Kent Cummins
By Austin
“The Fantastic Kent Cummins” combines magic, juggling, comedy, and audience participation in all of his shows, from the smallest performance to the largest stage extravaganza. In his show, Kent tells the story of his life in magic through storytelling, magic, and illusion. A typical show is one hour, but having been a magician for some sixty years, Kent has the repertoire to put on a full evening show when appropriate.
Ramon Galindo, in the Austin American-Statesman, when asked to list the five top magicians of the century, cited Kent for “Stage Magic.” (Okay, it was the last century, but Kent still does between 50 and 100 shows every year!)
As Founder (in 1993) of The Kent Cummins Magic Camp, it should be no surprise that all of Kent’s shows are family-friendly…even his nightclub shows for adults.
Kent brings a lifetime of experience to every show, having performed in Canada, Germany, France, Vietnam, Korea, New Zealand, and all over the United States.
Kent loves to customize his shows for each audience. His “Magic of Books” show has opened the Texas Book Festival Children’s Entertainment Tent for nearly a decade. His Environmental Magic Kit received an award from the Environmental Protection Agency. His “Magic of Character” show, developed for a Central Texas middle school, has been seen at schools throughout the state. For several years, Kent performed as “Mr. See It, the Magician with a Vision,” for Texas State Optical.
Some of his most popular illusions are “The Book of Magic,” which was created for the Austin Public Library’s 1978 Summer Reading Program; “The Human Pincushion,” which was the feature illusion in a 1986 tour with the Mighty Thomas Shows Carnival; and “The Stocks of Zanzibar,” a Houdini Escape with a twist, originated by The Great Scott & Judy.
Kent has also been known to chop off a celebrity’s head in his six-foot French Guillotine, which was originally used to promote the 1965 Warner Brothers movie, Two on a Guillotine, starring Cesar Romero and Connie Stevens. Kent has also sawed hundreds of celebrities and audience members in half with an original illusion using a power saw!
Kent says that his favorite illusion is, “the levitation of a beautiful woman!” Kent first performed this illusion while still in high school in Baton Rouge, with his little sister as the floating lady. He has also performed the illusion on the beach in Galveston and with a beauty pageant winner in the middle of the boulevard in Las Vegas!
Kent’s first official recognition was at the 1960 Texas Association of Magicians Convention, when he received the Teenage Trophy for his magic show. The next year, at the Southeastern Association of Magicians Convention, he was awarded the A. Coke Cecil Showmanship Trophy for his juggling act.
Kent’s most recent recognition was “Magician of the Year” by the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 60 in 2008.
Kent has made Austin, Texas, his home since 1986, and can be reached at (512) 288-1596, or kent@magiccamp.com.
July 11th, 2011
Bonzo Crunch
By aaron
Whether you’re planning an assembly program for library, school, or day care, looking for family-friendly entertainment for a community or company event or promotion, or hoping to give your child an unforgettable birthday party, you need Bonzo Crunch!
School Assemblies
Bonzo Crunch brings a taste of the circus to your school!. Besides offering a half-hour program of comedy juggling and magic, he also offers a reading program, a fitness program, or an introduction into the Physics of the Circus. Workshops are also available.
Libraries
As a lifelong “bookworm” Bonzo Crunch takes special joy in performing for libraries. In addition to his popular comedy juggling/magic show, Bonzo Crunch emphasizes not only the importance of reading, but the value of the library as a community resource and the special role of the librarian as a liaison between the community and the wonderful world of books. You will be charmed by his reading of “Olivia Saves The Circus.”
Day Care Centers
As a former teacher’s aid, Bonzo Crunch is sensitive to the needs of the children as well as their caregivers, and begins his day care performances on the mellow side, with a gentle ukulele introduction. As all the children are brought into the fold, Bonzo Crunch escalates the comedy and allows the children to laugh off excess energy before bringing his show to a calm conclusion, leaving the staff with a group of happy, well-behaved children.
Birthday Parties
Bonzo Crunch is perfect for birthday parties! The birthday child receives a personalized birthday card and is treated like a star as Bonzo begins and ends the show by playing a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” on his harmonica. He juggles pizzas and performs magic tricks with the help of audience volunteers who usually end up doing the trick better than Bonzo, and who receive the applause. In addition to lively performances, Bonzo Crunch also offers balloon sculpture, face painting, and/or a slapstick “fashion show relay race”. Parents and children alike will be charmed by Bonzo’s show. More than “just a kid’s show”, this is true FAMILY entertainment!
Hospitals and Senior Centers
These are places for a gentle touch, and that’s what Bonzo Crunch offers. Using his ukulele and a little pocket magic, Bonzo Crunch understands that the needs of the patients and residents come first and finely tunes his social antennae to tailor visits to the mood and needs of each individual.
Workshops
Bonzo Crunch offers a workshop in clown body language that stresses the observational nature of a clown’s humor with an emphasis on a spirit of fun that makes fun of oneself rather than others. “Observe others, observe yourself, and observe how others see you”. Well suited for youth or adults, performers or the general public, schools or corporate retreats, this is a workshop that encourages observation, empathy and a healthy sense of play.
If you are looking for an entertainer who will leave your audience smiling, and who will do business with you in a courteous and professional manner, contact
Bonzo Crunch!
Web Page: www.bonzocrunch.com
Phone: (512) 912-0067
Email: bonzocrunch@sbcglobal.net
JD Stewart
By aaron
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Black Bert: Bertil Fredstrom
By aaron
The Magician Black Bert can do:
- Birthday parties, for age groups 5 to 105
- A Magic Theme Party
- School Shows on Science Day – or just for fun
- Library Shows about the magic of reading,
- Weddings – before or after dinner,
- Walk around magic for smaller groups,
- Bar/bat mitzvah with magic for young adults,
- Office party fun, with or without families,
- A business conference surprise magic act,
- Halloween Magic Shows,
- and much, much more…
You can reach Black Bert at bertilfredstrom@hotmail.com or on the phone at (512) 423-9810. Also, for more information please take a look at his Internet web page at www.blackbert.com.
John Maverick
By aaron
Specializing in “Family Friendly” entertainment, John Maverick offers many different types of magic shows from living room size to “Vegas Style” stage acts. With a host of characters and personalities from Cowboys to Pirates to Fools, John can fit any theme. Make your next event unforgettable with Austin’s Second Best Magician, John Maverick!