Jeff Sheridan
Encyclopedia
Jeff Sheridan is an American
magician who started his career by specializing in street magic
. Sheridan began working in New York City
around 1967. He studied briefly at the School of the Visual Arts in NYC in the late 1960s. He authored the 1977 book, Street Magic, An Illustrated History of Wandering Magicians and Their Conjuring Arts. The book was coauthored by Edward Claflin.
Sheridan is best known for his card manipulation
s, and for his silent avant-garde style of performance which he self created in NY's Central Park. He is a pioneer at making a living at magic purely by working the street, and was well known as the Central Park
magician performing at the Walter Scott statue in NYC in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s.
In 1970 Sheridan co-founded the Theatre of the Surreal, a performance troupe that utilized magical technique to create living surreal vignettes. The troupe, that included Fonja DeVrie and Donald Waskover (co-founder), performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Recital Hall, early SoHo galleries and other venues in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
He is also a magic inventor, creating for the major U.S. toy company Milton Bradley's Magic Works line of magic, as well for the Tenyo
company of Japan. . Sheridan is well known in the magic community, now lectures on the circuit as well selling his DVDs. He was a teacher of Las Vegas
magician Jeff McBride
and David Kotkin who used the ideas and tricks taught by Sheridan to later become known as David Copperfield
. Jeff Sheridan also authored in 1982 'Nothings Impossible, Stunts to Entertain and Amaze' published by Lothrop Lee and Shepard. The book was illustrated with photographs by NY based performing arts photographer Jim Moore.
Since the 1990s, he has lived mostly in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, performing frequently at the Tigerpalast, Germany's leading varieté theater. In recent years, he has increasingly devoted his energies to combining magic and surrealist art, incorporating his own artwork into his performances as a magician. In 2007 and 2008, there have been exhibitions of his artwork in NYC and Frankfurt. His one man show in Germany was a collection of his surrealist objects that were tied thematically to his magic work. His sculptures were shown at the NY gallery Francis Nauman Fine Arts in 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
magician who started his career by specializing in street magic
Street magic
Street magic falls into two genres; traditional street performance and guerrilla magic.- Traditional street performance :The first definition of street magic refers to a traditional form of magic performance - that of busking. In this, the magician draws an audience from passers by and performs an...
. Sheridan began working in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
around 1967. He studied briefly at the School of the Visual Arts in NYC in the late 1960s. He authored the 1977 book, Street Magic, An Illustrated History of Wandering Magicians and Their Conjuring Arts. The book was coauthored by Edward Claflin.
Sheridan is best known for his card manipulation
Card manipulation
Card magic is the branch of conjuring that deals with creating magical effects using a deck of playing cards. Card magic is commonplace in magical performances, especially in close up magic or parlor magic and street magic. Some of the most recognized names in this field include John Scarne, Juan...
s, and for his silent avant-garde style of performance which he self created in NY's Central Park. He is a pioneer at making a living at magic purely by working the street, and was well known as the Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
magician performing at the Walter Scott statue in NYC in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s.
In 1970 Sheridan co-founded the Theatre of the Surreal, a performance troupe that utilized magical technique to create living surreal vignettes. The troupe, that included Fonja DeVrie and Donald Waskover (co-founder), performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Recital Hall, early SoHo galleries and other venues in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
He is also a magic inventor, creating for the major U.S. toy company Milton Bradley's Magic Works line of magic, as well for the Tenyo
Tenyo
Tenyo Ltd. is a toy manufacturer in Tokyo, Japan. They specialize in magical goods and jigsaw puzzles.The name of the company originates from the founder's father, Shokyokusai Tenyo, who was a magician.- History :...
company of Japan. . Sheridan is well known in the magic community, now lectures on the circuit as well selling his DVDs. He was a teacher of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
magician Jeff McBride
Jeff McBride
Jeff McBride is an American magician from Monticello New York. He is known for his sleight of hand skills and specializes in the manipulation of playing cards, coins, and other small objects. His stage performances blend elements of kabuki, a Japanese theater form, with traditional conjuring...
and David Kotkin who used the ideas and tricks taught by Sheridan to later become known as David Copperfield
David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
. Jeff Sheridan also authored in 1982 'Nothings Impossible, Stunts to Entertain and Amaze' published by Lothrop Lee and Shepard. The book was illustrated with photographs by NY based performing arts photographer Jim Moore.
Since the 1990s, he has lived mostly in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, performing frequently at the Tigerpalast, Germany's leading varieté theater. In recent years, he has increasingly devoted his energies to combining magic and surrealist art, incorporating his own artwork into his performances as a magician. In 2007 and 2008, there have been exhibitions of his artwork in NYC and Frankfurt. His one man show in Germany was a collection of his surrealist objects that were tied thematically to his magic work. His sculptures were shown at the NY gallery Francis Nauman Fine Arts in 2007.