LEGERDEMAIN Marvels Downtown

Trust me, one of the most exciting nights I have had out this summer was on the fourth floor of a nondescript building down in the East Village. So is the world of Légerdemain, a new intimate parlor show from the minds of Jonathan Levit and Benjamin Schrader. 

A French term that roughly translates to “lightness of the hands,” or sleight of hand as one might call it these days, Legerdemain gathers a small crowd mixed with custom cocktails to create a fabulous night out on the town. I sipped on the Moscow mule and a few glasses of rosé throughout the evening. Now as a seasoned magician myself (*cough* a few years at magic camp growing up *cough*), Levit has crafted a lineup of illusions that will keep your mouth agape with amazement. Using a few decks of cards, some dice, and a Rubik’s cube or two, Levit and his co-host stand behind a mahogany bar and work the crowd with their personable charm. On my recent visit, Schrader was out sick so executive producer and Broadway star Kevin Duda stepped in to assume the role. 

I am privileged to attend some incredible magic performances across Manhattan every year and you can always tell the vibe of the audience right from the start. Some sit reserved but this particular night was absolutely wild and made for an unforgettable experience. The drinks were flowing and the guests were screaming with excitement after every trick concluded. With such a small crowd maxed at 40 on any given performance, Levit and Duda introduced themselves personally and knew everyone’s names before the night got underway. The vibes, as they say, were immaculate. This is a show you really will need to just witness, no spoilers here but Levit is doing some phenomenal work paired with his irresistible charisma and wit and I, for one, am excited to see future evolutions of this project. 

A Vegas spectacle this is not with no fire and scantily clad assistants, but Levit needs no smoke and mirrors to create one fascinating evening right here in New York City. 

Légerdemain is currently running though the weekend. For tickets and more information on future performances, visit here.