Mat Franco To Bring Magic To Huntington
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Mat Franco
By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com
Magician Mat Franco, winner of “America’s Got Talent” season nine, is getting ready to hit Huntington later this year, when he’ll put his Las Vegas show on hold for a one-night-only show at The Paramount.
The 29-year-old from Rhode Island has been performing regularly in Las Vegas at the LINQ Theater, which was renamed the Mat Franco Theater this summer.
The self-taught magician developed an interest in magic at a young age.
“I got a magic kit in kindergarten, and the next thing I know I was bringing it in for show and tell,” Franco said.
Growing up Franco was unable to find a formal magic teacher, so he learned to do tricks by watching television shows in slow motion.
Franco’s career exploded after he won “America’s Got Talent” and began performing his Vegas show in 2014.
“It was an out of body experience,” said Franco. “I went from performing in college cafeterias to living a life outside of my wildest imagination.”
Franco attributes the success of his live shows to his interactive and modern take on magic. He said loves to involve audience members on stage and make the audience part of the show.
“I have a map of where I want to start and where I want to finish, but I let the audience decide how we get there,” Franco said.
The magician said he often finds inspiration for his tricks in the most mundane places, and he counts on the audience to keep his act fresh. Although Franco insisted he hasn’t decided what tricks he will perform on his upcoming tour, he admitted he has a few favorites.
“Borrowing personal items and making them appear where they can’t possibly be is a signature of mine,” Franco said. “Expect that in the show.”
The Rhode Island native said his Vegas show prevents him from going on tour very often, but he is excited to come back to the east coast and perform at the Paramount for the first time.
Tickets for the Dec. 6 show at The Paramount are $30-$50 and can be purchased at the box office or Paramountny.com.
