“I’m over-the-moon-excited about making my [Broadway] debut,” said escapologist Gabriella Lester, who was born in South Africa and grew up in Canada. “It's actually been at the top of my bucket list since I was really little.” She continues with Now You See Me Live after performing in the London production earlier this year.

Onstage persona: Magic is a universal language, since so much of it can be done without words. In this show, I’m actually doing a mixture of things — a bit of close-up in the audience and an illusion on stage. We each get to do a little bit of everything.

Why illusions thrill: No matter how old we get, we're all still looking to feel like kids again, and we’re all looking for things that we can't explain and we can just enjoy. Illusion and magic are some of the only ways you can still have the Santa Claus feeling when you're an adult.

Real-life inspiration: Canadian magician named Shawn Farquhar. I saw his show at my school, and after the show, I went to get an autograph. He took the Sharpie out of my hand and he put it up his nose and pulled it out of his mouth. It absolutely blew my 10-year-old brain wide open. He became my idol, then became my mentor, and then my peer.

“I’m a massive theatre buff. I lived in London for nine years, so I'm always going to the West End,” said James More, who grew up in a coastal England town and was on Broadway in 2015's The Illusionists. He's "delighted" to be back.

Onstage persona: I specialize in grand illusions, so I’ll be doing big, spectacular stunts and illusions in the show. I’m a true believer that a piece on stage is never finished. I’m kind of a perfectionist, but I never reach perfection. I’m always trying to develop and improve.

Why illusions thrill: Magic gives us that sense of disbelief, where we can let go and feel like children again, if only for a few brief moments. It's one of the very few art forms that can create a sense of awe.

Real-life inspiration: I grew up watching David Blaine on the television. But my personal hero in terms of what I do is David Copperfield. Even though he was at his peak in the ’80s, I don't think anyone has come close to him since in terms of his understanding of theatre, storytelling, atmosphere, music, choreography, everything.

The Canadian-born Darcy Oake made his Broadway debut in The Illusionists - Magic of the Holidays in 2018. “It’s always been the goal," he said. "Broadway is real theatre.”

Onstage persona: Everything I do in the show is 100% real, and that includes a death-defying escape. It is scary. I feel anxious about doing it. It’s important to the performer to be authentic since the audience can feel that. Another bit, which has been a highlight for a lot of people, involves a live scorpion. I’ll just leave it at that.

Why illusions thrill: We live in a world where the answers are just a click away. You can type in anything, and even before you finish typing it, the computer already knows what you're going to ask. The sense of amazement and wonder and not knowing how an illusion is done is very, very rare. It's an experience that resonates with everyone — all walks of life, all ages.

Real-life inspiration: I don’t have one specific idol, but I draw inspiration from different nuances and aspects of other performers. I love watching live shows. I love seeing a magician of any kind who's found their voice and put the time in and has really honed their craft. I take inspiration from anyone who is exceptionally well-prepared.

Also returning from Now You See Me Live in London is mentalist Matthew Pomeroy, who grew up outside of London and is making his Broadway debut. “I'm one half of the Conjurers, a magic and mind-reading duo. We did Carnegie Hall a year ago,” he said. “But Broadway is the place. It’s a dream come true, especially over Christmas.”

Onstage persona: I’m definitely the storyteller. I thread the show together. I do routines that are magical, like a sleight-of-hand card routine, and an element of mind reading. I pop up at the start of the show, the end of the show, and all the way through, and tell you what's going to happen next.

Why illusions thrill: Early on, I was always shy and didn't really know how to navigate and negotiate in normal life. Magic gave me a way to get into conversations and to spark an interest.

Real-life inspiration: In terms of magic, there's a very famous mind reader in England called David Berglas. He was incredible. But I’m a theatre kid. I get so much of my inspiration from people that have been in theatrical productions, and that's where I look first for constructing routines. I’m also inspired by people like Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin and old Universal horror movies.

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