Academy of Magical Arts Awards
Among those present to celebrate the best of the best in the lavish world of mystery and illusion of 2008 at the Avalon Hollywood (1735 N. Vine, Hollywood, CA 90028) for the Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. 41st Annual Awards Show were Zach Quinto, Florence Henderson, Jeff Probst, Mac King, Erin Murphy, Gay Blackstone, Max Maven, Mike Caveney, Larry Wilmore, Christina Hendricks and Broadway host, TV and film star Neil Patrick Harris. This highly anticipated entertainment tradition was produced by Neil Patrick Harris and Matt Patton with executive producer Steve Dick and writer David Regal. Evening performances included Han Seol-Hui, Scott Land, Daniel Browning Smith, Guy Hollingworth and Michael Moshen as well as color commentary by the extraordinarily talented Bruce Vilanch.
And the Awards went to:
SPEAKER OF THE YEAR – Jeff McBride
CLOSE-UP MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR – Doc Eason
PARLOR MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR -Shoot Ogawa
STAGE MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR – Kevin James and excepted by Sophia
Other individual awards given to Howie Schwarzman and Celeste Evans for PERFORMING FELLOWSHIP, Eric Eswin for SPECIAL FELLOWSHIP, Louis Falanga for LITERARY FELLOWSHIP, Farrah Siegel for JUNIOR MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR, Pierre Mayer for CREATIVE FELLOWSHIP, Dominique for MASTERS FELLOWSHIP and Bob Fitch who received the LifeTIME ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP as well as Guy Hollingworth who received the honors of the MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR.
For 45 years, the Magic Castle has entertained audiences on the stages of its five theaters, from the Parlor of Conjuring to the Palace of Mystery, and recently launched its sixth stage with Cabaret At The Castle featuring Broadway legend Carol Channing.
Long before Harry Potter entered Hogwarts, the Academy of Magic Arts, Inc. worked with established talent and trained future generations of magicians with their programs for juniors to entertain both on stage and on the big screen. .
The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. is a nonprofit social order of over 6,000 members worldwide dedicated to advancing the art of magick. One of their main goals is to promote a positive image of magic and magicians. The organization promotes the art of magic, encourages brotherhood, and maintains the highest ethical standards for the art. Their clubhouse, the Magic Castle, is one of the most unique private clubs in the world. It’s a Victorian-style mansion turned clubhouse where members and their guests enjoy world-class magic and where magicians share their trade secrets with each other.
