Akron, Ohio is magic.

We have said it for years.  Usually it seems out of context but today, finally, it actually matches the rest of our message.

You may know Akron for its proud industrial history – The Rubber Capital of the World with B.F. Goodrich Tire, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Firestone Tire and General Tire all having a historic role in turning the former canal town into a global manufacturing hub.  Or you may know it for the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame, the All-American Soap Box Derby or even as the birth place of Alcoholics Anonymous, oatmeal and artificial fishing bait.

And now, Akron is home to The Illusionists – Witness the Impossible as it readies for its run on Broadway.  The cast and crew have been quartered in Akron perfecting the show before moving to New York City.  They will try it out for audience in Akron Wednesday and Thursday at the University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall.

The show has had a 10-day pre-production schedule in preparation for its six-week Broadway run and 30-city U.S. tour.  The show may be new to Akron and Broadway but many of the magicians have been performing together in earlier iterations of the spectacle over the last two years in Australia, Mexico, Latin America, South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Who is in the cast?  Funny you should ask.  We have it on good authority that the seven magician are: Kevin James, Dan Sperry, Yu Ho-Jin, Andrew Basso, Aaron Crow and Jeff Hobson.

We love living in West Hollywood for its sunshine, proximity to places where they sell baked goods for domestic animals and The Magic Castle, but wish we were back in Mystic Hollow, Michigan for the short drive down to Akron.  Akron is always magic but this week will be even more so.

Visit their ticket site if you are in the Akron area.  There are just a few seats left.

Read more about their pre-Broadway prep in  The Akron Beacon-Journal here.