Steve Cohen – known as the Millionaires’ Magician – has been performing for celebrities and other notables for the past 20 years. His show, Chamber Magic, is now the resident magic show at the Lotte New York Palace hotel and still feels like a well-kept secret among New Yorkers. If you’re going to do one thing in NYC, make it this.
The 90-minute show is held in an elegant parlor, just off The Gold Room, and cocktail attire is encouraged, making it feel like a special occasion – and that’s because it is. The adults-only performance is limited to just 64 people so that the environment is intimate and elegant.
Without giving anything away, Cohen has worked to recreate parlor entertainment that was popular in Manhattan’s early 20th century, when magicians and the like were invited into the homes of wealthy patrons to delight friends and family. This event feels like you’ve stepped back in time before iPhones, when an audience is captivated by entertainers.
Cohen earned a psychology degree from Cornell University and studied at Waseda University in Tokyo. He also holds the rank of Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, awarded by The Magic Circle in London. His tricks are nothing short of mind-blowing, working his way through a series of complicated mind readings, conjuring, and a favorite: the Think-a-Drink trick. Part of what makes the show so compelling is that, in addition to the magic, Cohen’s charismatic personality captivates the audience with his storytelling and comedy. The magician has performed for Warren Buffet, Martha Stewart, Tracy Morgan, Buzz Aldrin, Stephen Sondheim, the Queen of Monaco, and royal family members, to name a few.
Chamber Magic is held twice every Friday and Saturday. Shows take place at Lotte New York Palace hotel. Tickets start at $125; get them here.
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