After months of lockdown in Toronto, the innovators behind the World Premiere exhibit IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH, are thrilled to confirm that their ground-breaking World Premiere Immersive magic experience will finally open its doors on July 29th. 

Lighthouse Immersive and renowned illusionist Jamie Allan invite you into a world of intrigue, mystery, and wonder, with the World Premiere of Allan’s ILLUSIONARIUM.  A labyrinth of magical rooms transporting audiences to different eras in time, ILLUSIONARIUM takes you on an immersive journey through the evolution of magic as the world’s most famous illusionists share their deepest secrets.

Using 3D projections, life-like holograms and live magicians, ILLUSIONARIUM offers the chance to experience some of the greatest, grand-scale illusions in the world within a physically distanced setting.  The first-of-its-kind installation will occupy the third gallery space in the historic Toronto Star printing presses and run alongside IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH and GOGH BY CAR, filling the complex with awe-inspiring immersive experiences that appeal to all ages and tastes.  Opening July 29^th, 2021 for a limited engagement, tickets for Jamie Allan’s ILLUSIONARIUM are on sale now at www.illusionarium.ca.

Conceived by British high-tech magician Jamie Allen (iMagician), this experiential exhibit blends Jamie’s encyclopedic knowledge of the history of magic with state-of-the-art technology, bringing the illusions of the past into the 21^stcentury. Comprised of a series of a series of four magical rooms, each representing a different era in starting with the 17^th century, visitors are guided through ever-evolving styles of magic spanning hundreds of years.  

“ILLUSIONARIUM was in many ways born of my own lifelong love of magic as well as from the circumstances of the pandemic,” says co-producer Corey Ross, Lighthouse Immersive.  “I had intended to bring Jamie’s iMagicianstage show to Toronto this December, but when it became clear that wasn’t possible, he and I began to ask ourselves what could be possible in this new world. What we have come up with is infinitely exciting and really demonstrates how amazing ideas can be born from challenge.”

“This experience offers large scale magic in intimate, fully immersive spaces. Visitors will encounter life-like holograms – Houdini will appear before your eyes! – 3D projections, spectacular special effects, and jaw-dropping magic. It is truly unlike anything that has been done before.”

“ILLUSIONARIUM is completely unique in seamlessly blending technology and practical magic – I have been combining magic and technology since I was a boy but this takes that passion to a whole new level.” says creator Jamie Allan. “I am so thrilled to debut this new experiential work in Toronto – it is a great launch pad for new productions and the community of talented performers is so impressive.”

“We have been so galvanized by the response to IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH and to be able to provide cultural and entertainment experiences throughout this time when people need it more than ever,” adds co-producer Svetlana Dvoretsky, Lighthouse Immersive. “From the beginning, our vision for the Toronto Star printing press space was to fill all the galleries and build a multiplex destination for immersive cultural experiences. When the pandemic hit, it really called that into question, but we found a way forward and have been able to bring close to 200,000 people through the exhibit safely. We are also really pleased to be employing roughly 300 people between the three exhibits, at such a difficult time in the arts and entertainment industry.”

Upon entering ILLUSIONARIUM, visitors are welcomed by renowned illusionists, starting with Harry Houdini and Robert Houdin. Giving audiences a peek behind the curtain, these famous magicians share the essence and fundamentals of magic. The sequence of rooms – PALAIS ROYALE, THE EGYTPTIAN HALL, ON-AIR STUDIOS, and EVO-LUSION HALL - connects via passageways displaying magic artwork and historical artifacts evocative of the time and place in history each room portrays – fully immersing you in the culture and soul of the era. 

In this time of closed borders and physical distancing, renowned illusionists Penn & Teller will appear in the ON-AIR studios room in ILLUSIONARIUM (dedicated to the broadcast television era of magic that Penn & Teller remain a definitive part of). The renowned duo have filmed a trick specifically for the exhibit that will be projected and involves incredible interaction with exhibit guests.

To maintain visitor safety, guests will be in physically distanced groupings, with a limit of four per Magic Circle, and a maximum of twelve Magic Circles in a room. As with IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH, masks will be required at all times. 

Tickets for ILLUSIONARIUM will begin at $99 per couple, VIP options and add-ons are also available. 

For more information about ILLUSIONARIUM, visit www.illusionarium.ca

THE FOUR ROOMS OF THE ILLUSIONARIUM

Palais Royale – The first stop on the journey brings you to Paris in the 1800’s. Using dual layer 3D volumetric hologram technologies and methodologies, audiences will meet Harry Houdini and Robert Houdin. The legendary magician will take visitors on an interactive mind reading experience where everyone in the room will share the same outcome simultaneously.

The Egyptian Hall – Moving into the Egyptian Hall, guests travel back in time to the world’s earliest venue built for magic. Featuring a lively period performance with illusions and immersive room effects, you will uncover the rules of magic for levitation, vanishings and more.

On-Air Studios – Next, step into a TV Studio with the legendary duo Penn & Teller to celebrate magic’s coming of age over the past fifty years with the era of televised magicians. Super stars of TV magic will lead all of the audience members to participate in a card trick in which each guest will be astonished to see that in their own hands they all get the same results.

Evo-lusion Theatre – The final room takes guest into a whole new world presenting a glimpse into the future of magic and technology. The grand finale experience features high energy illusions surrounded by LED walls and a rousing soundscape of music immersing the audience as never before.

ABOUT JAMIE ALLAN

Jamie Allan is world renowned for fusing magic with high technology. As the UK’s original technology magician, he premiered his iMagic creation on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ in 1995 when he was just a teenager. Since then he has been performing and designing incredible modern illusions using leading edge technology and innovative methods including working with iPads, holograms, laser beams, 3D video mapping, 4D lasers, drones, and interactive social media to engage and amaze his audiences. He also holds the accolade of being the most televised British illusionist of the last decade and has become known as the iMagician.

Jamie performed his signature iPad illusion “Digital Art” to close the BBC One Show live to millions of viewers, an illusion he has repeated live on ‘Grand Cabaret Du Monde’, ‘BBC Breakfast’, ‘The Slammer’ and the ‘Penn and Teller: Fool Us’ television series. He has also been seen as a star mentor on the ITV1 prime-time show ‘Get Your Act Together’ and was a winner of ITV’s prime-time show ‘The Next Great Magician.’

Jamie’s award-winning production ‘iMagician’ opened at the Garrick Theatre in London’s West End in 2015. In 2017, he was chosen by his peers to headline the world’s largest magic convention in front of 3,500 magicians. In the same year, he was bestowed the highest honour of The Magic Circle; invited by the President, he became one of the very few members of The Inner Magic Circle. Jamie joined the ranks of Harry Houdini, David Copperfield and Derren Brown in this exclusive, internationally acclaimed and historic society.

iMagician debuted in the United States in 2018 becoming the highest selling magic show ever in the history of Chicago theatre district during his residency at the 1,500 seat Harris Theatre.