Criss Angel
What: “RAW — The Mindfreak Unplugged.”
When: 8 p.m. Jan. 8.
Where: Goodyear Theater, 1201 E. Market St., Akron.
Tickets: $45 to $175.
Info: Ticketfly.com.
For the better part of a decade, magician and illusionist Criss Angel has been freaking out audiences.
In addition to performing 400 live shows annually with an attendance of more than 500,000 people, the Long Island native is described as the most-watched magician in history of the Internet, with 300 million-plus views on YouTube alone.
While Angel, who starred in his own A&E television show “Mindfreak,” still draws massive crowds with his popular Las Vegas show “Mindfreak Live!,” the popular performer recently announced new touring show “RAW — The Mindfreak Unplugged.”
The intimate theatrical experience, featuring Angel’s famous sleight-of-hand street magic, mentalism and iconic illusions, makes its world premiere Jan. 8 in Akron at the Goodyear Theater.
The News-Herald talked to Angel about his new tour, his love of magic and why he stays so busy.
Q Tell us what “RAW — The Mindfreak Unplugged” is all about.
A It’s going to be an exciting show. It’s going to be something that I have never done before. You’ll get to see really mind-blowing magic presented in a very contemporary way. It’s going to scare you, it’s going to touch your heart and really do everything in between. It’s a theatrical experience, and I’m going to try things I’ve never done before. I’m really excited to world premiere it in Akron.
Q How long has this kind of a show been on your radar?
A I always wanted to do a one-man show, but it’s not a one-man show because nothing I ever do is small, even though this is smaller than “Mindfreak Live!” My Las Vegas show is a spectacle. It’s an extravaganza. It’s on a large scale with pyrotechnics, and it’s a very different type of show. It’s like a rock concert. This is much more of an artistic piece with just a ton of magic. I’m going to levitate. I’m going to try an escape that has never been done before. I’m going to walk on screwdrivers. It’s a very fast-paced moving show, and it’s really a ton of magic. I’m bringing some special guests with me, good friends, who are incredible at what they do. It’s going to be a great show.
Q What will it be like doing this show for the first time?
A Like any show, there’s a lot of excitement in front of the audience, but you also have that learning curve because live is a very different animal than television. Television you do it and you can do it again and again. Live, though, it takes time to really hone in and you have to listen to the audience. So it’s going to be a very interesting situation. I’m really up for the challenge. It’s going to be great world premiering it.
Q What’s interesting about your career is unlike peers who land in Las Vegas and remain there for years before expanding their brand, you’re always sending new tours on the road. Why is that?
A First of all, I’ve done over 1,000 demonstrations on “Mindfreak” alone. A lot of people say, “That can’t be done live.” And honestly, it’s a big compliment when somebody says that to you because it means that it looks that good, but I’m not using any CGI or trick photography or movie magic. This gives me an opportunity to really showcase those demonstrations that have been the most talked about, that people just can’t conceive can be performed live. Ultimately, I’m an artist that loves to create. And I’m trying to use my artform to connect with people and touch them and to make them think. That’s what good art does. For me, it’s not about puzzles or about tricks. If I can connect to people on an emotional level, that’s the purest form of magic — the magic of emotion.
Criss Angel
What: “RAW — The Mindfreak Unplugged.”
When: 8 p.m. Jan. 8.
Where: Goodyear Theater, 1201 E. Market St., Akron.
Tickets: $45 to $175.
Info: Ticketfly.com.
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