Photo Flash: The Academy of Magical Arts Awards
By: Eddie Varley Mar. 13, 2009
Among those on hand to celebrate 2008's the best of the best in the lavish world of mystery and illusion at the Avalon Hollywood (1735 N. Vine, Hollywood, CA 90028) for The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. 41st Annual Awards Show were Zach Quinto, Florence Henderson, Jeff Probst, Mac King, Erin Murphy, Gay Blackstone, Max Maven, Mike Caveney, Larry Wilmore, Christina Hendricks, and host, Broadway, television and motion picture star Neil Patrick Harris. This highly anticipated entertainment tradition was produced by Neil Patrick Harris & Matt Patton with Executive Producer Steve Dick and writer David Regal. The evenings performances included Han Seol-Hui, Scott Land, Daniel Browning Smith, Guy Hollingworth and Michael Moshen as well as color commentary by the extraordinarily talented Bruce Vilanch.
And the Awards went to:
LECTURER OF THE YEAR - Jeff McBride
CLOSE-UP MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR - Doc Eason
PARLOUR MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR -Shoot Ogawa
STAGE MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR - Kevin James and excepted by Sophia
Other individual awards presented to Howie Schwarzman and Celeste Evans for PERFORMING FELLOWSHIP, Eric Eswin for SPECIAL FELLOWSHIP, Louis Falanga for LITERARY FELLOWSHIP, Farrah Siegel for JUNIOR MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR, Pierre Mayer for CREATIVE FELLOWSHIP, Dominique for MASTERS FELLOWSHIP and Bob Fitch who received The LifeTIME ACHIEVEMENT FELLOWSHIP as well as Guy Hollingworth who received the MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR honors.
For 45 years the Magic Castle has been entertaining audiences on the stages of their five theatres from the Parlour of Prestidigitation to the Palace of Mystery and recently launched their sixth stage with Cabaret At The Castle featuring Broadway legend Carol Channing.
Long before Harry Potter attended Hogwarts, the Academy of Magic Arts, Inc. has been working with established talent and training future generations of magicians with their programs for juniors to entertain both on the stage and the silver screen.
The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. is a non-profit social order of over 6000 members worldwide devoted to the advancement of the art of magic. One of their main 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.
Photos by Kari Hendler
Zachary Quinto and Neil Patrick Harris
Zachary Quinto and Florence Henderson
Shoot Ogawa and Florence Henderson
Neil Patrick Harris and Close Up Magician winner Doc Eason
Gala Producer Matt Patton
Whit Hayden AMA Vice President with wife
Sophia accepts for Kevin James Stage Magician of the Year
Guy Hollingworth
Florence Henderson and Neil Patrick Harris
Newsies
Framed beauties directed the patron flow
Christina Hendricks kids around with Doc Eason
Daniel Browning Smith
Milt Larsen and Neil Patrick Harris
Christina Hendricks supplies a little magic on stage
Bruce Vilanch supplies Color Commentary
Zachary Quinto and AMA President Bob Lamoureux
Neil Patrick Harris presents Parlour Magain Shoot Ogawa
Carl Ballantine's famous magic marionette
Magician of the Year Guy Hollingworth performs
Gay Blackstone with Jeff Probst
Lifetime Achievement winner Bob Fitch
Erin Murphy
Mr and Mrs Jeff McBride Lecturer of the Year winner
Shoot Ogawa Parlour Magician winner
Latimer with his guest
Magic Castle Co-Founder Milt Larsen and his wife Arlene
Los Angeles Awards - Live Stats
Best Musical - Top 3
1.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Hollywood Bowl)
9.2% of votes
2.
HEATHERS (Backyard Playhouse: Treetop Production)
5.3% of votes
3.
HAIR (Conundrum Theatre)
5.3% of votes
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