October 2025
Welcome to fall! As we look for hints of colorful foliage and crisp temperatures, the Genii team is delighted to welcome you to our October issue.
We are also thrilled to share our new geniimagic.com website with Genii readers! All magazine subscribers are entitled to full, premium access, which means you can now read your new Genii content from the convenience of your devices. There you will find articles with extra goodies like videos, downloads, and extra resources embedded right in the article itself. Soon we’ll be adding even more special features to our digital realm, so be sure to keep checking it out. And if you want to page through the digital version via the Genii app, simply click here.
Here’s a quick roundup of articles with extras:
EDITORIAL
THE GENII SPEAK • by Jim Steinmeyer
Jim Steinmeyer gives you a little insight to this month’s magazine and also has a wonderful conversation with the one and only Mac King.
FEATURES
LIVING THE DREAM • by Carl Mercurio
Mat Franco’s first decade after AGT has been historic, and wonderfully magical. A look back at how his show first started and where it is today.
THE STORIES ONSTAGE AT MAGIC LIVE • by Vanessa Armstrong
This year’s convention offered new types of storytelling for the art of magic.
And, an interview with Stan Allen.
UNA VIDA PARA LA MAGIA: AN APPRECIATION • by Martín Pacheco and Roberto Mansilla
English-language look at the Spanish edition of David Bamberg’s biography.
THE EYE
Curated and edited by Vanessa Armstrong
Spellbound by Magic Castle Expands to Star Princess Princess Cruise Lines and Magic Castle Enterprises set sail again with Spellbound, a new vaudeville-inspired magic experience debuting on the Star Princess this October. SEE concept photos and WATCH the video rendering of the new space!
The Magician and the Cardsharp Podcast Discussion Author Karl Johnson revisits Dai Vernon’s 1920s hunt for a famous gambler in a lively podcast chat about his book The Magician and the Cardsharp. LISTEN to the podcast.
The Muppets on Broadway, With Magic! Magician Rob Lake brings his Broadway debut to the Broadhurst Theatre this holiday season, joined on stage by none other than The Muppets. WATCH the trailer and LEARN MORE about Rob and how to GET TICKETS
The Greatest Illusion: A Documentary in the Making Norwegian magician and illusionist Alexx Alexxander is the subject of a new documentary. LEARN MORE about Alexx Alexxander.
This year, there was Lady Magic at the Edinburgh Fringe. Spiegelworld’s Lady Magic, directed by Natalie Palamides, made its debut at Edinburgh Fringe. LEARN MORE about this hilarious show.
Penn & Teller on All the Things The celebration of Penn & Teller’s 50 years together continues! WATCH video and READ more about the dynamic duo’s year-long celebration.
IN PRACTICE
Inventing Magic with Rune Klan: Slush Free In Episode 8, WATCH Blake Vogt and his friend Rune Klan invent a clever method of making liquid disappear, literally, in mid air!
Spectator Cuts to the Aces Here is a direct and fun effect that lets you get your audience involved with very satisfying yet surprising results. WATCH Adam’s demonstration of this lovely effect.
IN PERFORMANCE
It’s back! See APPEARING NOW for the full listing of performances at The Magic Castle. (You must be logged in to geniimagic.com to access the full listing.) You will see that October is a special month with the inspired theme Wicked Wonderland. Kevin James will be presenting Down the Rabbit Hole, where you will see his weird and wonderful illusions, including the October photo essay, The Operation.
The Rhapsody Theater Ricardo Rosenkranz’s beautiful, magical theater in Chicago features top-tier talent presented in a lavish theatrical setting
MARKETPLACE
STAFF PICKS: Magic Land The Onosoka family and their famous Tokyo magic shop—their popular tricks, their new customers. READ MORE about this wonderful family and their wonderful shop!
WORKSHOP
The Warped Deck Not a real fake, a fake fake: that is, something that simply can’t be—but there it is. WATCH Dr. Matt Pritchard’s video demonstration of what this is all about!
PERSPECTIVES
The Operation Like we said above, Kevin James’ wonderfully wicked routine is something you just gotta see. WATCH the video of this great piece, and LEARN MORE about where you can see his next performance! (Hint: See Appearing Now.)
Cafe avec Alexandra Duvivier DISCOVER more about this busy magicienne; find out how the amazing French magician talks about how she doesn’t talk about herself.
ADVERTISERS
Annanya George
David Malek
IBM Convention
Jim Steinmeyer
John Carney Magic
Kaufman and Company
Magic Stars Studio
Magikraft
McBride’s Magic & Mystery School
Nielsen Magic
Plainsight
Quicker Than the Eye
Rings-N-Things Magic
SAM Convention
Tannen’s
The Disclaimer
The Magic Circle
The Miracle Factory
The Rhapsody Theater