Once upon a time, in a peaceful pond hidden deep in the enchanted forest, there lived a delightful duck named Daisy. Daisy was no ordinary duck; she had a secret power that she had discovered one peculiar day when she accidentally stumbled upon a stray wand left behind by a wandering witch. Curiosity got the best of Daisy, and she decided to give the wand a try. To her astonishment, a dazzling burst of magical energy escaped from the wand and engulfed her tiny body, transforming her into a magnificent witch. No longer was she bound to a life of paddling in the pond; she could now soar through the air on her broomstick and cast spells with her newfound magical abilities. The other animals in the forest were both amazed and terrified by Daisy's transformation.

The Downtown Blog

The official blog of Downtown Pittsburgh. Read up on what's new, what's happening, and what stories are being told in the neighborhood.

The Downtown Blog

The official blog of Downtown Pittsburgh. Read up on what's new, what's happening, and what stories are being told in the neighborhood.

Magic is in the air at Liberty Magic

Photo courtesy of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

In 1916, Harry Houdini mesmerized Pittsburgh crowds with his logic-defying tricks. Now, located at 811 Liberty Avenue, on the same block Houdini performed, Liberty Magic invites everyone to witness the art of sleight of hand and prestidigitation.

Since opening in February, Liberty Magic has hosted months of sold-out performances.

With less than 70 seats, Liberty Magic offers an intimate, one-of-a-kind experience that is easy to access and hard to forget.

The Experience/What to Expect

Upon walking into the magic speakeasy expect to be greeted by a resident magician who will warm you up for the show with mind-blowing card tricks. You’ll then head into an intimate theater where you will experience magic up close and personal.

In most shows, there’s ample opportunity to volunteer and be a part of the magic. And, the theater is BYOB to enjoy during the show. You can expect to leave the show amazed at what you’ve witnessed and curious as to how they accomplished it.

Meet Some of the Performers

With six new performers being added to the 2019-2020 season, there are plenty of magical performances to choose from. Each magician brings their own unique show, ensuring each visit is something different for audience members to experience.

On stage now through June 23

You may have seen Liberty Magic’s current resident magician as the host of Discovery Channel’s Breaking Magic, Syfy’s Wizard Wars, Penn & Teller’s Fool Us or as regular on the CW’s Masters of Illusion. Now, all the way from England, you can catch her for an intimate and up close performance full of magic, theater, and comedy. From her live game of illusion “Touch Me, Touch Me, Touch Me in the Box” to mind reading, the show offers a unique and exciting experience.

Photo Courtesy of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

Previously a full time actor as well as a musician who can play the saxophone and piano, Billy hopes to have audiences walk away having had a great evening. Billy stated that when people come ready, performing doesn’t even feel like work to her.

Billy Kidd will be performing at Liberty Magic until June 23. More information about her show and tickets can be found on the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s website.

Robert Ramirez

Arriving November 27

Robert Ramirez can do it all. From tap dancing, playing the piano, and singing while playing the ukulele, Ramirez’s one-man variety magic show is unlike anything seen before. Ramirez is bringing back magic tricks that have long since been forgotten and is adding his own personal twist in order to wow the audience with something that they have never seen before.

Photo Courtesy of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

You might recognize Ramirez from the national tour of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights. He has also performed all over the country including places like Magic Castle in Los Angeles and Magic Live in Vegas, the second largest magic convention in the country.

Ramirez, who has been performing for 15 years, says that his favorite part about his show is watching the audience’s expressions when he does something new and unique. You can see Robert Ramirez’s performance at Liberty Magic on November 27 – January 5, 2020.

Upcoming Performers

Dennis Watkins | The Magic Parlour | September 11 – 29, 2019

Award-winning, third-generation magician Dennis Watkins brings an evening of sophisticated tomfoolery to Liberty Magic, direct from Chicago! His headlining show, The Magic Parlour, is the longest running resident magic experience in the Windy City–having hosted more than 30,000 guests and over 1,000 performances over eight years in the historic Plamer House Hilton hotel.

Lee Terbosic | The Life and Death of Harry Houdini | October 23 – November 3, 2019

Join Lee Terbosic, widely considered one of the foremost magical experts on Houdini, as he explores the mysteries surrounding Houdini’s astonishing life and death. This four-act one man play of magic, escapes, and storytelling captures Houdini’s most magical moments.

Robert Ramirez | The Musical Theater Magician | November 27 – January 5, 2020

Robert Ramirez is wearing tap shoes…and playing the piano…and singing while playing the ukulele. No, this isn’t an audition–it’s the newest song and dance and magic phenomenon at Liberty Magic. His original magic routines are performed by some of the nation’s best known martial artists.

Derek Hughes | The Stand Up Magician | January 8 – February 16, 2020

Magician, comedian, mind-reader, magic consultant, actor, and author, Derek Huges has been lauded by audiences and critics alike, with the New York Times calling him “thoroughly entertaining.” He’s a consulting producer on TRUtv’s hit magic series, The Carbonaro Effect and was a finalist on season 10 of NBC’s America’s Got Talent where he gained notoriety for his provocative and interactive materializations.

Anna DeGuzman | Queen of Cardistry | February 19 – March 29, 2020

What Anna DeGuzman can do with a deck of 52 cards will make your head spin! Manipulating cards into impossible 3D configurations, she cuts, flings, flips, rotates, juggles, and shuffles playing cards, bringing the art of close-up magic to exciting, and often, unexpected venues.

Zabrecky | A Little Something Different | April 1 – May 10, 2020

Zabrecky is a two-time Stage Magician of the Year award winner who has also been voted Parlor Magician of the Year twice by the Academy of Magical Arts. Zabrecky combines irreverent dark humor, mentalism, wizardry, and amazing feats of magical storytelling.

For more information about Liberty Magic and the new subscription series click here.

Liberty Magic will open Downtown in February. BYOB and a sense of wonder.

Over the past 34 years, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has brought modern theater, art house cinema and sketch comedy to Downtown.

For their next trick: a BYOB performance space with less than 70 seats dedicated to the art of sleight of hand and prestidigitation. The aptly named Liberty Magic, the only venue dedicated to magic in Pittsburgh, will open in February in the space of the former Arcade Theater on Liberty Avenue.

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Members of the media previewed some of the acts at an event in the Cultural District — and they were amazed and enthralled by the four highly entertaining and masterful magicians.

“Liberty Magic is a perfect activation of the intimate storefront at 811 Liberty Avenue,” says Scott Shiller, the Trust’s VP of artistic planning and producer for Liberty Magic.

“We are excited to see our expertise in the Pittsburgh arts community fuse with the art of closeup magic advanced by world-class magicians.”

The first regular show at Liberty Magic will be Impossible by Eric Jones, a six-week run of performances where “coins will multiply” and “cards will fly.”

Along with Shiller and the rest of the Cultural Trust team, the theater has also hired two seasoned illusionists — Lee Terbosic and Dennis Watkins — to serve as artistic advisors.

“The idea of bringing a magic-only venue to the city of Pittsburgh has been a dream of mine since I was 20-years-old,” said Terbosic at the media event on Monday. “I never thought this was actually going to happen.”

The fact that he has a home to bring in other magicians and to show these guys off on stage is very cool, he added. In addition to his advising role, the Pittsburgh-based magician will debut his 60-minute sleight of hand showcase on March 20.

The theater sits only a few blocks from where Harry Houdini escaped from a straight jacket while suspended high above Liberty Avenue in 1916, a feat Terbosic recreated for the stunt’s 100-year anniversary.

Organizers say the theater will favor an intimate, BYOB speakeasy atmosphere. All the acts will be recommended for viewers over 18, and no magic lover under 12 will be admitted. Cocktail and party attire are highly encouraged, but not required.

Seating is general admission, priced at $40 per ticket. Performances will run Wednesday through Sunday with a special Skeleton Key VIP Experience for $65.

Dennis Watkins performs a mystifying feat with a simple piece of string that leaves the audience speechless. Photo by Tracy Certo.

That experience “unlocks the first two rows in our intimate theater, a chance to become part of the performance (if you wish) and an exclusive meet and greet with the artist after the show, which includes private, close-up mysteries,” says the Trust.

The theater also offers space for private groups and special occasions. Student, corporate, and group sales discounts are available for select performances. Visit TrustArts.org/Groups to learn more.

Patrons are encouraged to bring their own beer, wine, cocktails, or soft drinks to sip on. There is a $5 per guest corkage fee.

Liberty magic theater

52 Up Close will return a live shows March 2024 at Hotel Monaco!

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Starting December 1st, 2023 Noon EST

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The other animals in the forest were both amazed and terrified by Daisy's transformation. They had always known her as the kind and gentle duck who would help them find their way back to the pond whenever they got lost, but now she was quite a formidable sight. Despite their initial fear, the animals soon realized that Daisy was still the same compassionate friend they had known, just with a few extra powers up her feathers.

TICKETING & SEATING OPTIONS

Daisy used her magical abilities for good, using her powers to heal sick animals, lift fallen trees, and bring rain during times of drought. She became the protector of the forest, ensuring that harmony and balance were maintained. The animals trusted Daisy to use her powers wisely, and she never disappointed them. However, being a witch was not always easy for Daisy. Other witches, who were not familiar with her kind and caring nature, often saw her as a threat. They would challenge her to magic duels, hoping to prove their superiority. But Daisy, being a peaceful duck at heart, would always find a way to diffuse the situation and convince the witches that her intentions were pure. As time went on, Daisy's reputation as a duck-turned-witch spread far and wide. Animals from distant lands would visit the enchanted forest to seek her help and guidance. They would bring offerings of gratitude and admiration for all the good deeds she had done. The animals of the forest were filled with pride, knowing that their beloved friend had become a legendary figure in the magical world. But despite her newfound fame and power, Daisy never forgot her humble beginnings as a simple duck. She would still visit the pond from time to time, swimming among her feathery friends and spreading joy with her contagious quacks. With her kind heart and magical abilities, Daisy had brought together the worlds of ducks and witches, proving that even the most unexpected transformations can lead to extraordinary adventures..

Reviews for "A Duck's Tale: Transcending the Ordinary with Witchcraft"

1. Sarah - 2 stars

I found "Duck to Witch" to be quite disappointing. The plot was incredibly confusing and all over the place. It felt like the author couldn't decide on a clear direction for the story, resulting in a jumble of random events. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to connect with them or care about their journey. Additionally, the writing style was unengaging and lacked the descriptive elements necessary to bring the story to life. Overall, "Duck to Witch" fell short of my expectations and left me feeling unsatisfied.

2. Mark - 2 stars

While "Duck to Witch" had an intriguing concept, the execution was lacking. The pacing of the story was slow and plodding, with long stretches of nothingness punctuated by brief moments of action. The world-building was inconsistent and poorly explained, leaving me confused about the rules and limitations of the magical elements introduced. The dialogue between the characters was stilted and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Overall, "Duck to Witch" failed to capture my interest and left me struggling to finish it.

3. Emily - 1 star

I cannot express how much I disliked "Duck to Witch". The narrative was disjointed and made little sense, as if the author was throwing random ideas together without any regard for coherence. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or growth. The writing style was dry and lacked any sort of emotional connection, making it impossible for me to care about the story or its outcome. The overall experience of reading "Duck to Witch" was frustrating and I would not recommend it to anyone.

The Magic Pond: How a Duck Discovered Its Witchy Side