(VO)Broadway Balances America
brought to you by Broadway Across America.
Bringing the best of Broadway to a city near
you.
(music).
Time now for another installment of Broadway
Balances America, our series that takes you behind the scenes
of some of the most beloved Broadway musicals as they travel
across the country and right into your local theaters.
And today we're in the studio here
joined by Jeff Hobson.
He is the Trickster on the Broadway
spectacular the Illusionists.
Welcome to the Balancing Act.
Thank you, what a treat.
Thanks for inviting me.
Oh so glad to have you.
Now let's talk about the show a little bit.
Sure.
I mean you guys have wowed people
from all over the world with this.
We've been very blessed to be one of the biggest selling
magic show in Broadway history.
Fabulous.
Yeah, yeah, it's great.
Now I got to see the show on Broadway.
It was amazing.
Every single minute is jaw dropping.
Jaw dropping, unbelievable.
It was fantastic.
It was a wow factor.
Definitely a wow factor.
I would have to say this one of the best shows
that I've ever seen.
You think of yourself as a man of science,
and then they broke the laws of physics.
I see Broadway at least a couple of times a year, and
this ranks at the top.
So tell us a little bit about some of
the other acts we're going to see.
We have a variety show of magic.
We're known as the Avengers cause we all have our
different names in the show.
We have me, you know, I'm the
Trickster.
We also have the Inventor, Kevin James, original
magic.
We have Andrew Basso, the Escapologist, modern day
Houdini.
The Manipulator, Yuho Jin from Korea, probably the
best slight of hand artist in the world.
We also have Dan Sparry, he's the Anti-Conjuror,
so that's something for the younger set, and very original.
So we have a lot of originality in our show, and it spans quite
a lot of different types of magic.
Grand magic, funny magic, which is me, escapology, and
everything in between.
This is really for everybody.
It is, anyone from 5 to 105 can see the
show.
It's really a good show for everyone.
Really is.
And I got to ask you, you're doing 8
shows a week.
Sometimes up to 12 during Broadway times.
Wow.
12 to 13- we've done 13 in one
week.
That's exhausting.
So how are you keeping it sort of fresh
and exciting for you?
Every time I walk out and see the audience,
different faces in the front and it's a whole new show for me,
cause I know that their reactions are always going to
be- I'm creating magic in their minds for the first time.
Jeff, I am obsessed with magic.
So am I. Yes, so excited.
You're lucky I have a trick for you.
Come on around over here, do you like
card tricks?
I love card tricks!
I hate card tricks, but for you I shall show you one.
Take a look at this.
It's a senior citizen quality pack of playing
cards.
Look at those suckers.
Go ahead, would you please go ahead
and take one out.
Doesn't matter which- go ahead.
Go ahead take one.
You want me to grab it?
Yeah, go ahead.
You gonna look at it?
No, it doesn't matter.
Give it over here to Amber.
Amber I want you to sign it, with this pen, the one they were
giving away at my bank.
Oh stop.
Yup.
Go ahead, sign your name across that one.
Yeah, that'd be great.
Wonderful.
Wunderbar.
Great.
Thank you so much, we'll keep that over here.
Now take a look at this ladies and
gentlemen.
Yes, thank you Vanna for showing the card.
There it is.
Your card, inside the pack, there it is.
Now some people say that if you're really good, why
don't you let someone shuffle the pack.
I say mind your own business, but you're real good,
go ahead, shuffle the pack of cards quickly, just give it a
little- let's see what you can do.
Okay, I'm going to do my one shuffle.
Wait, real quick, real quick let me do it my way.
Oh careful.
Can I do it my way?
Oh, you'd make those dealers in the
casino poop their pants.
Voila!
Nicely done, don't ever do that again.
I won't.
Watch, I will now perform slight of tongue.
I'll take the pack of cards, place it inside my mouth, locate
your card with your signature with my tongue, inside my mouth,
folded three times.
Take a look.
Is this your card?
No.
Okay.
Is this your card?
No.
Is this your card?
No.
It must be somewhere in the middle.
(laughter).
Oh no.
Oh boy.
You're kidding.
Hairball?
No you did not!
Now if you expect me to grab that you're absolutely
insane.
I got it.
Okay.
Every time.
I'm not gonna touch it, could you take it- no.
That is so gross, you were about to do
that.
Don't ever do that - look at this, look look look.
I don't believe it myself, folded once,
twice, three times.
Is that your signature?
That is the signature.
That's amazing.
Oh that was amazing.
That was great.
So great.
The Illusionists is about to go back
on tour.
I know.
It is.
Jeff, thank you so much.
You are the best.
I love the jacket, I already told you that.
I want one in an extra small.
We'll get it.
Okay, I can't wait to see the preview, I mean we got a
preview here.
I can't wait to actually see it, I'm going to
take my girls.
Bring the girls, I'm going to come along with
you.
You're going to see it again?
Yes, yes.
It's a date.
And if you're interested in seeing the Illusionists, you can
check out Broadway Balances America, Broadway Across
America, or you can always come to our website,
theBalancingAct.com for all the show information, tour dates,
and more.
Okay we have a few more seconds, can you show us
one quick one?
Oh, this is just for the Balancing Act.
Check it out, check it out.
Oh yes!
Yes!
Thank you very much!
(music).