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Podcast with David Ben

David Ben is a Canadian stage magician, sleight of hand artist, author, magic historian, creative consultant and former tax lawyer.

David was educated at the University of Toronto (BA), the University of Western Ontario (LLB), and the London School of Economics (LLM).

We talk about his decision to leave his law practice to practice magic.

David is the rare magician who, like Ricky Jay or Teller, of the duo “Penn and Teller,” has an innovative approach to magic that at once respects the historic traditions of magic but pushes the art form forward.

David’s stage show “The Conjuror,” had its world premiere at the Shaw Festival in 1996. The show had outstanding box office and critical reviews and has been mounted several time since then.
His path to success was never easy, and he talks candidly about the time he seriously considered quitting the Arts because of the financial strain it put on his young family.

If you saw “Possible Worlds” during the 2015 Stratford Festival season, you saw David’s magic integrated into the show thanks to director Mitchell Cushman.

Show Notes

DavidBen.com
David Ben on Twitter
Magicana – an arts organization dedicated to the study, exploration and advancement of magic as a performing art.
Video of David going through some of the posters donated to Montreal’s Mccord musem from La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso
David’s new new interpretation of the seminal book “The Experts At the Card Table”
Bob Farmer’s book “The Bamo Ten Card Deal Dossier”
Teller on Twitter
Penn & Teller