Murray SawChuck has come a long way since he first started doing magic with the Seigfried and Roy magic kit he got as a childhood birthday present.
Over the years, Burnaby NOW readers have watched his rise to fame, as the shock of blond hair and the trademark glasses became a visible presence on the stage and screen, with shows in Vegas and appearances on a host of reality TV and talent shows.
SawChuck is continuing to raise his profile, as he’s now appearing on the new season of CW’s Masters of Illusion and as the headliner at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
SawChuck got his start locally at the former Cavalcade of Stars event, a showcase of youth talent that used to take place annually in Burnaby. He was a Burnaby Central Secondary student at the time.
Since then, he’s hit the limelight with a host of high-profile appearances, most notably rising to the semifinals of America’s Got Talent. He’s also a regular magic expert on the History Channel’s Pawn Stars show (and, by the way, has released his own Magic Expert magic kit in collaboration with Pawn Stars).
He’s been seen on everything from Celebracadabra to What Not to Wear and Master Chef, and he recently wrapped up a two-and-a-half-year-run as the headliner at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Vegas.
Want to see him? Tune in to Masters of Illusion on Friday nights, or check out Murray’s website at www.murraysawchuck.com. You can also follow him on Twitter, @MurraySawChuck.
OPERA CONCERT CLOSES SEASON
Opera lovers, take note: The final concert of Burnaby Lyric Opera’s season is taking to the stage at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts on Sunday, June 19.
The 3 p.m. concert features the talents of BellesCanto – a trio of young opera singers and their pianist, performing opera highlights from Mozart to Weber. Gina McLellan Morel, Lisa-Dawn Markle and Rose-Ellen Nichols are featured, with music direction by Melody Natsume.
Tickets are $15, and they’re available through the Shadbolt box office at 604-205-3000 or tickets.shadboltcentre.com.
Check out www.burnabylyricopera.org for more on the company.
ENJOY SYMPHONY IN THE PARK
Here’s a heads-up for classical music lovers: Save Sunday, July 10 for the ever-popular Symphony in the Park.
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is set to make a return to Deer Lake Park for the annual summer evening event, which features a range of popular classical pieces including Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique, Strauss’s Radetzky March and, of course, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.
Eighteen-year-old cellist Albert Seo is the guest artist, and the concert will be conducted by Tania Miller.
Seo was the winner of the VSO School of Music Future of Excellence Prize, being awarded the chance to perform with the VSO. Miller is a former associate and assistant conductor of the VSO who went on to lead the Victoria Symphony – becoming the first woman to lead a major symphony orchestra in Canada.
WRITING CONTEST RETURNS
400 years since Shakespeare.
Writers, that’s your theme for this year’s Burnaby Writers’ Society writing contest. The provincewide contest is open to all writing genres, and prizes of $200, $100 and $50 are awarded, along with honourable mention.
“The theme can be interpreted as broadly and imaginatively as you wish,” says an email from the writers’ society.
You have just one page, maximum, for your work, and your title, author’s name and email address and phone number must be provided on reverse. It’s $10 for one entry or $25 for three entries. Email your work, along with cheque or money order, to Burnaby Writers’ Society, 6584 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby, V5G 3T7, by July 31. You can find out more at www.burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com.
Start writing!
Got an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
