Neil Patrick Harris to Host & Co-Produce 'The TONYS of Magic' on March 8

The Academy of Magical Arts is proud to annouce that Neil Patrick Harris is both co-producing and hosting the Academy of Magical Arts Awards (The Oscars of Magic) on March 8th. Neil is giving the traditional event a face lift and bringing an entirely restructured format for the program to a new venue. Also, although not common knowledge, Neal is also an amature magician.

Long before Harry Potter attended Hogwarts, the Academy of Magic Arts has been working with established talent and training future generations of magicians with their programs for juniors to entertain both on the stage to the silver screen.

Historically speaking, the Victorian Mansion (now known as the Castle) was finished in Jan of 1909, 100 years ago. The Castle itself was opened in January 1964, 45 years ago. The Academy of Magical Arts has just celebrated 40 years in existence honoring an entertainment art form that has been around longer than Vaudeville.

Among the extensive celebrity members and magicians includes: Johnny Carson, Johnny Depp, Jimmy Stewart, Nicholas Cage, Jason Alexander and, of course, the biggest names in theatrical magic have either appeared at the Castle and the Awards show over the years including: Penn & Teller, Lance Burton, Sigfried and Roy, Doug Henning and many more.

Following in the footsteps of original board member Cary Grant, Neil Patrick Harris has not only become a board member, but is, known only to a few, an amateur Magician himself.

The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. is a non-profit social order of nearly 6000 members worldwide devoted to the advancement of the art of magic. One of their priMary Focuses is to promote a positive image of magic and magicians. The organization promotes the art of magic, encourages fellowship and maintains the highest ethical standards for the art. Their clubhouse, the Magic Castle, is one of the most unique private clubs in the world. It is a Victorian style mansion turned into a clubhouse where members and their guests enjoy world-class magic and magicians share their trade secrets with each other.

For further information, please visit www.magiccastle.com

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.