About Michael
Michael Kras is a Hamilton-based magician, playwright, director, and a magic director & designer for theatre. His plays have been produced, published, and studied across Canada and abroad, garnering national honours including the prestigious Herman Voaden Playwriting Prize, a Tom Hendry Award nomination, and a finalist slot for the Safe Words New Canadian Play Award.
As a magic director, he currently serves as the Magic & Illusion Lead for the North American Tour of the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and was previously the resident magic associate for the play’s record-breaking Canadian premiere with Mirvish Productions. His career directing and designing magic has taken him to theatres in Hamilton; Toronto; New York City; Chicago; Tacoma, Washington; Jupiter, Florida; and Los Angeles.
In 2024, Michael released his debut full-length book of magic – Synthesis & Secrets – which quickly sold out its limited first edition printing at magic shops around the world.
About the Lecture
Bring a deck of cards, because Michael will kick off his lecture with a crash course on the Kras Change: a utility that can be used as a striking visual change or covert switch of a playing card. After walking through the basic handling, Michael will introduce a few fun applications for the change, then teach a few other close-up effects that don’t use the change at all.
After that, Michael will talk through his rangy career as a magic director & designer for theatre: how he got started, the intense lessons he’s learned, the misconceptions, and a wide variety of insider tips about what it takes to develop effective magic for narrative stage productions of all sizes and budgets. Whether you’re curious about dabbling in this kind of work or simply want to learn more about the ways magic and theatre intersect, there’s sure to be plenty of rich insight!
When: Thursday April 17th / Doors open 7PM - Lecture starts at 7:30PM
Where: Agricola Lutheran Church - 25 Old York Mills Road