MAXIMUM MAGIC: Illusionist Noah Wells wins over audiences
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Master illusionistNoah Wells promises another magical summer atGulf World.
“This is our 12th season at Gulf World. ‘Maximum Magic’ has always focused on grand illusions, mentalism, audience participation and effects. We take the classics of magic and put our own spin on it — sawing in half, seeing through a woman,” said Wells, 29, a two-time Merlin Award winner who was named Illusionist of the Year by the International Musicians Society.
“We do have a large percentage of repeat business, and the reason we have because we change the show as much as possible and add new special effects, new illusions every year,” Wells said. “Someone who has been will see the best of what they’ve seen and new surprises as well.”
Wells’ wife, Heather, first opened the magic shows with him in 2007. Originally from Opelousas, La., she had experience on stage from dancing and beauty pageants, but didn’t know anything about the magic industry until meeting Wells.
“I make Heather’s mid-section disappear but her head and feet are there. For the mental part, we get audience participants on stage,” Wells said. “It’s my favorite part of the show, the variable of the show because you never know what you’re going to get. The best moments of the show are when the right participants come on stage.”
The shows are 1 hour and 45 minutes, which includes a 15-minute intermission.
“I do about 20 illusions. It’s an all-ages show, from 3 to 93 are guaranteed to have a good time,” Wells said. “Heather has always been the mentalist of the show, still doing an incredible mindreading act, where she is blindfolded. A brand new act for 2016 is the aerial silk act, very theatrical.”
This month Wells is doing at least four new illusions.
“We are adding more audience participation. For the first time, the cast and crew will present an illusion. I think this will be one of the favorites,” said Wells, whose audience favorites also include making Heather levitate 10 feet in the air. “We get a lot of repeat business, so we add new routines every year. If I add something new, it is very difficult because I have to remove something from the show. We add new illusions and change the show, even in the regular season routines.”
Wells is at Gulf World through Labor Day Weekend, except for a stint in August when he is checking out other magic shows.
“I will be at Las Vegas at one of the world’s largest magic conventions taking it all in, learning new things,” Wells said. “Holiday Inn’s my second home. I do a much smaller show down there.”
He also performs Holiday Inn Resort shows for guests only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through Oct. 15 (except for the third week of August).
Making it look easy takes a lot of practice. But Wells has known he wanted to be a magician since age 7, after his grandparents took him to magician Kirby VanBurch’s show in Branson, Mo. During the next seven years, he traveled from Longview, Texas, to visit his grandparents each summer and see the VanBurch show. At age 14, he took a summer job with the show and eventually became VanBurch’s protégé.
“The three essentials for beginners are the magic coloring book, the magic coin slide and the magic ball in the vase trick. Because of the simplicity, it allows you to learn a magic trick and get confidence when you fool people with it. That’s usually when you get bitten by the bug. My first magic set had five magic tricks in one box,” said Wells, remembering his family and friends being impressed. “I felt like I could do anything. Magic is good for all skill levels, with numerous tricks every bag. Then you want to do cooler tricks that take more practice; it keeps it going.”
Wells said there is always a more challenging act to learn.
“The most challenging illusion in our show, the one that took the most rehearsing, is the head mover illusion when I cut my wife’s head off and set it on the table,” Wells said. “And when I reopen the box, her head is on the other side of the stage. It’s a cool illusion, and a challenge on numerous levels.”
What: Master illusionist Noah Wells’ shows with his wife, Heather, feature grand illusions, comedy, mentalism, special effects and audience interaction for the entire family
When: 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.) Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through Aug. 12 (except for July 4) and Aug. 24, 26 and 31
Where: Tropical Garden Theatre, Gulf World, 15412 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach
Tickets: $25 per adult and $15 per child at the door; discounted tickets available for $10/adult and $5/child for park guests and annual pass holders)
Details: Gulf World at 850-234-5271 or GulfWorldMarinePark.com; or NoahWells.com
'MAXIMUM MAGIC'
