Mario the Maker Magician. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Fresh off a sold-out Off-Broadway run and recently featured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Mario the Maker Magician is bringing his one-of-a-kind, high-energy show to Guild Hall! Robots and magic and slapstick… oh my!
Contagiously upbeat and full of heart, Mario leads audiences through a romping explosion of energy and belly laughs, punctuated with moments of genuine emotion that will catch you by surprise. Not just a kids’ show, this is an all-ages theater experience—for adults, kids, families… everyone!
With appearances on Sesame Street, Universal Kids, and live on tour with David Blaine (who calls him “the best kids’ magician in the world!!”), Mario blends DIY robotics, classic vaudeville, and mind-blowing magic into an unforgettable performance.
The fun starts early with an arts & crafts workshop with our friends at CMEE starting at 3:30 pm. Pre-Show workshops are free for all KidFEST ticket holders.
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MARIO THE MAKER MAGICIAN
Mario "the Maker Magician" Marchese is a New York-based performer, author, and maker, touring worldwide with his self-titled, all-ages theater show. He infuses DIY electronics and robotics into his work and uses magic to inspire kids and families to make and create without limitation. The show took home the coveted "Best Kids & Family" Award from Adelaide Fringe 2024 and recently completed a sold out Off-Broadway run at SoHo Playhouse in New York City, culminating in an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.Mario has also appeared on Sesame Street, Universal Kids, HGTV, and live on tour opening for David Blaine, who calls Mario "the best kids magician in the world!!" Mario is also the author of two magic books: The Maker Magician's Handbook and Robot Magic, the latter of which boasts a foreword by David Copperfield.It's a family business, through and through. The "Mario the Maker Magician" brand is a collaborative effort between Mario, his wife, Katie, and their two children, Gigi and Bear (the real bosses.) They tour together, invent together, learn together, and dream together, always.Honors:
2024 • Offies Off West End Awards • nomination for performance in theatre for young audiences
2024 • Magicana • Allan Slaight Sharing Wonder Award
2024 • Academy of Magical Arts & Magic Castle • Creative Fellowship
2024 • Dai Vernon Foundation • Don Wayne Award for Creativity
2024 • Adelaide Fringe • Best Kids & Family Show
2021 • International Brotherhood of Magicians • Presidential Honor
2021 • Kids' Entertainer Fest • Hall of Fame Inductee
2020 • Penguin Magic • Lecture of the Year
Sponsors
Moby’s East Hampton is the 2025 KidFest restaurant partner.
Performing Arts programming is supported in part by funding from Galia Meiri-Stawski and Axel Stawski, Henry and Peggy Schleiff, The Melville Straus Family Endowment, and Monica and Peter Tessler. Music Programming is supported in part by The Ellen and James S. Marcus Endowment for Musical Programming.
Additional support provided by Friends of the Theater: John and Joan D’Addario, Natascia Ayers and Jim Ciquera, Christine and Bill Campbell, Gabrielle and Gianpaolo de Felice, Lena Kaplan, Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan, Michèle and Steve Pesner, The Schaffner Family Foundation, Lisa Schultz and Ezriel Kornel, Jayne Baron Sherman and Deborah Zum, Stacey and Oliver Stanton, Leila Straus, Susi and Peter Wunsch, and Andrew Yuder and Kyle Glaeser.
