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Masters of Illusion, featuring some of the world's best magicians, will be performing at Paramount Hudson Valley at 1008 Brown St. in Peekskill at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Rick Thomas is one of the magicians performing in the show. A lifelong lover of magic, Thomas remembers always wanting to fly.
"I attempted to defy the laws of gravity, so I jumped off the roof of my home," Thomas said.
Thomas previously had his own show in Las Vegas, but has since decided to go on the road. Being on tour can be a grueling lifestyle, with Thomas getting to the venue at 8 a.m. and not getting back on the bus until after midnight.
"We'll stare at each other and say that was a good show," Thomas said. "It really makes us feel like we got something done. It never gets old."
The magician said he enjoys entertaining the crowd and making sure they have a good time.
"I love to hear people's responses," Thomas said.
Audience members are part of Thomas' show. He brings a husband and wife on stage for some magical couples therapy, and has audience members surround him when he cuts a girl in half.
"I want them to see that nothing is hidden," Thomas said.
When he's not sawing women in half, Thomas raises tigers at a reserve he has in Arizona.
"I'm happy that my secondary career involves saving an endangered species," Thomas said. "They are running in a valley and are very happy."
Thomas has seen magic evolved over the years from parlor magic being popular in the 1950s to grand illusions in the 1980s. Street magic took over in the 1990s and Thomas said he thinks grand illusions are back.
"I'm glad, that's my forte," Thomas said. "I didn't think street magic was progress."
Even though the Internet can help spoil how many tricks are done, Thomas said it's still easy to amazing an audience.
"It's not about the trick, it's about entertaining the audience," Thomas said. "If you create a strong show, it doesn't matter how the trick is done.
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