Quick-change is a performance style where a performer (often, a magician) changes quickly, usually within seconds, from one costume into another.
When Italian actor and performer Arturo Brachetti started his career in Paradis Latin, Paris (1979) he was the only quick-change performer in the world since the legendary Leopoldo Fregoli (1867-1937). Guinness World Records lists him as the fastest and most prolific in the world. [1] His last one-man show has been seen by more than two million people worldwide. The changing of his tailcoat from black to white live and close to public was a method invented by him and is considered his artistic signature. His wardrobe consists of more than 350 costumes but evolves show by show. His performances often involve a series of characters, played consecutively one after the other, or in spoken sketches in which he plays all the roles interacting with each other. [2]
In 2000, he was awarded the Molière Award, the highest accolade in French theatre, for "The Man with 1000 Faces", where he performs 80 different characters in a two-hour show. The show sold out in Paris for several months in Theatre Marigny, Theatre Mogador, Casino de Paris, from April 2000 to January 2005. Brachetti has created and performed about 25 acts for television and 10 plays, produced by the National Theatre of Italy. The festival "Juste Pour Rire" (the yearly "Just for Laughs" comedy festival every July in Montreal) launched his career in North America. In the Opera field, he created a personal version of L'Histoire du soldat by Stravinsky, "Peter and the Wolf" by Prokofiev and "Allegro, un po' troppo" with the Symphonic Orchestra of Rai Radio Televisione Italiana. In 2009, he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award in London for the show "Change" at the Garrick Theatre. He returned to Paris in 2009 at the Folies Bergere with his new show about Cinema. In 2011, the French Ministry of Culture presented him with the honorary title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres Knight of Arts and Letters. [3] In 2003, Jeffery Deaver named Brachetti in his bestseller The Vanished Man . [4] In 2013 and 2014, he was a judge in the French TV show The Best broadcast by TF1. [5] An animated statue of Brachetti, changing costumes every 20 seconds, is displayed at Musée Grevin, the wax museum of Paris and Montreal. In September 2013, the French newspaper Le Monde dedicated him an interview in the first page. [6] In 2014, Italy he received the title of Commander in June 2014 by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. [7] On September 2, 2019, Arturo Brachetti was awarded The David Devant Award [8] for Services to International Magic by The Magic Circle, presented to Arturo at their annual awards ceremony held at their Headquarters in Central London. [9] In February 2020, Arturo headlined at the Blackpool Magic Convention with a performance of his show Solo at the Winter Gardens Opera House. [10]
David and Dania were a popular Quick Change Duo that shot to fame on the first season of America's Got Talent making it to the semi-finals. David Maas and Dania Kaseeva married in 1996. The act was most well-known to basketball enthusiasts where they performed in all 30 NBA venues, the All-Star Game, and 15 W.N.B.A. arenas. At least 76 institutions hosted them for halftime performances; they also performed at Big Ten basketball tournaments and at the N.C.A.A. Final Four. David Maas died of COVID-19 on November 22, 2020. [11]
A real-life couple who own an on-line magic shop, Keelan Leyser and Charlotte Marie also perform a magic specialty act that is primarily a mix of dance and quick-change. They have performed in over 45 countries. In an appearance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us , they performed 9 changes between them in a period of four minutes, with the majority of time spent dancing to various musical bits related to each costume change. Leyser has a background in magic, while Marie has a background in dance. [12] In 2015, Leyser trained up Matthew Wolfenden and Natalie Anderson from the TV show Emmerdale to perform his act with him and his new dance partner Shereen on the ITV show called Get Your Act Together which was presented by Stephen Mulhurn. [13] Leyser is known to now incorporate technology themed magic into his show. [14]
German - Armenian/Russian duo Sos and Victoria Petrosyan "The New Generation of Quick-Change Artists" are four times Guinness World Records holders in High Speed Costume Change Illusion: 2007 - 16 costumes in 2 minutes in Germany. 2008 - 11 costumes in 1 minute in China. 2008 - 12 costumes in 1 minute in Italy and in 2011 they have done another Guinness World Record - 13 costumes in 1 minute.[ citation needed ]
They began in 1991 in Moscow. Magic Circle of Germany decided to present Sos & Victoria as the Best Magic Act in 2007. Duo Petrosyan Awarded - The Best Magician of the Year and International World Merlin Award in USA for the fastest quick change act in the world. They are the only magicians in the world who have gained this Oscar twice. In Los Angeles they got a World Magic Award for the Best Cabaret Duo 2008.[ citation needed ]
In 2010, Sos and Victoria Petrosyan gained a Guinness World Records on the French TV Show "Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde" in Paris - 19 costumes. Sos is a trick producer and author of magic books and articles about the art of quick change. Sos and Victoria have been awarded by the Magic Circle in Germany the "Best Writer of the Year 2010" for the books: "Women's Dress Transformation" Part 2 and "Men's Suit Transformation" Part 1. All the tricks and transformation costumes used in their performances have been developed by Sos. [15]
In 2011, they got to the semi-final of the German TV Show "Das Supertalents". In 2012 they performed in Beijing "China International "Great Wall" Magic Carnival" where 20 magicians, FISM winners, presented their dazzling performances in a theater for thousands of people, in a magical battle for three days. Sos & Victoria Petrosyan received the only one Gold Medal for Stage Competition. There was also 2 Silver and 3 Bronze Medals.[ citation needed ]
Soul Mystique is an Australian duo of entertainers who became known in world variety theater for their performances combining professional dancesport with a high speed quick change act. This duo is most famous for their two times appearance on the television show Australia's Got Talent in 2007 (series 1) and 2012 (series 6) – both times with great success as Grand Finalists, and placing 2nd runner up in series 6.[ citation needed ]
In 2008, Soul Mystique was placed among 10 of the world's best magicians by Fox Bio Channel [16] – and was invited by Las Vegas veterans and legends of Magic, Siegfried and Roy, as the closing act for the historic event 'A Tribute to Siegfried & Roy at The London Palladium', where Queen Elizabeth and members of the Royal Family were in attendance. [17]
In 2011, Soul Mystique was listed as the choice of entertainment for high society by Asia Tatler magazine. [18] This duo was also two times 'Australian Entertainer of the Year' Finalist in 2011 and 2012 by Australian Event Awards. Soul Mystique is a partnership formed in 1996, between two former Latin-American dancesport champions, Gavin Skinner and Lydia Lim. This duo produces every aspect of their shows from costuming, props, to music arrangements. [19] Soul Mystique is a registered trademark since 2009. [20]
Lex Schoppi is a trick producer and author of magic books and articles about the art of quick change. He has been Author of the Year for his quick change books and several times Artist of the Year in Germany. His stage partner Alina is a Latin dancer. They work with long dresses and overcoats. Alina is the only woman in the world to master the split second costume change whilst still bound (the world fastest escape illusion).[ citation needed ]
They appeared in the Eurovision Magic Circus Show with three winners from Heidi Klum's "Germanys Topmodels". He has an own tailor workshop for his magic and works for artists and stars. He created the opening ceremony of German Music Award Echo. [21]
Lee Alex is a British born illusionist based in Istanbul, Turkey. He is winner of the Merlin Award "Illusionist of the Year 2009" presented by the International Magicians' Society. Known throughout the magic world for his "Colour Change Waistcoat", "Snow Leopard Vest" and "Happy Birthday Waistcoat". [22] Lee Alex is the co-author and translator of the German book "Quick Change" by Lex Schoppi and the sole author of the book "Time for a Change?".[ citation needed ]
Vizage appeared in the 2008 semifinals of Britain's Got Talent where they performed a quick-change act with singing. They did, however, get three buzzers.[ further explanation needed ] [23]
Luca Lombardo is an Italian magician, actor and quick change artist. Deep admirer of Arturo Brachetti, he is the author of the play "Poubelle" which is based entirely on changes of clothes. He is also the author of the book "Confessions of a Quick Change Artist". [ citation needed ]
Léa Kyle is a French quick-change performer. She appeared on the seventh season of Penn & Teller: Fool Us in which she fooled judges Penn & Teller. Kyle received a golden buzzer from Heidi Klum on season 16 of America's Got Talent . [24]
Solange Kardinaly is a Portuguese quick-change performer and magician who, with her partner Arkadio, holds the Guinness world record for most costume changes in a single minute, with 25. [25] On season 19 of America's Got Talent , she received unanimous acclaim from the judges for a performance to Madonna's "Material Girl" which went viral. [26] She also appeared on three other Got Talent series (Czechia & Slovakia, Ellada Eheis Talento, and Romania) as well as Penn & Teller: Fool Us. [27]
Penn & Teller, Penn Jillette and Teller, are American magicians, entertainers, and scientific skeptics who have performed together since the late 1970s. They are noted for their ongoing act that combines elements of comedy with magic.
Arturo Brachetti is an Italian quick-change artist considered the best quick change performer in the world. In the Guinness Book of Records, he is described as the quickest and most prolific quick-change artist in the world.
Paul Kieve is an English professional illusionist and whose consulting work for both stage and screen has contributed to changing how magical special effects in productions are approached. He is the only illusionist ever to have won a New York Drama Desk award. He created the illusions for the 2014 Kate Bush concert Before the Dawn.
Leopoldo Fregoli was an Italian actor.
John Max Thompson was an American comedian and Las Vegas illusionist who performed under the stage name The Great Tomsoni with his wife, Pamela Hayes. They had a comedic slapstick act with the well-dressed Thompson and his gum-popping assistant, Pam, performing illusions while enduring a series of mishaps. Within the magician community, Tomsoni was considered a virtuoso, widely known as a mentor and teacher of magic, and a creator of tricks, as opposed to simply a performer. He worked behind the scenes with magicians such as Penn and Teller, Lance Burton, Criss Angel and Mat Franco. In 1999, he was awarded one of the highest honors in the magician community, a Masters Fellowship with the Academy of Magical Arts. January 30, 2020, Showtime released a documentary about Thompson written and directed by Emery Emery called Gambler's Ballad: The Legend of Johnny Thompson.
Joshua Jay is an American magician, author, and lecturer. He has performed in over 100 countries and was awarded top prize at the World Magic Seminar in 1998. He worked with Penn and Teller on the show Fool Us, and he holds a Guinness World Record for card tricks. Jay has performed on shows including Good Morning America and The Today Show. In January 2018, Jay was recognized by the Society of American Magicians for his contribution to the art of magic.
Kevin James is an American magician, known for creating several unique magical effects, such as the "Floating Rose" which is performed by David Copperfield.
John Archer is a British comedy magician, television writer and actor. As well as performing magic, he has also commercially released a number of his tricks through various magic suppliers.
Mike Super is an American magician who is the winner of the NBC show Phenomenon. He was a top finalist on Season 9 of America's Got Talent. He's also appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Penn & Teller: Fool Us series. Super currently tours the U.S. and Canada with his illusion show.
Sos and Victoria are a husband and wife quick-change artist act. Sos and his wife Victoria are from Altrip, Germany. The pair began their act in 1991, and have earned several awards and achieving a Guinness World Record for their performances.
John van der Put is an English magician and comedian, who performs under the stage name Piff the Magic Dragon. A winner of multiple awards from British magic societies, he toured as a supporting act for Mumford and Sons and has appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us and America's Got Talent. In June 2019, van der Put was named one of Variety's 10 Comics to Watch for 2019. Van der Put lives in Las Vegas and has a residency at The Flamingo.
Soul Mystique is an Australian duo of entertainers who became known in world variety theatre for their performances combining professional dancesport with a high speed quick change act. This duo is most famous for their two appearances on the television show Australia's Got Talent in 2007 and 2012 – both times with great success as Grand Finalists, and placing 2nd runner up in series 6.
Kostya Kimlat is a magician, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and business consultant. With the use of magic tricks, Kimlat helps companies train employees. As a speaker, he lectures on the importance of perception in daily life through magic and sleight of hand.
Mysterion is a Canadian mentalist, magician, collector, comedic writer and occasional wrestling manager.
Liang-Shun Lim, known professionally as Shin Lim, is a Canadian-American magician, recognized for his use of card manipulation and sleight of hand. He is known for elaborate close-up card magic routines, during which he remains silent with the tricks set to music. He is self-taught, having learned most of his skills from watching YouTube, and has in turn shared some of his own techniques in videos on the site.
Young & Strange are a British comedy magic double act. The duo perform on stages around the world with a magic, comedy and illusion show and currently headline the touring production of Champions of Magic which frequently tours theatres in North America.
Xavier Mortimer, is a French magician and variety performer. A winner of multiple awards, he has appeared on television shows Penn & Teller: Fool Us, America's Got Talent, Masters of Illusion, Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde, and The Next Great Magician on ITV. Mortimer lives in Las Vegas and performs his resident show at the Strat.
Ryan Lam known professionally as Ryan Hayashi, is a Chinese Canadian magician, mentalist and performer. Hayashi focuses on coin magic and is known for his coin matrix. He also works in other forms of magic including cards, mentalism and displays of skill such as blindfolded performances with a samurai sword. Hayashi has performed magic in 18 different countries. He is a self-described "samurai entertainer" and has performed on multiple talent contests including Germany's Got Talent, Britain's Got Talent and Czechoslovakia's Got Talent.
Léa Kyle is a French magician who performs quick-change magic. She is known for receiving a Golden Buzzer for her quick-change performance, during her audition on America's Got Talent. She also appeared during the series 15 of France's Got Talent, and the seventh season of Penn & Teller: Fool Us.
Keelan Leyser is a British-born magician, mentalist and quick change artist, who is known for his multiple television appearances spanning over 25 years. He is recognised for his magic with digital technology and his quick change act.