Penn Yan native, professional entertainer and magician Darrin Race is bringing his road show home from Vegas this month. Race will perform his “Enchanting World of Magic” show on Friday, September 16th at 7 pm in the Penn Yan Middle School auditorium as a benefit for the Arts Center of Yates County.
What began with seeing a shopping mall magician, buying a 50 cent magic set at a yard sale and watching a David Copperfield television special all in the same week in 1979 sparked a life-long interest and a magical career for 14 year old Darrin Race.
Over the years magic has taken the Penn Yan native to many interesting places and given him the opportunity to meet some very interesting people. Race currently lives in Las Vegas and has been involved in many aspects of the magic field, including performing, consulting, working in retail magic shops and building props and illusions – many of which he uses in his own act. A versatile entertainer, Race has performed throughout the United States in clubs, theme parks and even on the Las Vegas stages. He’s made numerous appearance in both television in film, appearing most recently as an extra in the movie “Mall Cop 2” and in the Lance Burton movie “Billy Topit Master Magician.” Race has also worked with or performed for such celebrities as David Copperfield, Lance Burton, Kurt Russell, Criss Angel, Engelbert Humperdinck, Linda Blair, Roy Clark, Muhammad Ali, Tony Curtis and more.
Race is also well-known as an Elvis impersonator – an aspect of his career that is taking a backseat to his interest in magic. “I am not giving up the Elvis tribute,” says Race. “I just want to focus more on magic for the time being.” Race has an extensive collection of magic and movie memorabilia that he is considering sharing with the public as part of a dream project he calls the Darrin Race Magic and Movie Experience. He envisions a family friendly attraction that includes a theater, a museum displaying his collection, a retail gift and magic shop and a Hollywood-themed mini golf course. Race is currently scouting locations for the Experience and is leaning towards San Antonio, Texas as a possible location.
Tickets for Darrin Race’s Enchanting World of Magic show on September 15th are $7 for children under 12 and $10 for adults and are available at the Arts Center and at the door. For more information, contact the Arts Center at 315-536-8226.
