Illusionarium
#FIRSTLOOK: JAMIE ALLAN’S “ILLUSIONARIUM” TORONTO
One-part history of magic and illusions, one-part interactive escape, Jamie Allan’s Illusionarium finally launches at One Yonge Street July 29, 2021 in the Toronto Star Building! Trust me, this has been a labour of love as it initially was to open its doors around the Holidays so we were extra-excited finally to enjoy it after a patient wait.
The wait has been a blessing however, as its producers (Lighthouse Immersive, Showone Productions and Starvox Exhibits) who also brought us the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit taking place also in the same building, really pondered how to pivot to adapt ensuring safe social distancing measures within its generous 300,000 cubic foot space. And they succeeded creating an experience that feels safe, yet intimate.
While originally there were to be four rooms only, a secret fifth room also has been added to the experience, developed during Ontario’s lockdown. You won’t believe your eyes what happens in here! We were literally on the edge of our seat – six feet+ away from others, of course.
You get four experiential rooms: PALAIS ROYALE, THE EGYTPTIAN HALL, ON-AIR STUDIOS, and EVO-LUSION HALL, plus the aforementioned top-secret room ….if you’re lucky. Each room takes you through a different era and as you are dazzled by magicians, life sized holograms, 3D projections and lasers. World-famous legends Penn & Teller even greet you in the On-Air Studios room in an interactive magic trick!
There are even a few shocks and thrills thrown-in as we witness how death-defying magic and illusions can be!
Allan speaks to guests at the end of the experience, driven to restore that sense of wonder we all possessed once in our youth. “An even more difficult problem to overcome is Technology. Secrets are becoming more accessible on the Internet every day, TV can be paused and scrutinized frame by frame as Technology advances further and further every day in our lives.”. But yet as Creator, Allan has fused magic with Technology to create this experience with musician Tommy Bond, embracing this combination to bring innovation and mystique to a new generation like greats before him, Houdini and Devant.
Check out a Gallery of fun!
Some Video highlights.
Also, to celebrate the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit, a 91-foot hot air balloon of Van Gogh was on display at Queen’s Quay x Yonge Street. While there were some delays launching it due to wind conditions at the Harbourfront, we were able to witness it up-close and it is remarkable! There will be more opportunities to see it July 31 and August 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., dependent on weather. The Exhibit has struck a chord with A-Listers like Lily Collins, Madonna and George Lucas in other cities like New York and Chicago!
Get your tickets and learn more here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#FIRSTLOOK: “JAMIE ALLAN’S ILLUSIONARIUM” COMING TO TORONTO
From the same people who brought us the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit, comes Jamie Allan’s ILLUSIONARIUM, right in time for the Holidays. It also has been announced that iconic duo Penn & Teller also will be featured in the Exhibit! While having faced some setbacks due to the provincial closure, the exhibit is set to launch July 29, 2021 for a limited engagement at the Toronto Star building alongside the Van Gogh exhibit, takes place over four rooms in a 300,000 square foot space, taking us from the 17th into the 21st century.
The four rooms are:
Palais Royale – The first stop on the journey brings you to Paris in the 1800’s. Using dual layer 3D volumetric hologram technologies and methodologies, audiences will meet Harry Houdini and Robert Houdin. The legendary magician will take visitors on an interactive mind reading experience where everyone in the room will share the same outcome simultaneously.
The Egyptian Hall – Moving into the Egyptian Hall, guests travel back in time to the world’s earliest venue built for magic. Featuring a lively period performance with illusions and immersive room effects, you will uncover the rules of magic for levitation, vanishings and more.
On-Air Studios – Next, step into a TV Studio to celebrate magic’s coming of age over the past fifty years with the era of televised magicians. Super stars of TV magic will lead all of the audience members to participate in a card trick in which each guest will be astonished to see that in their own hands they all get the same results.
Evo-lusion Theatre – The final room takes guest into a whole new world presenting a glimpse into the future of magic and technology. The grand finale experience features high energy illusions surrounded by LED walls and a rousing soundscape of music immersing the audience as never before.
British High-tech Magician Allan conceptualized this experience which uses state-of-the-art technology in life-like holograms, 3D projections, spectacular special effects, and jaw-dropping magic.
The exhibit aims to host 200,000 people safely in its run. Learn more about it here. Tickets are on-sale now.
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