Justin Willman at the Adler Theatre -- May 2.
Friday, May 2, 7 p.m.
Adler Theatre, 136 East Third Street, Davenport IA
Lauded by the Los Angeles Times as “a new breed of comic who's making magic cool again for grown-ups,” and by Time Out as an act that “must be seen to be disbelieved,” comedian, TV personality, and famed prestidigitator Justin Willman brings his “Illusionati Tour” to Davenport's Adler Theatre on May 2, Decider adding that the artist will “amaze, delight, and shock you in a way that's sure to have your face sore from smiling.”
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, the 44-year-old Willman began entertaining at age 12 after breaking both of his arms. His orthopedic surgeon recommended he learn card tricks as an alternative to occupational therapy and to get the dexterity back in his hands, and soon after, he was performing for friends, family, and at birthday parties under the stage name "Justin Kredible" (a play on the words just incredible).
The artist is perhaps best known as the star and creator of the hit Netflix series Magic for Humans, which premiered in 2018, in which he brings his skills as a magician to the strange and misunderstood subcultures of America, all while incorporating his disarming demeanor into street magic and social experiments that boggle the mind. The show instantly became one of the most streamed shows on Netflix, with clips from the show garnering over 150 million views to date across social media, even sparking a viral meme. Playboy consequently dubbed him "The freshest and funniest magician working today."
Over the years, Willman as made regular appearances on The Tonight Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and Conan, and his debut comedy/magic special Sleight of Mouth premiered on Comedy Central in 2015. More recently, in 2024, Willman appeared in Netflix’s The Magic Prank Show, which found the star and his crew pulling elaborate pranks on unsuspecting targets to help real people get payback. Willman has also performed his prestidigitation on Magic Meltdown on YouTube, which became a Web series for the Nerdist Channel and incorporated some of the tricks from his magic tours. In Magic Meltdown, Willman performed tricks based on a chosen topic such as technology, children, and food. In 2011, he performed for the First Family for the White House Halloween party, and three years later, James Galea called on Willman, along with Justin Flom and Nate Staniforth, to form Band of Magicians, the touring illusion show featuring a group of magicians billed as "The World’s First Magic Supergroup."
Justin Willman brings his “Illusionati Tour” to Davenport on May 2, admission to the 7 p.m. performance begins at $39.50, and more information and tickets are available by calling (800)745-3000 and visiting DavenportLive.com/the-adler-theatre.
