Illusionist Blagg bringing magic to Perot on Thursday
“And then something incredible instantly happens, and I don’t want to give it away. You’ve got to come to the show to see it.” Bill Blagg
TEXARKANA, Texas — The audience can expect the unexpected during illusionist Bill Blagg’s show next week at the Perot Theatre, he said Tuesday.
The Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council will bring Blagg’s distinctive brand of magic to the Perot on Thursday, Feb. 16. He described the production as a family-friendly combination of rock concert and magic show.
“It’s a mix of grand-scale illusion with masterful sleight of hand, with a lot of twists and turns. It’s a fun time. … I always say that it’s a very human way to present magic, as opposed to the clichéd ways of the past,” he said.
Blagg last performed at the Perot in 2019. He said the audience will see some proven crowd pleasers, as well as allnew illusions.
“We have some of the hits and the favorites that the audiences enjoy. But definitely we’re bringing a boatload of new magic that this audience hasn’t seen,” he said.
In one signature illusion, Blagg enters a transparent box, which is then hoisted to 10 feet above the stage.
“And then something incredible instantly happens, and I don’t want to give it away. You’ve got to come to the show to see it,” he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused changes in the show, including no longer involving audience volunteers. But those changes turned out to be improvements, as the audience does not have to wait while people are chosen and make their way onstage, Blagg said.
“We developed magic that the entire audience could participate in, as opposed to watching just one volunteer onstage taking part in it. So it’s magic that happens to everybody while they’re in their seat. …
“It makes the show flow better and allows us to incorporate more magic into the show. We’re super pleased because it’s an overall just better experience,” he said.
(The Magic of Bill Blagg is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Perot Theatre, 221 Main St. Tickets are available at perottheatre.com or at the box office.)