When he was just four-years-old Antonio Díaz was given a magic book that transformed the course of his life. In an instant the boy from Badia del Vallès, a town outside Barcelona, became enchanted with magic and illusions. “I became obsessed with sleight of hand,” says Díaz. “I practiced with cards and coins for hours and hours.”
He credits the book for not only teaching him magic and card skills but for igniting this fierce inner desire within him to be persistent and patient with practicing. “I read better because of this book,” says Díaz. “I wanted to understand everything.”
Díaz, whose goes by the name “El Mago Pop” would go on to be a sensation performing his illusionist show throughout Europe. His productions are so successful they have been seen by close to three million theatergoers.
His Netflix specials, Magic for Humans and La Gran Ilusion, have been broadcast in nearly 200 countries. He even owns the theater Teatre Tívoli in Barcelona where he does his shows. Plus the Barcelona-based Level Airlines have adorned its Airbus A330 with his image and logo.
Just this month, after a sold out engagement at Branson Magic Theater, a Missouri theater that he also owns, El Mago Pop opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theater. Díaz describes the show as a “celebration of life, happiness and joy.”
Without giving too much away, Díaz, 37, performs how-did-he-do-that teleportation, levitation and astonishing card tricks. “For a boy from a small town in Barcelona, being on Broadway is the closest thing to stepping on the moon. That is my biggest dream,” he says. “I believe magic is a metaphor of life. It reminds you that anything is possible.”
Jeryl Brunner: You have mentioned that you are learning English by watching Friends. Is that still the case?
Antonio Díaz: Yes. I have an amazing English teacher and I study a lot by watching friends. It’s my favorite TV show. So I spend a lot of time studying English and watching that show.
Brunner: If someone would have told that four-year-old child that one day you would be on Broadway, owning your own theaters, what would you say?
Díaz: I would not believe it. It’s so crazy. But I am very motivated to succeed here. My dream was always to come to Broadway.
Brunner: When you are faced with a show like this, how do you decide what illusions to include?
Díaz: I want to do what seems impossible. I also look at very impactful illusions. When I choose a new trick I think it’s going to be the best in the show. And then the next week I think this next trick will be the best in the show. And that’s how I try to improve the show each day. My goal is to make the impossible possible and build a love story with Broadway.
Brunner: You own your own theaters in Barcelona and Branson. What inspires you to be so entrepreneurial?
Díaz: Love inspires me. Because I love theaters. I imagine myself getting old and producing shows. That’s how I picture myself. It’s also about freedom. If I have a theater and someday, if nobody cares about me, I’ll have a theater and can continue to do shows.
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