Pippin had an opening number called "Magic to Do," and Jules Fisher, the brilliant lighting designer lit it. Tony Walton did all of the sets. As a kid I thought, "Wow, I'm seeing onstage what a MGM musical would look like live." It was that good, and it was directed by Bob Fosse.

I really wanted to succeed. I wanted to be accepted. I read every magic book that I possibly could, studied every move, and by the time I was 12, they really accepted me, they embraced me.

What I've tried to do in my stage magic is to take a trick and give it an emotional hook.

There were really a bunch of old, old magic hobbyists at the time, some of them who actually had known [Harry] Houdini. You had to be 14 to go to these meetings, and he snuck me in at 12. It was glorious.

For me to grow, I have to know about the foundation that came before.

The key is for the audience never to know, so I have a plan B for every illusion.

I discovered something amazing, which has caused a lot of controversy - the fountain of youth. I have to keep it a secret!