Imagine a nearly empty stage with a single spotlight shining on a rather distressed-looking character.  He stands tightly bound in a canvas strait jacket.  With lyrical, haunting music, he begins to move, attempting gracefully but forcefully to remove his restraint.  It appears that he may be progressing successfully, until something goes horribly wrong.  This is the darker, theatrical magic of Francis Menotti.

  What you have just read describes an act that has turned the heads of magicians and lay-audience alike across the country and around the world.  It is one of many original vignettes of Francis Menotti's creative mind, in an attempt to push the limits of what can be done as a "magician" on stage.

   In addition to his devotion to providing academic and corporate clients with the best of astonishing, entertaining magic, Francis dedicates a great deal of energy to writing theatrical productions and performance art, using magic as a medium to express philosophical and sometimes disturbing or emotional messages.

   His most recent work is entitled Stranger than Fiction, a 70-minute play that consists of selections from Francis' repertoire of original material including:  Dire Straits (his signature strait jacket vignette, seen on the left) and Exdislycally Shunuffled  (a linguistic card trick) This show has been produced in Philadelphia and Largo, Florida.  Directed by J. Nathan Bazzel.

Other projects have included:  

Cerebral Sorcery, a semi surreal show written by magicians David London and Francis Menotti. Definitely a show that will induce thinking.  First produced in Chicago in 2001, then in Philadelphia in 2002.

Parallax, a show that has undergone many changes since its origin as a mere idea in 1997.  First produced in Philadelphia in October, 2000, this show comprises a series of magical vignettes with Francis Menotti and his performance partner Randy Shine, as well as juggling partner David Smith.  Each show is a blend dark of comedy with occasional social commentary (sometimes quite visual, violent or startling!)  The show has run 3 times in Philadelphia, including for the 2001 Philadelphia Fringe Festival.

The Heart and Soul of Magic!  Co-produced with Randy Shine, this show was the first all-African American magician show in Philadelphia.  Celebrating the great diversity in magic throughout the United States (and the world!), the show was so successful that we have since produced it 4 more times both in and outside of the Philadelphia area!  For more information on the new show, "The Heart and Soul of Magic," email us!