Courtesy of MSC OPAS
Broadway/TV star Adam Trent is bringing his signature brand of magic and illusion to the Brazos Valley in a 90-minute stage spectacle. Produced by the creative team behind The Illusionists, the world’s best-selling touring magic show, The Illusionists Present Adam Trent is an immersive entertainment extravaganza of magic, comedy, and music designed to entertain the entire family. Showcasing his “futuristic” brand of magic, Trent has mesmerized live audiences around the globe, in person, and as a featured guest on America’s Got Talent, The Today Show, Ellen, the Travel Channel, and Disney Channel among countless other TV appearances. The 31-year-old also stars in his own recently launched 10-episode TV series “The Road Trick” on Red Bull TV. Here, Adam talks about his upcoming show coming to Rudder Auditorium on Nov. 7 and 8. His show is presented by MSC OPAS at Texas A&M University.
How did you get started in Magic? I began when I was 9 years old. I saw David Copperfield with my whole family and it was the first time that I remember three generations of family being equally entertained by something. Later that year I got a book on magic from my aunt and I was instantly hooked.
How did you end up where you are now? I started performing for children’s birthday parties every weekend when I was 10, and performed at my first corporate event at 14. After college, I street performed for a solid year before getting booked on cruise ships where I did about 250 shows in 19 countries per year for several years. After leaving cruise ships, I entered the college show circuit where I performed at hundreds of colleges around the U.S., and was honored to be voted “Best Small Venue Artist” shortly after entering the market. After a few years of touring the college circuit, I was able to transition to theatres because of the TV appearances I had landed on the Disney Channel and others. In 2013, I joined “The Illusionists” for its world debut at the Sydney Opera House, and inaugurated their first Broadway debut in 2014. Now that I’ve completed the first two years of Broadway runs, I’ve returned to doing what I do best and love the most — my solo show.
Magic seems to be hot right now; why is that? It comes down to the fact that there is a lot of good magic on TV and online lately, and when people see good magic, they want to see more. Magic goes through high and low periods like any other genre of arts, though it’s certainly hotter than I can remember it being in the last decade or so.
What makes you different from other magicians? I combine magic with music, comedy, audience participation, and technology that we are all familiar with. I try to make magic entertaining first, and tricky second. I really put a lot of trust in my audience, as the majority of my show uses volunteers from the audience on stage. I think the audience would agree that it’s really a variety show that uses magic as the driving force.
What can audiences expect? Audience participation, laughter, music, and of course magic. Whether they’ve seen a magic show before or not, they’ll see some cutting edge magic along with a new spin on some classic concepts.
How does your touring show differ from the Broadway show ‘The Illusionists’? The first obvious difference is that in “The Illusionists” there were seven Illusionists, so I only got to do about 15-20 minutes, whereas this is my solo show where I really get to take control. The Broadway show was a massive production, whereas this is a personality driven show that allows me to take the audience on more of a journey through all the different styles of magic I know and form a stronger connection with them. I’m bringing my hits from the Broadway show, acts that I’ve honed over the last decade, and some new magic that has never been seen before.
Where do your ideas come from? Whenever I’m at a concert or non-magic show, I’ll see an interesting concept that is interesting or entertaining, but not necessarily magic, and I’ll think what it would look like if it were indeed a magic act. I’ll then play with concepts and see what I can put together. Sometimes new routines come together quickly, and sometimes they take years and years of development.
What was it like being on Ellen? Going on Ellen was a bucket list moment for me. It was certainly a thrilling experience, and I had a great time blowing her mind.
You recently debuted your show ‘The Road Trick’ on Red Bull TV; can you tell us about it? It’s on the Red Bull Network, and released in early 2017. I traveled to 12 countries to film 10 episodes where I use my magic to gain access into once-in-a-lifetime experiences with interesting people and cultures that tourists would never find unless they really went deep off the beaten path.
You mix comedy and music into your show. How did that begin? I began dabbling with comedy when I was going to college in Los Angeles. I never really spoke much on stage before that. The first time I tried comedy was at an event for 500 sorority girls at my college. Looking back, I was completely insane for choosing that environment as the first time to attempt comedy, but it actually went great.
Who is your favorite magician? David Copperfield has always been my favorite. He is the reason I got into magic, and he continues to innovate and drive the art form forward.
Who are some of the most inspirational people you’ve ever met? Who do you look up to? Joan Rivers, Ellen DeGeneres, Penn and Teller, and David Copperfield. Each of them has not only made it to the top of their art form, but have stayed there through the test of time. They have changed their art forms, and will be remembered long after their time as a result of their contributions.
