Reza, recognized as one of today’s most highly sought-after illusionist, will be performing Friday at the Murphy Arts District.
Reza will be performing in the First Financial Music Hall at the Griffin at 8 p.m.
“This show is like a rock concert meets a magic show,” said Reza Borchardt, known by the stage name of Reza. “There’s a lot of production elements that we tie into the show. The magic itself is a range of things. It’s anything from up close magic in the crowd to giant grand scale illusions. It’s fun.”
The magician is based out of Branson, Missouri and has performed in front of over 30 million viewers across the world. He has also been featured on networks including MTV, A&E, The CW, PBS and many others.
Reza said he first became interested in magic when a magician visited his elementary school. “And then I asked for a magic kit for my birthday, and that’s kind of where it all started,” he said.
He added that he was six years old when he received his first magic kit.
“From then, my parents brought me on vacation every year as a kid to Branson so that I could see some of those shows and got even more inspired,” Reza said. “And that’s when I decided to make it a career and a dream and a goal.”
Reza said those childhood vacations to Branson are why he chose to make it his residence. “Even though we travel all over the world, Branson is kind of a cool place in my memories as a kid and now it’s kind of a full circle thing,” he said. “I get to see families come in making those same memories.”
Reza is known for his crowd interaction and connecting with the audience on a personal level. He said to be successful, he found crowd interaction was important and said he does this by making his shows unique.
“The audience won’t buy into something that is not relatable to them so I’ve always tried to use things that are ordinary things that people can relate to, and still try to create extraordinary things with them,” he said. “Just have it not be these corny, cliche props that magic has been accustom to, instead just making it organic and raw and things that people can relate to.”
When it comes to influence, Reza said music is his number one inspiration for new tricks. He said when he hears a really great piece of music, it gives him ideas on how to incorporate that into his shows.
Reza said he listens to bands including Lincoln Park, Switchfoot, Disturbed, “most of it’s pretty current, more modern,” he added.
When he’s not working, Reza said he likes to play sports and do “regular stuff.” When traveling, he said he likes to do whatever the locals do.
Reza’s show “Edge of Illusion” was designed specifically to connect with the audience and earned him the award of “Magician of the Year.”
Reza said the show is one that any one of any age will be able to enjoy and said he encourages the community to “come out.”
Tickets are currently on sale at MAD from $25 to $45, and day-of-show tickets are $35 to $55. Child tickets are $12 and can only be purchased through the box office.
Tickets can be purchased online at eldomad.com, in person at the MAD box office at 101 E. Locust St. or via toll-free phone at 877-940-3334.
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].