The June issue of Genii is now live online!

On a recent trip to Japan I was able to spend many hours with Akira Fujii to bring you this month’s cover story. Akira has been on Japanese television many times over the years, so we have lots of video in our digital edition. He’s also given us some very fine sleight-of-hand miracles, including two of the best Passes I’ve ever seen, which have been described in detail by Stephen Hobbs. Not many people can adequately write clear descriptions of intricate sleight of hand, so I was deeply thankful when Hobbs heeded my call for help. There are video demonstrations of the magic as well—go and watch the videos of him doing two truly invisible Passes.

The House Theatre of Chicago has become an institution in that city, presenting many plays—some of which regularly include or are about magic and magicians—for the past 15 years. As a legitimate theater, it has won many awards and continues to be a bright light in Chicago’s live performance scene. Neil Tobin takes us on a tour of the parts of the company’s repertoire that interest us, introducing us to Dennis Watkins, the House Theatre’s resident wizard.

The 49th annual Academy of Magical Arts Awards Show took place at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles in April (which just goes to show how long our lead time on Genii is). Gene Anderson was the M.C., with various acts including Den Den, Ma Yan Yan, Joseph Gabriel (very fine dove work—you can see that he’s been doing the act for decades), and Jorge Blass. Talk about being nominated an embrassing number of times without winning (13!), our own John Lovick finally hit the jackpot.

I’m in an Odgen Nashy mood this month
With the coming of much-missed Spring
I suppose that’s why my column has
A strangely poetic zing.

In “Chamber of Secrets,” Mister Gaughan
Finds tricks that give and take
His incubator gives a bird
A change to a pancake.

Then Steinmeyer has a psychic thought,
A poem is all it takes,
Three letters, picked by anyone.
But how, for goodness sakes!

Some “Collaboration” with Eugene
The subject of his report.
This Burger likes to hold the fries,
While he is holding court.

David Kaye, who’s just a kid,
Celebrates the fabled circus.
Farewell to all the elephants,
Who leave history just to irk us.

“Invisible Strings” are pulled again,
With Helder’s best regard.
Here’s a stack that proves a real surprise,
With exactly two of every card.

Bob Read’s research, a treat to read,
Explains the thimble rigging,
The history of Holmes and Doyle,
The result of all his digging.

Though Knights still roam the Castle halls,
Each month it seems the same.
We’re told this guy was “crushing it,”
And we’re told a brand new name.
Of their sometimes drunken spectators
We never hear a peep.
But if anyone utters an off-color line,
Then Facebook starts to weep.

Jon Pendragon tells a sad, sad tale,
More truth than some may want.
But remember, he’s now survived it all,
And is happy in Vermont.

David Britland understands
The adage less is more:
Ben Earl’s book and DVDs,
They’re what you’ve waited for!

Nate Marsh’s column, believe it or not,
You’ll read it in a snap,
But Dani DaOrtiz has spent hours and hours
Obsessing about his lap.

Another Danny, this one Orleans
Offers tricks, this month a bunch,
But Héctor Mancha’s “Kung Foo Foot,”
Is not suitable for brunch.

Tom Stone has missed his deadline,
But next month we’ll have his genius,
So you’ll get your fifty-eight bucks worth,
And can pretend you’ve never seen this.

Don’t bother sending your complaints,
You must ignore mistakes here.
Next month, I’m going back to prose.
And I’ll leave the poetry to Shakespeare.

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How very clever! Thank you!