You can do magic

Celebrity entertainers such as David Copperfield and David Blaine are probably the first names that run through many people’s minds when they think of magicians or illusionists. But it doesn’t take a Las Vegas stage or highly publicized television stunt to convey feats of wonder and spectacle. Mark Kalin and Jinger Leigh have been performing their Real Magic show at the Magic Underground space at Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts for a couple of years now, taking audiences back to a time when magic shows were staged in smaller venues and relied more on artistry than high-tech special effects. While Kalin & Jinger have starred in big-budget magic shows such as Carnival of Wonders and Illusionarium and TV specials on NBC and FOX, the husband-and-wife team prefer to keep the atmosphere of Real Magic in a more intimate, theatrical setting. Audience participation is also an important part of their show, such as in tricks like “Sawing a Kid in Half.” On Wednesday, May 24, the duo will perform a sample of their repertoire at two local libraries. They will appear at 3:30 p.m. at Duncan/Traner Community Library, 1650 Carville Drive, 333-5134, and later that evening at 6:30 p.m. at Sierra View Library inside the Reno Town Mall, 4001 S. Virginia St., 827-3232. Call 324-6007 for information on Real Magic showtimes at the Magic Underground.