The Grand Illusionist - Brett Daniels
With The Illusionists opening in Adelaide on New Years Eve, Paul Rodda spoke with the Grand Illusionist, Brett Daniels about the show, the magic industry and all things illusion.
Brett Daniels is internationally recognised for his exciting style of cutting-edge illusion performances headlining in major venues and on television around the globe. Combining innovative large-scale illusion with dynamic theatrics and world-class sleight-of-hand has made him a favourite from Atlantic City to Las Vegas to China. A two-time recipient of the “Entertainer of the Year” award (2008, 2009) Brett was also recognised in 2003 when he was voted “Magician of the Year” in Las Vegas. Other honours include “World-Champion”, “Excellence in Sleight-of-Hand” and “Excellence in Grand Illusion.”
After setting box office records in Shanghai performing an unprecedented sixty-eight sold out arena shows, Brett travelled to Beijing where his magic TV special was broadcast live to 1.3 billion – more people than had ever before seen a magic performance at one time. Following that event, Brett has toured internationally each year.
The current 2011 version of Brett Daniels – Magic & Beyond had its origin in 1998 when Mandalay Bay Casino Group built Brett his own $20 million dollar custom designed Millennium Theatre at the Gold Strike Casino Resort . For many years this became home to Brett’s original theatrical productions Magic & Beyond, Magique and Journey into the Unknown.
These multi-million dollar productions featured original scenic designs as well as one-of-a-kind jaw dropping mega-illusions such as “Nightmare at the Gallows”, “Motorcycle Mystery”, “Turbine” and the incredible on-stage appearance of a full size, real US Navy fighter jet aircraft! Brett’s illusion productions set themselves apart by creating never-before-seen twists on amazing mysteries alongside his industry-recognised creations of large-scale illusions such as the “Mid-Air Appearance Levitation”, “Marilyn Monroe Dream Illusion”, “Man Without A Middle” and scores of others.
