Abracadabra, Alakazam

Las Vegas-style show features industry’s best tricksters

Glen Ghirardi first got turned on to magic when his son, a fourth-grader at the time, brought home a library book of tricks.

“It was lying on the coffee table, so I picked it up and worked a couple of tricks,” the Morgan City magician recalls. “I thought, ‘Hey, this is fun.'”

Magically, he was bitten by the bug. He gave up his painting contractor job for magic gigs.

“I’m self-taught; I’m not a copycat,” Ghirardi said. He’s performed to audiences across the U.S., earned Best Stage Act titles four times, and, in 1976, was given the prestigious “Originality Award” at the International Brotherhood of Magicians Convention for his “Ghirardi Multiplying Canes to Lit Candle” trick. In February 2005, Ghirardi was featured on the cover of “The Linking Ring,” a publication circulated to magicians in 178 countries. “It was the pinnacle of my career,” he said.

Forty-five years later, Ghirardi has made a name for himself in magician circles.

As founder of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 214, Ghirardi stays busy performing shows at area libraries, schools and corporate functions. And this month, he’s been pulling double-duty readying for Louisiana Magic Weekend, a two-day affair that culminates with a Las Vegas-style magic show Saturday, March 19, at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium, at 7 p.m.

The show includes top-notch entertainers: Steve Kissell, Shawn Farquhar, Mike Caveny, Tina Lenert, Charlie Frye & Company and George Saterial.

“These folks have played Las Vegas and around the world,” Ghirardi said. “We are lucky to get them.”

Kissell is known for clowning, comedy magic and storytelling. He’ll serve as the night’s emcee.

Farquhar’s magic’s been seen on the “Ellen Show” as well as on the “X-Files” and “Highlander.” Among the Canadian’s honors are the “Stage Magician,” “Sleight of Hand Magician of the Year” and the “Grand Prix World Champion of Magic.”

Named as one of the “New Vaudevillians,” Caveny has performed on the Orient Express, at the World Congress of Magic in Japan, they Sydney Arts Festival in Australia, the world famous London Palladium and was featured on A&E’s “Story of Magic” and NBC’s “The World’s Greatest Magic” special.

Lenert has also performed around the globe, including a show before the Royal Family in Monte Carlo. In addition to TV appearances, she’s appeared at Harrah’s Reno and Atlantic City and Ceasar’s Palace in Vegas.

Charlie Frye’s act is true to America’s vaudeville tradition. The rubber-faced, put-upon juggler/magician and his wife Sherry – the “& Company” portion of the act – met at Ringling Brothers. He was a clown and she performed daring feats as an aerialist.

Meanwhile, Saterial holds magic’s highest and most coveted honor: the “Gold Medal of Excellence.”

Tickets to the performance are $10.

Louisiana Magic Weekend

Where: Morgan City Municipal Auditorium

When: March 19

For More Info: (985) 384-7358 or ww.louisianamagicweekend.com