Penn & Teller

Penn & Teller are the magic act in Vegas. They are masters of both illusion and comedy. They perform tricks intended to shock, carry out clever pranks, and specialize in scientific in the art of debunking - especially of their own magic tricks.

Penn & Teller started out in San Francisco and gradually accumulated a loyal following. They were picked up by Broadway and had several very successful runs. They achieved national recognition after appearances on various television shows including Saturday Night Live and the Drew Carrey Show. They have become one of America’s most unique and prominent magic acts by making magic intellectually stimulating by essentially deconstructing the otherwise declining art form.

Unlike many performers who have worked together for several long years, Penn & Teller have a strictly professional relationship and have little in common outside of their magic and political views. Penn said that they’re very good friends, but not close friends – the oddness of the dynamic between the two adds an oddball tension to the act that really works.

Vegas might seem like a strange place for two performers who pride themselves in their abstemious lifestyles, but they have become a fixture on the Vegas scene. Their penchant cutting-edge magic and comedy keep audience always leave their audiences wanting more.

Unlike other magicians, Penn and Teller like to tell their audience members how they do their magic tricks. They’re so into dispersing the clouds of mystery that they even have a show called Bullshit! on Showtime that debunks various myths and mysteries. It’s this aspect of Pell & Teller that makes the show so fresh – it turns cynicism on its head by showing us that the very human behind the scenes process and politics of bringing illusions to life is oftentimes more fascinating than the illusion itself.

At other times, they reveal how their tricks work to up the ante. After revealing how classic magic tricks work, they then perform even more extreme tricks that will completely baffle the audience.

If you like jazz music, you’ll also be treated to jazz pianist Mike Jones, who not only does a live performance before the show, but also adds jazz fills that complement the bits.

One of their hardest tricks was the Double Bullet Catch. Penn admitted that he was often trembling when first practicing the trick. Fortunately, Penn and Teller have developed a lot of trust in each other over the 30 years that they’ve been working together - and fortunately for us, they haven’t killed each other yet.