On the “Turn of the Century,” he said, “It was an amazing and fantastic experience. It was a lot of pressure, since I was also creative director for the show. When it was all said and done, we had surpassed all records for any magic show in the history of Broadway. From Christmas to New Year’s, the producers pointed out that it made 2.5 million dollars, so that was a nice feather in the cap, to know that the show did very well. The best was having our family live there for Christmas. It was great.”
Regarding his future plans, he said, “There are a lot of things going on. The ‘Turn of the Century’ show will probably not tour. That show will still play though. I’m still working for their company, and I’ve involved with that. We just did a Disney cruise, and we are working on a big Halloween production locally here in Reno. I am also doing some consulting work for a well-known TV show.”
In 1998, Kalin & Jinger were voted magic industry’s highest honor, “Magicians of the Year,” by the coveted Academy of Magical Arts. “That was two years ago,” he said, with a loud guffaw. “It was based on the ‘Carnival of Wonders,’ which we had produced. We were recognized for that show, and Jinger was properly recognized with that award equal to myself. At the time, it was generally awarded to the male, and the female partner was not recognized. So it was pretty cool to be honored by the Academy since it is the highest award in magic.”
On the key to longevity in magic, he underscored the importance of a commitment to growth and re-invention. “Both Jinger and I have been in this business for a long time. What has kept us relevant and employed is reinvention and exploring new roads. You need to create new magic, and just a commitment to excellence: a commitment to looking forward and not back. Creating new magic is a vital piece of the puzzle,” he said.
Digital Journal chatted with Jinger back in November of 2016, prior to their “Turn of the Century” Broadway show.
To learn more about Kalin & Jinger, check out their official website and Facebook page.
