By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Zak Mirz has turned fatherhood into a magic act. A first-generation American, Mirz was just one year old when his father was murdered while closing his Italian restaurant in Texas. Mirz's first special, "Ticket for One," was a love letter to his father. Now with a daughter of his own, Mirz has again incorporated fatherhood into his new special, "Flashes of Magic," which he will be performing at the Crest Theater on Friday, June 7 at 7 p.m.
"This new tour is me becoming a father and having a daughter in my life," Mirz said. "The whole show is about becoming a father. The greatest magic trick you can ever give to yourself is seeing the world through the lens of a child, full of curiosity, awe, and wonder. It's magic."
Mirz's father was born in Iran, and his mother was born in Afghanistan. They moved to the United States to live the American Dream. That dream was cut short when Mirz was just one, but he never learned the truth about his father until he was eight.
"When you found out, you're sad and depressed," said Mirz. "For me, I wanted to keep the death of my father a secret. Magic was the perfect art form for me to run to because it's an art form all about secrets."
Around that time, Mirz was watching an Iranian television station at his grandmother's house when a David Blaine special came on. Mirz's future gained clarity.
"It was very unusual to see an American magician pop up," he said. "We're just watching it and we're all fascinated. It was the first time I saw magic, and I was telling myself that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. So I did."
Mirz recently appeared on The CW's "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" series where he fooled the famed Las Vegas comedians. As a prize, he will close out a Penn & Teller show on May 30 in Las Vegas. He also served as a magic advisor for Blaine's 2020 special, "The Magic Way."
"Magic is a very small world," Mirz said. "We rub elbows a lot with the people who got us started in magic. It's like a David Blaine thing to do. He got my number and Facetimed me. I picked up and it was David Blaine on a motorcycle in L.A. traffic. He was like, 'I'm doing a new TV special for ABC. I heard you do a thing with knives and I want you to teach it to me.'"
Knives have become one of Mirz's specialties. The tool was on full display when he fooled Penn & Teller.
"If you ask magicians what's the first thing that pops into their mind when they think of me, it's probably knives," he said. "I'm known as 'The Knife Guy' in the magic industry, but I'm more known for the storytelling in magic. The magic show isn't just a magic show, it's a journey I take the audience on, from me being a child who struggled, and also redemption and what it means for their lives as well."
"Flashes of Magic," will feature all new tricks crafted by Mirz and shaped into a story. He estimates only one or two out of every 100 ideas actually make it to the stage in one of his shows.
"Sometimes I'll really love the magic trick," he said. "I feel like it's a very strong magic trick to show to people. What I try to do is figure out the story behind it. What is the story and what am I trying to tell the audience? What is the music we're going to create for this? It's not just a trick, it's a whole experience when you create something."
"Flashes of Magic" is a family-friendly show that will require some assistance from audience members. Tickets begin at $20 with discounts for children under the age of 12 or seniors over the age of 65. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.