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Adam Trent is a family-friendly magician-comedian.
By John Benson
The fact that touring magician Adam Trent was inspired by David Copperfield to pursue a career as an illusionist isn’t surprising. After all, the world-renowned performer has influenced generations of young magicians.
However, what makes Trent’s story so unique is what he took away as a kid seeing his first Copperfield show.
“When I saw David Copperfield, it was the greatest thing I ever saw,” said Trent, calling from New York City. “It was in Denver, and I don’t remember any of the illusions. Instead, I just remember my three generations of my family were all equally laughing and having fun.
“At the time, I didn’t even remember he was a magician. It wasn’t until about a year later that I realized I was being called to be a magician.”
That’s apropos considering today Trent, who, like Copperfield, is known as a family-friendly magician-comedian. He feels the comedy aspect provides an element to the performance that transcends his peers.
Also, for those folks who aren’t big fans of magic and perhaps are dragged out to his show with their family or significant other, laughing ensures everyone has fun.
“It’s very impromptu and off the cuff,” Trent said. “People will come on stage and the jokes are organic, things are happening in the moment. It’s talking with people and asking questions.
“That’s what makes it fun for me. Every single show is different.”
For the last two years, those moments for Trent have come as a member of the critically acclaimed Broadway show “The Illusionists.” After garnering national attention, the magician is hoping to find new audiences. That’s why Trent makes his area debut with a date Saturday at Westminster College’s Orr Auditorium in New Wilmington, Pa.
It’s been quite a journey for the Denver native, who started off 20 years ago doing small card and coin tricks. Today, he’s moved onto larger illusions involving giant projection screens that allow him to clone himself and teleport across the stage.
“Audiences always want to see not only new, fresh things but they also want to see things that are current with the technology and everything that’s available in the world today,” Trent said. “So I’m always creating new things but it’s a slow process.
“Also, bigger is not always better. The most popular acts in my show are things that I pull out of my pocket. Those are the things people talk about afterwards.”
It’s safe to assume just like Copperfield inspired a young Trent decades ago to pursue a career in magic, the same scenario could play out at his upcoming show with an unsuspecting youngster who discovers his calling in life.
“It’s something I don’t really think about ever,” Trent said. “I guess I always say if someone sees good magic, then they at the very least want to see another magic show. And at the very most, they want to get into magic. So all I can do is try to put on the best show possible.