It seems hard to imagine, but David Copperfield is entering his fifth decade of amazing audiences with his larger-than-life illusions. And he’s entering his third decade as one of the Las Vegas Strip’s most iconic entertainers. When the staff of Las Vegas Magazine met to launch its own Hall of Fame in 2020, the choices for the inaugural class were much-debated … except for one name. When it comes to magic, Copperfield has redefined what’s possible—and what’s seemingly impossible!
A huge part of what makes an act successful in Las Vegas is its ties to the past. The memories we grow up with strongly determine what sells tickets today. It’s the reason heavy metal acts and hair bands from the 1980s are selling out arenas, and it’s also the reason Donny & Marie and Wayne Newton packed theaters during their Las Vegas runs. And no matter your opinions of magic (it appears to divide most groups straight down the middle), odds are you have fond memories of at least one of Copperfield’s television specials or feats through the years—walking through the Great Wall of China in 1986, escaping from Alcatraz prison in 1987, and surviving a fall over Niagara Falls in 1990, just for starters.
You’ll have a pretty good idea of the amazing experience you’re in for as you line up for David Copperfield’s show. Outside the theater there are plenty of attention-grabbing visuals: A large engraved plaque from the Society of American Magicians dubbing Copperfield the Magician of the Century, as well as a secondary title: “Forever to be known as the King of Magic”; a statue of “Blu Alien,” one of the characters you’ll see later in the show; and a bust of Copperfield, below which swirl an assortment of images, including the Statue of Liberty, a nod to his famous 1983 illusion in which he made the New York City landmark disappear before millions of fascinated viewers.
If you haven’t yet been to a Copperfield show, know this: The illusions are grand. They’re not just immensely visual, with lots of lights and dramatic music, they’re often downright emotionally powerful. As much commitment as Copperfield has to his craft, he’s got just as much passion about his past. In bringing his childhood to life, Copperfield enlists the aid of several “assistants,” including the alien mentioned previously and a dinosaur named “Frank.” We know, we know … it sounds corny, right? But don’t be the least bit surprised when you find a lump in the back of your throat as the illusion unfolds. There are moments during a Copperfield show when you stop thinking about how he does any of the amazing things he does and just ... accept them. Call it believing, call it what you will—it all feels tangibly real.
But mixed in with all this is a genuine sense of fun. Copperfield is very aware of his legend looming large, and takes plenty of potshots at it, keeping the audience laughing and relaxed. As great as your memories of Copperfield have been over the years, get ready for a whole new set after seeing this show.
MGM Grand, 866.740.7111
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