SMOKE AND MIRRORS to Return to the Odyssey This Month

The magic begins again when one of L.A.'s most beloved and longest running shows, SMOKE AND MIRRORS returns to the Odyssey Theatre on Oct. 24 through Dec. 20. Created by and starring noted actor and lifetime member of the Magic Castle, Albie Selznick, the L.A. Times Critic's Choice smash hit directed by David Schweizer reappears with its mind-blowing illusions combined into a unique theatrical experience unlike any other in West L.A.

Incorporating all the dazzle and spectacle of a magic show with theatricality and universal themes of love, loss and redemption, SMOKE AND MIRRORS is the semi-autobiographical, fantastical story of Albie Selznick and his journey to become a Master Magician. After suffering a formidable tragedy, Albie uses magic to misdirect his grief but discovers himself by facing his fears with the aid of a life-sized white rabbit, The Oracle, and Harry Houdini's wife, Bess. Astounding as it is poignant -- the play incorporates visual effects, incredible feats and mystifying slight-of-hand with humor and heart.

"It's so great to be back at the Odyssey," says Selznick. "We felt really at home there when we opened earlier this year. We're so grateful to have had such a successful run from all over L.A., from Santa Monica to North Hollywood. This is the perfect venue for audiences to relive the magic or see it for the first time."

Having recently performed an abridged version of SMOKE AND MIRRORS at the illustrious Magic Castle in Hollywood for a limited engagement, Selznick is excited to be back on the boards but remarks about the incredible opportunity to play at a world-famous venue among other master magicians.

"Being at the Magic Castle with SMOKE AND MIRRORS is a blast. I've performed there many times with my group The Mums, and before that as a solo magician but never with this show. It's an entirely different experience than being in a theater. There's a whole mystique surrounding everything from the invited guests to the amazing history in every room and hallway. We were so thrilled to be a part of that legacy with SMOKE AND MIRRORS at the Magic Castle."

One of L.A.'s longest running intimate theater shows, SMOKE AND MIRRORS first appeared in the 2010 Hollywood Fringe to wild praise. Reworking the piece for a fully realized production, Selznick opened at the Santa Monica Promenade Playhouse in Sept. 2012 to rave reviews including a "Critic's Choice" in the Los Angeles Times and a Go! in the LA Weekly. A longtime member of the Road Theatre Company, Selznick and his producer Michelle Grant moved the show to the Road on Lankershim in North Hollywood where it would run for a year in 2013. After a brief hiatus, SMOKE AND MIRRORS previewed at The Producer's Club in NYC this summer, catching the eye of acclaimed director David Schweizer. Returning to L.A., Selznick reopened the show at the Road where it ran through the end of 2014. Moving the show to the Odyssey Theatre in January of 2015 through mid-March to sold-out performances and enthusiastic praise, SMOKE AND MIRRORS returns to the Odyssey Theatre for the rest of 2015 marking another significant milestone in this local hit show's journey.

Critics have been unanimously supportive of SMOKE AND MIRRORS from its original inception in Santa Monica with Philip Brandes of the L.A. Times hailing it a "superb theatrical magic show," to high praise by Lovell Estell III of the LA Weekly, "An enchanting reminder...a bewildering tour de force that has more "how did he do that" flashes than can be counted. Go!" Stage Raw says, "The magic tricks throughout the play are always impressive, and, at their best, they are funny, beautiful, astounding, and even deeply touching." Stage Scene LA dubbed SMOKE AND MIRRORS "a uniquely entertaining show," while Broadway World called it "a magic show of the highest order." Rave reviews continue from ArtsInLA, KPFK's Arts in Review, EyeSpyLA, Creepy LA, StageHappenings, Examiner and The Tolucan Times and more.

Albie Selznick (Writer/Performer) is a lifetime member of the World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood and is an award winning performer and accomplished actor. He began his career as a co-creator of The Mums, a popular boundary-breaking circus-theatre trio of the 80's/90's. The LA Times said, "The Mums do for the arts of Juggling and Magic what Elvis did for rock and roll." Andy Warhol gave them a two-page pictorial in Interview magazine, while the LA Weekly put them on their cover and called them "The Best Performance Troupe in LA." The phenomenon of The Mums went international when they opened for Duran Duran, Devo, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Berlin and Ry Cooder. Their fans included David Bowie and Sting.

Since then Selznick's work has ranged from world-class theatre to recurring roles on popular TV shows. On stage, he played the Fool in renowned director Robert Wilson's visionary production of King Lear, Mercutio in Deaf West's Romeo and Juliet and co-starred opposite Glenne Headly in Detachments. He starred in the west-coast première of The Water's Edge by Theresa Rebeck of TV's Smash, directed by Sam Anderson at The Road Theatre, where Selznick is a company member. On the small screen, Selznick is best known for playing Rabbi Ben for two seasons on Suddenly Susan and the evil D.A Owen Pomerantz on The Young and The Restless, he has guest starred on over sixty television shows including Castle, Dexter, Episodes, Grey's Anatomy, Southland, Desperate Housewives, NCIS, and all three CSIs.

David Schweizer (Director) emerged from Yale Drama School to make his New York debut at the age of twenty-four at Lincoln Center, opening the brand new Mitzi Newhouse Theater with his radical version of Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida for producer, Joseph Papp. He returned to Lincoln Center with his acclaimed staging of Richard Rodney Bennett's opera The Mines of Sulphur for the New York City Opera. Early career highlights include world premiere productions by such playwrights as Sam Shepard, Michael Weller, Albert Innaurato, Maria Irene Fornes, Len Jenkin, Ronald Tavel, Austin Pendleton and many others. Recent work Off-Broadway includes Charles Mee's Wintertime at Second Stage, William Hamilton's White Chocolate at Century Playhouse, Mark Campbell's Song from an Unmade Bed at the New York Theater Workshop and his critically acclaimed collaborations with composer/performer Rinde Eckert, And God Created Great Whales (Obie Award) and Horizon (Lucille Lortel Award). He has directed at prominent regional and international theaters including Arena Stage, Trinity Rep, Yale Rep, The Mark Taper Forum, Geffen Playhouse, Children's Theater Company (Minneapolis), Magic Theater, and Center Stage (Baltimore). Currently the off-Broadway hit The Junket is running at the Lynn Redgrave Theater off-Broadway and he recently directed the world premiere of Beth Henley's Laugh and Frank Martin's rarely heard opera Le Vin Herbe.

Also in the cast are Joey Dworsky, Kyle Bryan Hall, Laurie Huff, Michael Heiman and Alix Koromazy.

Lighting design is by Derrick McDaniels; video and projections designer is by Jon Bremner; costume design is by Julianne Dodds; sound design is by David B. Marling; technical director is Tim Miller; assistant director and technical director is Maurie Gonzalez; and stage manager is Owen Panno. Beth Hogan produces for Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Ron Sossi, artistic director.

SMOKE AND MIRRORS runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., with opening night on Oct. 24 through Dec. 20. Four preview performances take place on Oct. 16, 17 and 23 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 18 at 3 p.m. Two special Halloween performances are on Saturday, Oct. 31 with a child-friendly matinee at 2 p.m. and a regularly scheduled show at 8 p.m. There will be candy and prizes for both Halloween shows. Tickets are $34. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025. For reservations, call (310) 477-2055 ext 2 or go to www.OdysseyTheatre.com. For more information, visit www.smokeandmirrorsmagic.com.

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