushed the whole magic thing aside. It was the family business, and she had never experienced it with the awe of a spectator. In college, she started doing stand-up comedy. That’s when she discovered she may have more in common with the family business than she thought
“Every now and then I would kind of throw some magic in (to the stand-up routine) and I just found that was when I would get the best reception. For me, my goal in entertainment — as much as I love the experience of amazing people — is that I just want people to leave having had a really good time and having had a lot of fun,” she said. “That’s kind of given me a lot more freedom to not necessarily follow the normal trajectory and more go toward just kind of being inspired by whatever makes people happy.”
The art of magic is changing, according to Dana and Bill Herz and Pesce, especially after the pandemic. Virtual magic shows have made performing across the world more accessible than ever. Dana has hosted virtual magic happy hours that she says have been a great success.
That virtual presence has also allowed for new demographics to invest in magic and illusions. Bill and Dana Herz have both said they’ve seen an increase in magicians of all genders and races, which could make the image of a mustachioed gentlemen in a top hat and tails a thing of the past.
“We all take those male magicians — especially white male magicians — as the norm,” Dana said. “I think for anyone who’s interested in magic, it’s really worth taking a look at the up-andcoming people because a lot of them are different races and identify differently, and I think that there’s going to be a lot of power in those new voices using this older medium.”
CALENDAR ANSONIA Specials
Variety Cabaret Night, Holy Rosary Church Hall, 10 Father Salemi Dr. Nov. 13. Doors open 5:15 p.m. $20 per person. Dance Troupe, Female singer and entertainer Joey Vincent. BYOB and snacks. Ice, water, coffee and cake provided. Door prizes. Information and reservations call 203-732-0633.
Junior Rangers, Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Lane. Nov. 18. All dates meet 3:30-5 p.m. Free. 203736-1053 or ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org to sign up.
BRIDGEPORT
Comedy
Damon Wayans Jr., Bridgeport Stress Factory Comedy Club, 167 State St. Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 12 & 13, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.; Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. bridgeport.stressfactory.com
Music
Greater Bridgeport Symphony with “Fate and Triumph,” Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave. Nov. 13, 8 p.m. $65-$18. gbs.org
Latin Pop Tribute, Bijou Theatre, 275 Fairfield Ave. Nov. 12, 8 p.m. $42-$27; CT Transit Authority-Chicago Tribute, Nov. 13, 8 p.m. $39-$24. bijoutheatrect.net
Specials
The Golden Gays-NYC with “Thank Yule for Being a Friend,” Bijou Theatre, 275 Fairfield Ave. Nov. 11, 7 p.m. $40-$25. Visit website for tickets. bijoutheatrect.net
Stage
Play Reading of “Inheriting the Well,” Bijou Theatre, 275 Fairfield Ave. Nov. 14, noon. Free. Registration required. bijoutheatrect.net
Visual Arts
Arcade Mall, City Lights Gallery, and Ursa Gallery. City Lights and Ursa Gallery offer companion exhibits: City Lights exhibit, “Pandemic Art;” and “Here Comes the Sun” at Ursa Gallery. citylightsgallery.org, bridgeport-art-trail.org
“DRIP-DROP, TICK-TOCK, HERE + NOW,” Housatonic Museum of Art Burt Chernow Galleries in Lafayette Hall, Housatonic Community College Campus, 900 Lafayette Blvd. The show will be on view through Dec. 10. Gallery talk with the artist, Nov. 13, 1 p.m. as part of City Wide Open Studios. houstaonicmuseum.org.
Bridgeport Art Trail, “Re-invention and Discovery,” the city-wide open studio arts celebration is back, live and in person. Nov. 11-14. bridgeport-art-trail.org/2021bridgeport-art-trail/
COLCHESTER Comedy
Comedy Craft Beer Tour with Kenny Garcia and Friends, Priam Vineyards, 11 Shailor Hill Road. Nov. 12, 7-9 p.m. $35; Richie Redding, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. $35. 954729-6282, comedycraftbeer.com
DANBURY Christmas
Holiday Lunch and Boutique, The Amber Room Colonnade, 1 Stacey Road. Nov. 18. For information and reservations, contact Judi Fuller at 203-744-8062.
Specials
“Great Balls of Fire! Asteroids, Comets & Meteors” with Bill Cloutier, Danbury Library, 170 Main St. Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m. Registration required. danburylibrary.org
Visual Arts
“10 Year Retrospective Group Exhibit” featuring some of the many past artists who have exhibited, Gallery at Still River Editions, 128 E. Liberty St. Viewing inperson and virtually. The exhibit will run through Dec. 17. 203-791-1474, stillrivereditions.com
“American Abstract Artists 75th Anniversary Print Portfolio 2012-2019 Exhibit,” Western Connecticut State University Gallery at the Visual & Performing Arts Center Gallery, 43 Lake Ave. ext. on the Westside Campus. Through Dec. 5. wcsu.edu/art/gallery/upcoming-exhibitions/
EAST HAVEN
Stage
New Haven Gaelic Players present “Simey’s Shadow,” Irish American Com860-396-6910,
munity Center, 9 Venice Place. Nov. 10, 11, 12, 13, 7 p.m.; Nov. 14, 2p.m. For tickets call Catherine McMorrow 203-430-7074, Brian Beirne 203-675-9083, or online with Brown Paper Tickets at bpt.me/5289391
ENFIELD
Stage
Opera House Players present “Mamma Mia,” Enfield Annex, 124 North Maple St. Nov. 12-14, 19-21. Fri & Sat 8 p.m.; Sun 2 p.m. $23 adults, $19 under 12, over 60, students. operahouseplayers.org/tickets
FAIRFIELD
Comedy
Mike Finoia, Fairfield Theatre Company StageOne, 70 Sanford St. Nov. 13, 7:45 p.m. $28. fairfieldtheatre.org
Fairfield Comedy Club hosts Akaash Singh, Fairfield Circle Inn, 417 Post Road. Nov. 13, 7 & 9 p.m. $29, $39 VIP. fairfieldcomedyclub.com
Lectures
Innovation Lab Lecture Series Presented by the Fairfield University College of Arts and Sciences Innovation Lab: “The Real Fake” by Claudia Hart, free virtual event, Nov. 17, 7-8 p.m. Register at bit.ly/3vHmk5U
Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts offer a season of virtual lectures as part of the Open VISIONS Forum: Espresso Series. Lineup: “Fascist Style-Arts, Politics & Propaganda: From Italy 1922 to Global Dictatorships Today,” Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m. Free. Registration required at quickcenter.com.
Virtual discussions presented by Fairfield University Art Museum: “Open Visions Forum: How to Recognize Fascist Style in Art & Propaganda: 1922 through Today,” Nov.17, 7:30 p.m. Visit thequicklive.com to watch these events live. Music
Broadway Mix Tape, Sacred Heart University Community Theatre, 1420 Post Road. Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. $40. Broadway singers perform Broadway songs reimagined as classic radio hits through the ages. Featuring Jackie Burns and Max Sangerman. Tickets at shucommunitytheatre.org
Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University presents Orin Grossman Afternoons at the Piano with virtual performances and lectures lineup: “Beyond Malaguena: Ernesto Lecuona, The Cuban Gershwin,” Nov. 12; “Frederic Chopin: The Last Piano Works,” Nov. 19. All events 4 p.m. $10, free for Quick Center members. quickcenter.com
The Outlaws, Fairfield Theatre Company Warehouse, 70 Sanford St. Nov. 11, 8 p.m. $55; Olive Vox, StageOne, Nov. 12, 7:45 p.m. $20; Fuzz’s One Night Stand, Warehouse, Nov. 13, 7:45 p.m. $38; David Ryan Harris, StageOne, Nov. 14, 7:45 p.m. $25, $75 VIP; Pokey LaFarge, Warehouse, Nov. 14, 8 p.m. $25; Davy Knowles, StageOne, Nov. 17, 7:45 p.m. $28. fairfieldtheatre.org
Soundwaves Concert Series with Lion’s Gate Trio, Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Road. Nov. 13, 2-4 p.m. Registration required for this in-person event. fairfieldpubliclibrary.org
Stage
Sacred Heart University Theatre Arts Program Presents “As You Like It,” Sacred Heart University’s Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, 5151 Park Ave. Nov 11-14, 8-10 p.m. $22, $15 senior citizen, alumni, $10 students. Tickets at web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10812494
Veterans Day
“Children at War:” An Event to Remember, Trinity Episcopal Church, 651 Pequot Ave. Nov. 14, 5 p.m. Honoring the role that children played in wars of the modern age, from World I until today. 203-2550454
Visual Arts
Member Show Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Art/Place, Art/Place Gallery, located in Fairfield Theater Company, 70 Sanford St. Through Jan. 2, noon-5 p.m. Related event: Holiday Party, Dec. 5, 2-5 p.m. Live music, and artist talks. artplacegallery.org
Fairfield University Art Museum fall exhibits focus on issues of racial justice, racism, police reform, and Black history in
the United States. All exhibits on view through Dec. 18: “Carrie Mae Weems: The Usual Suspects,” presented in the Walsh Gallery in the Quick Center for the Performing Arts; “Roberto Lugo: New Ceramics,” and Robert Gerhardt: Mic Check,” presented in Bellarmine Hall Galleries. Visit website for virtual programs that accompany these exhibits. Fairfield University, 1073 N. Benson Road. fairfield.edu/museum
“Behind the Scenes” artwork of the gallery curators, Fairfield Public Library Kershner Gallery, 1080 Old Post Road. Through Nov. 27. fairfieldpubliclibrary.org
“Line, Shape, Color, and Form,” Hollis Taggart Gallery, 330 Pequot Ave. Through Dec. 11. info@hollistaggart.com, 212-628-4000.
“Exploring the Mid-Century Backyard: “Patios, Pools, and the American Backyard,” Fairfield Museum & History Center, 370 Beach Road. Through Dec. 31. “Topping the Charts: The Rise of Bridgeport's Columbia Records,” through April 3, 2022. Free Museum members, $5 nonmember adults, $3 students and seniors, and kids under 5 are free. fairfieldhistory.org
“Birds of the Northeast: Gulls to Great Auks” virtual art exhibit, presented by Fairfield University Art Museum’s Walsh Gallery in the Quick Center for the Performing Arts, on view on the museum’s website, through Dec. 31. thequicklive.com fairfield.edu/museum
FARMINGTON Visual Arts
“Embracing Strange” exhibit of tarot drawings by Andy Morgan and the curious photos and installation of oddities by Luke and Mistina Hanscom, StanleyWhitman House, 37 High St. Through Nov. 30. s-wh.org/exhibits-embracingstrange
GUILFORD
Specials
Veterans Day Panel Discussion: Looking Back at 20 Years in the Global War on Terror: Perspectives from Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. Nov. 11, 7 p.m. Register at guilfordfreelibrary.org.
Guilford Poets Guild hosts Poet Rhonda Ward, Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. Nov. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 203-453-8282, guilfordpoetsguild.org
HAMDEN
Music
Delta Rae, Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St. Nov. 12, 8 p.m.; Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, Nov. 13, 8 p.m.; Real Estate, Nov. 16, 8 p.m.; Letters to Cleo, Nov. 17, 8 p.m. Tickets at spaceballroom.com
GuitartownCT presents Jake Blount, banjoist, fiddler and singer, with Isa Burke fiddle, Gus Tristch guitar, and Nelson Williams bass, Best Video, 1842 Whitney Ave. Nov. 19, 6 p.m. $30. guitartownct.com.
Galvanized Jazz Band, Aunt Chilada’s, 3931 Whitney Ave. Nov 21, 6-8 p.m. Jazz, food, and dancing. Call 203-230-4640 for reservations. auntchilada.com.
Stage
“Our Town,” Hamden High School, 2040 Dixwell Ave. Nov. 11-13, 7 p.m. Tick
ets at hamdenmainstage.seatyourself.biz.
HARTFORD Stage
“An Evening with C.S. Lewis” starring David Payne, Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts Belding Theater, 166 Capitol Ave. Nov. 13, 4 p.m.; “The Band’s Visit,” Mortensen Hall, Nov. 16, 17, 18, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 19, 8 p.m., Nov. 20, 2 & 8 p.m., Nov. 21, 1 & 6 :30 p.m. bushnell.org
Visual Arts
“Common Struggle, Individual Experience: An Exhibition About Mental Health,” Connecticut Historical Society, 1 Elizabeth St. Nov. 12-Oct. 15, 2022. chs.org
“Working Through/Working Forward,” Widner Gallery Austin Arts Center, Trinity College, 300 Summit St. Through Dec. 7.
“By Her Hand: Artemisia Gentileschi and Women Artists in Italy, 1500-1800,” Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St. Through Jan. 9. The first exhibit solely dedicated to Italian women artists. thewadsworth.org.
“Sculpture by Contemporary Artist Leonardo Drew,” Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St. Two-part project features an interactive, outdoor sculptural landscape spanning the museum’s Main Street lawn, on view through Nov. 14; and an expansive threedimensional work that the artist refers to as an “explosion” for the museum’s Main Street lobby, on view through Jan. 2. Visit website for required advance registration, current hours and admission. “Sculpture in the City” a cityscape-focused program activating the works of sculpture and architectural design on the grounds of the Wadsworth and Main St. thewadsworth.org.
IVORYTON
Stage
“Say Goodnight, Gracie,” Ivoryton Playhouse, 103 Main St. Through Nov. 21. Performances: Wed 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Thu 7:30 p.m.; Fri & Sat 8 p.m.; Sun 2 p.m. $55 adults, $50 seniors, $25 students. ivorytonplayhouse.org
MANCHESTER
Stage
“Songs for a New World,” Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Road. Through Nov. 21. $32 VIP, $24. 860-647-9824, cheneyhall.org
MASHANTUCKET Music
John Fogarty, Foxwoods Resort Casino Premier Theater, 350 Trolley Line Blvd. Nov. 13, 8 p.m. $100-$65. 860-312-3000, foxwoods.com
Specials
Deal or No Deal Live!, Foxwoods Resort Casino Great Cedar Showroom, 350 Trolley Line Blvd. Nov. 13, 4 p.m. $45, $35. 800-200-2882, foxwoods.com
Veterans Day
Honoring The Veterans Powwow, Mashantucket Pequot Museum Research Center, 110 Pequot Trail. Nov. 13, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Free for Veterans and active-duty military with a valid ID. All others are free with Museum admission. Honoring Native and non-Native Americans who have served side by side in the U.S. Armed Forces for more than 200 years. Grand entry begins at noon. Performances, dazzling regalia and traditional music with dancers and drummers.
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MERIDEN Christmas
Meriden Turner Soc Weinachtsfest Christ den Turner Halle, 800 Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. homemade preserve Christmas Raffle. Ge a.m.-3 p.m. merident Stage
“All Together Now: Celebrating Local Th The Castle Craig Play phan Memorial Playh St. Nov. 12, 13, 8 p.m.; $20 seniors ages 65+ table seating, bring yo drinks and snacks. ca
MIDDLEBUR
Visual Arts
Connecticut “Plein Mike Berlinsky, Art Ga Speed Photo, 564 Mi Through Nov. 20. 203
MIDDLETOW Stage
Oddfellows Playho Company perform Sh comedy “A Midsumm Oddfellows Playhous 128 Washington St. N p.m.; Nov. 20, 1 & 7 p.m students. “Big Heart” anyone wanting to su work with young peo social justice. 860-34 s.org.
Visual Arts
Wesleyan Universit Zilkha Gallery presen Common,” through D
MILFORD
Music
Live Music: The Pro Sports Pub & Grill, 29 Nov. 12, 9 p.m.; Get Lit Reserve at milfordsp
MAC Live presents Arts Council, 40 Railr p.m. milfordarts.org
Stage
Eastbound Theatre Milford Arts Council, w for “One Slight Hitch, ter, 40 Railroad Ave. N Callbacks, if necessa p.m. Performances w 2022. Questions e-m gent.com. Visit milfor
Specials
Baubles, Bangles & ford Public Library on Haven Ave. Nov. 13, 10 item will be priced m dlibrary.org
Visual Arts
“Still Life,” Firehous tuck Ave. Nov. 11-21. 20 fordarts.org
“Lifting Restriction Center, 40 Railroad A 203-878-6674, milfo