CATAWBA VALLEY PEOPLE CHANDA BLITCH
And for my next trick — a cover story
Young magician’s article, photos featured in magazine
He calls himself Magic’s Royal Duke, and he’s already well on his way to pulling a career in magic out of his hat.
Sammy Cortino, 18, of Hickory, appears on the cover of the current issue of Secrets, the official publication of the Young Magicians Club.
Promoting the performance of magic by young people ages 10 to 18, the international organization serves as the youth initiative of the renowned Magic Circle in London, a group that counts magicians Lance Burton and David Copperfield among its members.
Cortino wrote the article, which became part of a two-page spread featuring pictures from his September 2006 performance at the Broyhill Civic Center in Lenoir. In the story, Cortino discusses the importance of magicians keeping up with the times.
A home-schooler who is also pursuing an associate’s degree at Caldwell Community College, Cortino will graduate from home high school in May. After finishing at CCC&TI, he plans to transfer to Appalachian State to major in communications.
Education for a magician is very important, said Cortino. “There’s no magic college, so what I learn will supplement what I do until I’m able to support myself with my magic,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to perform large-scale magic shows in major performing arts centers internationally. I would love to tour.”
Cortino says he’s been performing since he was 2 years old. “According to my parents, I was in a booster seat at a restaurant when I made a quarter appear, then disappear. I said, `And it disappeared’ — that was my first trick.”
After receiving three magic kits for his 6th birthday, he started to practice doing shows for family and friends. When he was 11, he performed his first paid show, at Barnes & Noble in Hickory. Since then, he’s performed in San Diego, Kansas City and at London’s Magic Circle. He attended a master class in Las Vegas taught by magician Jeff McBride and has done shows at Hickory Community Theatre.
Cortino’s performance in September at the Broyhill Center was his most ambitious to date: a 45-minute closing spot following two local musical acts. “It was a David Copperfield-style show with special effects, including lights, smoke and an assistant,” Cortino said.
Working with staff at the civic center, Cortino said he wrote the script and designed lighting, sound and set, then rehearsed for five weeks in his garage with a female assistant and five friends he had hired to help with props.
“In my 45-minute slot I managed to fit in four large-scale illusion routines — that’s more than Copperfield does in 45 minutes,” Cortino said. “I made all the illusions myself with the help of an engineering neighbor. For example, a lot of work goes into a levitation. You wouldn’t believe the equipment that goes into performing one — it’s like 200 pounds of equipment — it’s an engineering project, really,” he said.
Cortino said he enjoys the challenge of combining school, practice and performances. “It’s tricky finding free time for all this stuff. Right now when I’m working on new routines, I put magic instructional videos on my iPod — like when I’m in the car I’ll watch it, practice with my deck of cards. I try to find time whenever I can to learn and create,” Cortino said.
“I really appreciate the support of my family. I couldn’t do a lot of the things I’ve done so far without them,” he said.
To read the article in Secrets magazine or to learn more, visit www.sammycortino.com. Catawba Valley People
chanda blitch
