David Williamson has been featured on ABC’s Champions of Magic, where he appeared with Princess Stephanie as he performed his miracles at different locations in and around Monaco. David has also co-starred in several top-rated prime-time network specials including CBS’ Magicians’ Favorite Magicians, NBC’s Houdini: Unlocking His Mysteries, and NBC’s World’s Greatest Magic III. He was seen recently on The CW’s Masters of Illusion TV series as well as America’s Got Talent.
In 1981 David won first place in the International Brotherhood of Magicians’ sleight of hand competition. That year he also became the first ever recipient of the prestigious Gold Cups Award of Excellence in close-up magic. David was voted “Close Up Magician of the Year” two years in a row by his peers at Hollywood’s renowned Magic Castle. He was also twice awarded the “Magic Castle Lecturer of the Year” and the “Magic Castle Parlor Magician of the Year” titles. David was voted “Most Wanted Magician” at the 2003 FISM convention in Den Haag, Netherlands.
Recently, David was honored with the Performance Fellowship by the Academy of Magical Arts and Sciences at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. In 2017, David was named The Magic Castle’s Magician of the Year. He was also recently awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership by the UK’s Magic Circle, the world’s premier magical society.
David has created illusions for and performed in several commercials and has developed TV shows for Walt Disney Productions and ABC, as well as consulting for illusionists David Copperfield’s and David Blaine’s TV specials.
Pablo Canovas is a dynamic magician who has established an international reputation as a prodigy. In 2012, at age twelve, he became the youngest ever Champion of the Spain Congreso Magic Nacional (the Spanish National Congress of Magic), winning in the “Manipulation” category. In 2013 and 2014, Pablo again challenged near the top of the field, winning 3rd in 2013 and 2nd in 2014.
As Mr. Canovas continued to achieve noteworthy results in national and international competitions, he also honed his talents by performing more than 200 times at festivals and events across Europe and Mexico, confounding his audiences with his incredible techniques. Notable performances include the Solidarity Festival in Spain, Roots in the Garden at the Royal Botanical Garden of Cordoba and the Magialdia International Festival of Magic.
Pablo has continued to be recognized for his extraordinary skills, winning the title of “Heir of Illusion” at the L’Heritier de l’Illusion magic festival in 2021.
Chris Cox is the only mind-reader in history to have starred on Broadway, at the Sydney Opera House and in London’s West End. Having performed for millions worldwide, Chris Cox is the star of Chris Cox’s Mind-Boggling Magic (CBBC) and the award-winning Killer Magic (BBC Three) in the United Kingdom.
Chris has starred in some of the world’s largest magic shows including world tours of The Illusionists, Impossible, and Wonderville, and has written and performed five critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows, four solo UK tours and two extended sell-out runs at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Mr. Cox has made special appearances on the BBC Music Awards, Blue Peter, The Today Show (NBC), The Project (Network 10, Australia), America’s Got Talent (NBC), Heston Blumenthal’s Recipe for Romance, Now You See It (BBC), How TV Changed Music, The Secret of Star Wars, The Mentalist Revealed, and was part of the BAFTA nominated team who brought magic to BBC’s Merlin.
As a creative consultant, Chris has created magic and theatrical creative experiences for DC Comics, Warner Brothers, and Harry Potter & the Cursed Child Parts 1 & 2.
Yu Hojin has been a visionary force in turning the world of magic into the world of artistic performance. At eight years old, Hojin’s participation in magic competitions were often followed by titles such as “The Youngest Competitor.” Yu Hojin then began to take title after title, starting with the Gold Award at the Lotte World Magic Competition in Korea in 2009.
Since then, Hojin has won prizes in almost every international magic competition in the United States, Taiwan, Italy, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Finally, he earned the chance to compete at the FISM World Championships of Magic in 2012, where his eight-minute performance was awarded the Grand Prix award (also making Hojin the first Asian magician to ever win the title).
After winning the most prestigious prize at FISM, he rose to international stardom as one of the first magicians to perform in the concert hall at the historic Sydney Opera House as well as the first Asian magician to perform on Broadway. In 2014, Hojin was awarded another prestigious award in magic—the Magician of the Year award given by the Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Yu Hojin currently stands as the only Korean magician and the youngest magician ever to have won this award.
The Great Kaplan is a modern-day vaudevillian master who has made numerous headliner appearances at the world-renowned Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, and whose original work has been featured on the prestigious French television show Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde.
Kaplan has worked as a guest performer at the world’s largest magic festival, FISM, in Italy. Nominated for Stage Magician of the Year by the Academy of Magical Arts, Kaplan has won countless awards both in the US and internationally, including the People’s Choice Award for the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the Ken Dodd Comedy Award by the Blackpool Magic Convention in 2018, and the Mandrake d’Or award in France. The Melbourne Magic Festival named The Great Kaplan’s act as one of their Top 10 Shows.
Karl is a Los Angeles based ventriloquist and actor known for his irreverent and outside-of-the-box approach to ventriloquism.
He has performed alongside Reggie Watts, Kristen Schaal, Puddles Pity Party, Kate Micucci, Kate Flannery, et al. at shows including The Magic Castle, Brookledge, Flapper’s, Tomorrow Show with Ron Lynch and the LA Guild of Puppetry.
His one-man show, Vent, won Best New Show at the first Hollywood Fringe Festival. Most recently, he won the coveted “Best Ventriloquist in the Universe” award, according to his 9-year old.
Brett Loudermilk is one of the world’s most famous and funniest sword-swallowers, a skill that has led him to perform for audiences in over 20 countries and sharing the stage with everyone from Neil Patrick Harris to Sophia Vergara.
You may actually know Brett from America’s Got Talent (season 15), where he became one of the finalists and a fan favorite.
Loudermilk showcases his hilarious act nightly in Las Vegas and as a featured guest performer in shows around the world and in venues such as The Sydney Opera House and Hollywood’s Magic Castle. In addition to his work as a performer, Brett regularly consults and creates for artists such as David Blaine, Penn & Teller and Justin Willman, among many others.
“I’m extremely proud to be directing PRESTO! as it’s filled with magicians and artists that I have enormous respect for, have admired and been friends with for many years. I love sharing this magical world with people and cannot wait for you to take part in it. We had a great time creating this show, and I know you’ll have fun watching it.”
Terrence Williams is an international live entertainment producer with over 25 years’ experience in quality live entertainment productions. Most recently, Terrence worked with Cirque du Soleil where he helmed its affiliated productions of America’s Got Talent Las Vegas LIVE, The Illusionists, Now You See Me and Circus 1903 throughout markets worldwide, including runs on Broadway, in London’s West End, and at the Sydney Opera House.
Prior to Cirque, Mr. Williams enjoyed work with clients including Spiegelworld’s tours of Absinthe Tour Le Monde and EMPIRE and was the production manager for the Las Vegas residency of Absinthe. Terrence has also produced segments for television shows including America’s Got Talent, TODAY, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Royal Variety Show (BBC), Ellen, and the Rachael Ray Show.
Nick Caruso is an accomplished character actor, most recently seen on the hit television series Hawkeye on Disney+, The Resident on Fox, and Cobra Kai on Netflix. On stage he has appeared in over 500 performances of the hit show Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and regional theaters nationwide.
When not working as a performer, Nick also has an established career in the management of touring shows internationally, including work with Now You See Me and The Illusionists, where he has overseen touring operations in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Trista Tratos is an actor and producer based in New York City. Recent projects include Circus 1903 at Royal Festival Hall, America’s Got Talent Live in Las Vegas, and Sweeney Todd at Manhattan School of Music. Additionally, she works as a freelance creative director to independent musicians and artists on concerts, music videos, and photoshoots.
Joshua Scherr is a seasoned leader with 20 years’ experience in delivering industry-leading digital spaces, event centers, live entertainment, and immersive experiences. An Associate Director for frontrunner Charcoalblue Experience, Josh’s previous clients include Global Scenic, Dallas Theatre Center, Spiegelworld, Music Theatre of Connecticut, The Little Shubert, and The Flying Karamazov Brothers.
Michelle Harvey is currently the Assistant Professor of Lighting Design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her professional work has taken her around the United States, working with the critically acclaimed Kansas City Repertory Theatre, designing LIMITLESS for Magician Shin Lim at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV, as well as work for Spiegelworld’s Rose. Rabbit. Lie, Glimmerglass Opera, and American Indian Dance Theatre, amongst many others.
Hikuri Roots is an international DJ and audio design sensation, having produced audio for international hits including The Illusionists, Circus 1903, Le Noir, Cirque Stratosphere, The Unbelievables and A Magical Cirque Christmas. When not on tour with his projects, he enjoys living in Mexico, where he regularly guest-hosts DJ spots at some of the largest and most popular clubs throughout Mexico.
