Kirby VanBurch Magic Show - News and Press Releases

The 2008 Merlin Award goes to…

2008-08-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

By Nancy Smith

(Branson, MO – July 1, 2008) The Merlin Award for Magician of the Year is similar to an Oscar for actors. Harry Blackstone, Doug Henning, Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, Criss Angel, Darren Romeo, Brett Daniel, and Kirby VanBurch have all won the coveted statue.
Last year, Bambi VanBurch won the Merlin for Female Magician of the Year, and stood along-side her husband, a former Merlin recipient, who was named Entertainer of the Year. At a VIP special show on Tuesday, July 1, Bambi was awarded her second consecutive Merlin, when Tony Hassini, Chairman and CEO of the International Magicians Society (IMS) honored her as the Female Magician of the Year for 2008 as well.

Bambi was drawn to tears by the support, and said, “Thank you to my husband. You are the best teacher I ever had, and I love you.”

The IMS touts over 37,000 members worldwide, and according to the Guiness Book of World Records, is the world’s largest magic society. Meeting the criteria for the Merlin is not easy, as the magician must show talent, showmanship, originality, skills, and the rare ability to entertain under any condition. The statue was commissioned to over 100 art students at New York University and the winning design was carved and created in 1969 by NYU art student Carol Michard.

In this year’s show, Bambi and Kirby trade off performing grand as well as more intimate illusions on stage. After 15 years in Branson, Kirby still makes the show fresh with new illusions, such as removing a girl’s head from her body and moving it to another place, then putting it back with the girl unharmed. He also thrills the audience with tigers and pumas. Throughout the show the duo repeatedly explains to the audience that these are just illusions, not real.

Bambi’s show repertoire consists of illusions where she makes a unicorn disappear, she suddenly disappears from an on-stage chair and reappears in the statue of King Tut, switches the heads of a chicken and a duck, and performs magical Origami, the art of folding a box which contains a person, pierces the box with swords and then reverses the process.

One of the favorite Bambi illusions follows the mind-reading footsteps of Madam Shipaleski. Blindfolded and turned around, she names items held up by audience members, very seldom ever missing one. She even names motel room key room numbers, names of individuals, amount of change in a pocket and money in a billfold.

Don’t worry, Kirby still goes out in the audience looking for a “Kid” to help him with his Houdini style passing through a mirror trick. Adding the suffix-anator to the child’s name that he has chosen, Kirby does a little routine as he has done for many years, and has actually established a lasting relationship with many of the volunteers. One child now grown-up, Rob Lake, came up on stage to help Kirby when he was seven years old – a life-changing experience for him. In May of this year, the Rob-anator received his first Merlin award, on the stage where it all started, standing beside his mentor, Kirby VanBurch.

Kirby quit school, and never graduated, due to a difficult learning disability, dyslexia. Now he has become a celebrated teacher, not just once, but twice!
Congratulations Bambi, Rob, and Kirby for your coveted accomplishments.

Magician with a Message

2008-06-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

Randall Murphree - Guest Columnist for American Family Association (AFA)

Kirby VanBurch quit school after eighth grade and set out to be a professional magician. Most would have predicted folly and failure for the young dreamer from Houston, Texas, but it seems his life was, shall we say, charmed.

Now, don't be put off by the jargon. Onstage today, in the world's largest magic show, Kirby addresses the issue of the illusions he performs and clearly articulates his Christian faith. Click here to read the rest of Kirby (and Bambi’s) story.

Magic Still Thrives In Branson

2008-06-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

The Linking Ring gives you the update on Branson’s Magic Scene. Click here for the story which features Branson’s Longest Running Magic Show – Kirby & Bambi VanBurch.

10 Most-Beautiful Finalist: Bambi VanBurch

2008-06-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

Age: 30
Occupation: Producer for The Kirby & Bambi VanBurch Show.
Background: Bambi is from Peoria, Illinois, and has been living in 417-land for eight years. She resides in Branson with her husband, Kirby VanBurch. Her parents are Robert and Elaine Hoffman, and her sister is Shannon Powell. Click Here to read more

417 Magazine is looking for the 10 most beautiful women in 417-land, and it's your job to decide who they are. You nominated them last spring, and we picked 20 finalists. Now it's your turn again. Click Here to cast your vote for the most beautiful now!

International Magicians Society presents Merlin Awards to Kirby VanBurch & Bambi VanBurch

2008-03-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

(Westbury, New York - Wednesday, March 21, 2007) - Bambi VanBurch is awarded the coveted Merlin Award as Female Magician of the Year 2007 and Kirby VanBurch is awarded the coveted Merlin Award as The Entertainer of the Year 2007 by the International Magicians Society, the Largest Magic Organization in the World, as recorded in the Guinness World Records, with over 37,000 members worldwide.

Bambi and Kirby VanBurch join previous winners Penn and Teller, David Copperfield, Siegfried & Roy, Doug Henning, and Harry Blackstone as recipients of the most prestigious award given in the World of Magic.

Kirby VanBurch is no stranger to receiving awards. He has received the coveted Merlin Award as The Magician of the Year 2001 at the International Magicians Society's Gala Merlin Award Presentation at the Venetian in Las Vegas!

In the profession of magic, the Merlin Award is the equivalent of the Oscar for film, the Emmy for television, and the Tony for theater. It is presented only to those entertainers who have achieved the highest level in their craft on an International Global Consideration. The voting members begin with approximately one hundred names and narrow the list down to a select few. The criteria considered for a winner include talent, showmanship, originality, skills, and above all, the rare ability to entertain under any conditions. "All these attributes describe the VanBurch duo right down to the charisma and stage presence that makes them the world class entertainers that they are," said Tony Hassini, Chairman/CEO of the International Magicians Society.

The VanBurch duo received their Merlin Awards on Saturday evening, March 24, 2007, in Branson, Missouri at their own theater. The Merlin Award was presented by Mr. Hassini, who flew in from Las Vegas for the presentation.

For more info about the International Magicians Society, please go to http://www.magicims.com/.