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Derek DelGaudio
Derek DelGaudio
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Derek DelGaudio is an American interdisciplinary artist, primarily known as a writer, performer and magician.

Key Information

He created the theater show In & Of Itself, directed by Frank Oz, and co-founded, along with artist Glenn Kaino, the performance-art collective A.BANDIT, which has staged interventions at Art L.A. Contemporary in Santa Monica, The Ball of Artists, Art Basel Miami, LA><ART, and The Kitchen in New York.[2] DelGaudio and Kaino also created The Mistake Room,[3] a platform for situation-specific projects, as well as The [Space] Between, a "conceptual magic shop".[4] They have also co-authored a book under the A.BANDIT name, A Secret Has Two Faces, containing interviews and stories from their careers in performance art and magic, as well as contributions from Marina Abramović, Ricky Jay, David Blaine and John Baldessari.[5]

In 2014, DelGaudio was selected Artist in Residence for Walt Disney Imagineering. He has also consulted for television and cinema projects including The Carbonaro Effect and The Prestige. He wrote and co-starred (with Hélder Guimarães) in the show Nothing to Hide, which was directed by Neil Patrick Harris and opened off-Broadway at the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City on October 23, 2013.[6]

Frank Oz directed a film version of In & Of Itself which was released on Hulu on January 22, 2021. DelGaudio's nonfiction book AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies was released in March 2021.[7][8]

In August 2021, Neal Brennan's one-man show, Unacceptable, debuted at New York City's Cherry Lane Theater, with DelGaudio as director.[9]

In 2022, DelGaudio made his feature film acting debut in Steven Soderbergh's thriller Kimi.

Reception

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In the 2017 New York Times Magazine profile of DelGaudio, journalist Jonah Weiner wrote:

DelGaudio devises performances that combine sleight-of-hand with more theoretical preoccupations drawn from performance art, conceptual art and what's known as relational aesthetics: a tributary of the first two in which spectators become indispensable, unpredictable participants in creating an artwork's meaning.[1]

Awards and honors

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References

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from Grokipedia
Derek DelGaudio is an American writer, performer, and magician renowned for blending illusion, storytelling, and personal narrative in his interdisciplinary works, particularly his acclaimed one-man show In & Of Itself. Born c. 1984 and raised in , by his mother, a gay , DelGaudio developed an early interest in during his teenage years, influenced by a local magic shop owner who became a surrogate father figure. His career trajectory shifted dramatically in his mid-20s when, at age 25, he worked as a "bust-out" in Beverly Hills, using his magic skills to cheat high-stakes players, an experience that later informed his exploration of , , and identity. DelGaudio's breakthrough came with collaborative and solo performances that elevated magic into thought-provoking theater. In 2013, he co-created and starred in Nothing to Hide with Helder Guimarães, a show that toured internationally and showcased his innovative approach to . His signature work, In & Of Itself, directed by , premiered in 2016 and ran for over 500 performances across New York and , earning widespread critical praise for its examination of self-identity through interactive illusions and monologues. A filmed version streamed on in 2020, further amplifying its reach. Earlier, he presented site-specific pieces like 184 Seconds in art galleries, drawing from influences such as and to fuse magic with . Among his notable achievements, DelGaudio has received multiple honors from the magic community, including two Academy of Magical Arts Awards and the Magician of the Year award in 2016. He also earned the 2017 Award for "Sharing Wonder" and a 2018 United Solo Special Award for his contributions to solo theater. As a , he published the Amoralman: A True Story and Other Lies in 2021, chronicling his poker-cheating days and philosophical reflections on truth and lies. DelGaudio has served as an for and co-founded the performance-art collective A.BANDIT with Glenn Kaino, staging works at venues like LACMA and . Based between and New York as of 2021, he continues to perform and has appeared in films such as Steven Soderbergh's Kimi (2022).

Early life

Childhood and family

Derek DelGaudio was born on May 6, 1984, in , and raised primarily in , by his single mother after his father disappeared before his birth. At the age of six, DelGaudio discovered that his mother was gay when he walked in on her kissing another woman, an event that profoundly shaped his early understanding of and family dynamics in the conservative, homophobic environment of small-town . This revelation led to emotional turmoil for the young DelGaudio, as he grappled with the need to protect his mother's identity amid societal , while the family adjusted to living with her partner, Jill, in a household marked by love but shadowed by concealment. His mother, depicted as a strong, honest, and communicative parent who became one of the first female firefighters in , navigated these challenges with resilience, though the era's stigma forced the family into a life where "next to food and water, had been a necessity." The environment, characterized by his absent father's mysterious vanishing and his mother's hidden sexuality, fostered DelGaudio's early fascination with secrets, , and illusions as mechanisms for and connection. These personal experiences influenced his interest in storytelling, as family narratives often revolved around unspoken truths and practical jokes—such as those his mother played on him—that blurred the lines between reality and fabrication.

Education and introduction to magic

At the age of 17 in 2001, DelGaudio moved from Colorado Springs to to enroll at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a conservatory focused on classical theater training. There, he immersed himself in techniques, temporarily setting aside his burgeoning interest in to pursue a formal education in performance. Upon graduating, however, he found the structured theatrical environment constraining and unfulfilling, prompting a return to where he began integrating his dramatic training to enhance illusions with narrative depth and emotional authenticity. DelGaudio's introduction to magic began in his early teens through self-directed study, devouring and instructional videos on while practicing for hundreds of hours in isolation to achieve fluid mastery. Guided informally by Walt, the owner of a local magic shop in Colorado Springs who served as a mentor figure, he developed a meditative approach to technique, prioritizing personal precision over public display.

Career

Early professional work

At the age of 17 in 2001, Derek DelGaudio moved from , to , , where he initially pursued theater studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts while beginning his professional career in . In the early , he booked private magic shows, leveraging his sleight-of-hand skills honed in his youth through . These gigs provided his entry into the entertainment industry, allowing him to perform for small audiences and build a reputation in Los Angeles' magic community. Around age 25, DelGaudio worked for six months as a "bust-out" in a private high-stakes game in a Beverly Hills mansion, using his sleight-of-hand techniques—such as second dealing and cold decking—to cheat players out of significant sums. This experience, which he later explored in his memoir Amoralman, marked a pivotal shift in his understanding of deception and influenced his future performances. In 2006, at age 22, DelGaudio served as a magic consultant on Christopher Nolan's film , where he provided expertise in sleight-of-hand techniques, working closely with actors and to ensure authentic depictions of and illusion. His contributions focused on the practical execution of magical effects central to the film's plot about rival magicians, marking one of his first high-profile consulting roles in cinema. DelGaudio later extended his consulting work to television, serving as a magic consultant and member for the hidden-camera prank series from 2014 to 2015. In this capacity, he helped develop illusions that blended everyday scenarios with deceptive , contributing to the show's signature style of surprising unsuspecting participants. During this period, DelGaudio began forming early performance routines that integrated with , moving beyond traditional tricks to explore themes of and identity through structured . A representative example was his 2011 piece "184 Seconds," a conceptual routine combining precise with introspective to challenge audience perceptions of reality. These early experiments laid the groundwork for his distinctive approach, emphasizing emotional resonance over mere spectacle.

Theater productions

Derek DelGaudio co-starred in the magic show Nothing to Hide alongside Hélder Guimarães, which opened on , 2013, at the Pershing Square Signature Center. The production, written by DelGaudio and directed by , featured a series of vignettes centered on sleight-of-hand card tricks that mocked traditional magic tropes while emphasizing subtlety and skill. With a minimalist set design by Dave Spafford consisting primarily of playing cards and no elaborate props, the show relied on the performers' precise movements and comedic timing to create moments of astonishment, such as cards sorting themselves by suit or vanishing through space. Audience interaction was limited, allowing viewers to engage passively through the visual illusions that unfolded on stage, culminating in a thematic exploration of and without direct participation. The run extended beyond initial plans, concluding on January 18, 2014, after more than 100 performances and recouping its $400,000 investment in just eight weeks. DelGaudio created and starred in In & Of Itself, a piece that debuted in 2016 at the in before transferring off-Broadway to the in New York, where it ran from late 2016 through August 19, 2018. Directed by , the show blended magic, storytelling, and philosophy, undergoing multiple extensions due to overwhelming demand, including a third extension announced in October 2017 that pushed the run to May 6, 2018, with further extensions following. The production's innovative set design, conceived by Glenn Kaino, resembled an immersive tour of DelGaudio's mind, featuring a wall of doors and lockers that served as portals for illusions and narrative shifts, enhanced by Mark Mothersbaugh's original score and dynamic lighting. Central to its themes of identity and self-perception, the show incorporated intense audience interaction, such as participants selecting and revealing personal "identity cards" that tied into DelGaudio's monologues on and authenticity, fostering a sense of communal revelation without relying on conventional tricks. DelGaudio's background in consulting for high-profile illusions informed the seamless integration of magic into these introspective elements, creating a psychodramatic experience that challenged viewers' understanding of reality. In 2021, DelGaudio stepped into the director's role for Neal Brennan's one-man show Unacceptable, which debuted in previews on August 25 at the in New York, officially opening on September 9 and extending through November 21 due to strong reception. The production, produced by Vanessa Lauren and Jake Friedman, featured scenic design by Anna Louizos, lighting by Adam Blumenthal, and sound by Kevin Heard, staging Brennan's blend of and personal narrative on a simple platform that allowed for fluid transitions between riffs and emotional disclosures. Under DelGaudio's direction, the show delved into themes of self-doubt, inadequacy, race, and , using deliberate pacing and object-based prompts to examine Brennan's perceived defects and societal "unacceptability," often through sharp one-liners and slow-motion sequences that heightened vulnerability. Audience interaction remained minimal, focusing instead on Brennan's direct address to provoke , with DelGaudio's guidance ensuring a balance between humor and raw honesty that mirrored his own performance philosophy.

Film and television contributions

DelGaudio's transition to screen media began with the special Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself, a filmed of his acclaimed production that premiered on January 22, 2021, and was directed by . The special explores themes of identity through illusion and , capturing intimate audience interactions in a theatrical setting reimagined for television. This project marked DelGaudio's first major foray into filmed performance, expanding the reach of his conceptual magic beyond live audiences. In 2022, DelGaudio made his feature film acting debut in Steven Soderbergh's thriller Kimi, where he portrayed Bradley Hasling, the CEO of the fictional tech company . Released on HBO Max, the film follows an agoraphobic data analyst uncovering corporate misconduct, with DelGaudio's character embodying the opaque authority of tech leadership amid escalating tension. Since 2014, DelGaudio has provided ongoing consulting services for television magic segments, notably as a magic consultant and member for on from 2014 to 2015. In this role, he helped design illusions and pranks for host Michael Carbonaro's hidden-camera series, blending sleight-of-hand with narrative deception to enhance the show's surreal humor. This work underscores his expertise in adapting magical techniques for broadcast formats. The Hulu special has seen continued screenings and revivals, including a notable event at the on November 24, 2024, where DelGaudio and director appeared in person to introduce the film as part of a on Oz's . These presentations highlight the enduring appeal of the production's innovative blend of performance and cinema.

Writing and artistic collaborations

DelGaudio published his memoir AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies on March 2, 2021, through Knopf, a division of . The book chronicles his personal journey from involvement in card cheating schemes to establishing himself as a professional performer, blending with explorations of and self-invention. It received praise for its engaging narrative on the interplay between truth and illusion in one's life story. In 2018, DelGaudio co-authored A.Bandit: A Secret Has Two Faces with conceptual artist Glenn Kaino, published by /DelMonico Books. The volume documents their collaborative experiments at the intersection of visual art and illusion, incorporating interviews with figures like and Tony Delap, as well as interactive elements that extend the work into performance. It emphasizes how and revelation shape both artistic and magical practices. DelGaudio co-founded the performance art collective A.Bandit with Glenn Kaino in 2011, focusing on interventions that merge with sleight-of-hand techniques. Their debut projects included site-specific works at Miami Beach in December 2011, such as Levitating the Fair (The Flying Merchant Ship), which disrupted the fair's commercial environment through illusory interventions. In October 2011, A.Bandit presented Experiments From The [Space] Between at The in New York, exploring perceptual boundaries in a theatrical setting. In 2014, DelGaudio served as at , where he contributed to the development of immersive experiences incorporating elements of magic and narrative illusion for theme park attractions. This role allowed him to apply his expertise in deception to large-scale, interactive environments.

Personal life

Relationships and influences

DelGaudio has been married to Vanessa since , with their relationship providing a stable personal anchor amid his explorations of deception and self-identity. In his Amoralman, he recounts living with at age 25 during a period of moral ambiguity involving card cheating, where her support was tempered by concerns for his safety, highlighting the trust and vulnerability central to their bond. Public details on their family life remain limited, reflecting DelGaudio's preference for privacy in personal matters post-2010s. Key influences from the magic community shaped DelGaudio's understanding of identity through layers of secrecy and revelation. As a teenager, he was mentored by Walter, the owner of a Colorado Springs magic shop, who introduced him to sleight-of-hand techniques and served as a surrogate , fostering his early fascination with as a means of control and escape. Later, Ronny, a seasoned card mechanic from , taught him advanced cheating methods but also shared personal scars from the life, warning of its isolating consequences and influencing DelGaudio's reflections on the ethical of in shaping one's sense of self. These mentorships, detailed in Amoralman, informed his broader themes of hidden truths and personal authenticity. DelGaudio's friendships with and Glenn Kaino extend beyond shared professional interests, rooted in personal affinities for performance and illusion. He met Oz in 2013 at a show, where their immediate stemmed from mutual appreciation for through , leading to a close bond that included social invitations like New Year's Eve gatherings. Similarly, his connection with Kaino, formed in 2008 as fellow amateur magicians frustrated by conventional magic's constraints, evolved into a deep camaraderie centered on exploring identity and everyday wonder, with Kaino later employing DelGaudio in after a pivotal life shift. These relationships reinforced DelGaudio's personal navigation of authenticity amid performative lives.

Philanthropy and residencies

In 2014, DelGaudio was appointed as at , a temporary role that allowed him to explore innovative techniques applicable to theme park experiences and immersive environments. This residency extended his artistic practice beyond traditional performance venues, emphasizing conceptual narrative design in collaboration with Disney's creative teams. DelGaudio has contributed to magic outreach and through his longstanding role as Director of Contemporary at the Conjuring Arts Research Center, a dedicated to preserving and promoting as an art form. Appointed in 2011, he interprets emerging trends in , supports archival efforts, and facilitates access to magical history for broader audiences, including through interpretive programs that bridge historical techniques with modern applications. His involvement underscores a commitment to democratizing , making its intellectual and cultural dimensions available beyond professional practitioners. DelGaudio's personal experiences, particularly growing up with a who came out as when he was six years old, have informed subtle advocacy for LGBTQ+ causes within his performances. In works like In & Of Itself, he incorporates stories of the discrimination they faced in conservative , such as a thrown through their due to his mother's sexuality, to explore themes of identity and . These narratives serve as quiet endorsements of visibility and empathy for families, drawing from his lived history without overt political .

Artistic style and themes

Magic and performance philosophy

Derek DelGaudio's performance philosophy centers on the concept of "truth in deception," where illusions serve not merely as entertainment but as vehicles for revealing deeper personal and existential insights. He employs sleight-of-hand techniques to underscore the interplay between honesty and fabrication, arguing that effective magic lies in using deception to communicate authentic experiences of the world. In this approach, DelGaudio views magic as a tool for exploring the subjectivity of truth, emphasizing that illusions can foster a shared understanding rather than mere trickery. Central to his method is the seamless integration of technical magic with personal storytelling, transforming traditional sleight-of-hand into narrative elements that reflect the performer's inner life. DelGaudio blends these skills to create monologues where illusions illustrate emotional or philosophical points, prioritizing emotional resonance over mechanical feats. This fusion allows him to reject conventional magic tropes—such as ostentatious reveals or audience bafflement—in favor of performances that probe existential themes like identity and perception. By eschewing the "magician" label, which he believes shifts focus to "what's the trick?", DelGaudio crafts experiences that challenge viewers to confront how self-conception is shaped by and . A key aspect of this philosophy is the use of audience participation to interrogate the illusion of self, as exemplified in the envelope mechanism from his production In & Of Itself. Here, participants select cards declaring personal identities (e.g., "I AM a "), which are then used to highlight discrepancies between internal self-narratives and external observations, fostering a exploration of . DelGaudio designs such interactions to generate "shared hallucinations," where the audience co-creates moments of genuine recognition, reinforcing his belief that magic's true power emerges from vulnerability and connection rather than isolation. This participatory element underscores his commitment to authenticity, using deception to affirm the fluidity of identity.

Interdisciplinary approach

Derek DelGaudio's interdisciplinary approach is exemplified by his co-founding of the collective A.BANDIT with conceptual artist Glenn Kaino around 2010, which fuses visual art with live performance to produce site-specific interventions that embed illusion within sculptural and experiential environments. Through A.BANDIT, DelGaudio and Kaino have staged works at venues such as LAxART, the County Museum of Art (LACMA), and Grand Arts, where magical elements interact with visual installations to create immersive, location-dependent narratives that blur the boundaries between art object and audience participation. This collaboration challenges traditional magic by integrating Kaino's conceptual sculptures—often involving themes of duplication and perception—with DelGaudio's sleight-of-hand techniques, resulting in performances that transform gallery spaces into interactive illusions, as documented in their 2018 publication A Secret Has Two Faces. In his solo works, DelGaudio blends writing with live to subvert audience expectations, employing personal anecdotes as a scaffold for deceptive reveals that question the reliability of narrative truth. For instance, in performances like In & Of Itself, he interweaves autobiographical vignettes—drawing from his own life experiences—with card tricks and effects, prompting viewers to confront how stories shape identity while the illusions expose the artifice beneath. This method extends to his 2021 AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies, where written mirrors the performative deceit, using fabricated elements to illuminate real ethical dilemmas from his past, thereby extending the stage's challenge to literary form. By layering over , DelGaudio creates a that demands active reinterpretation from the audience, distinguishing his output from straightforward magical demonstrations. DelGaudio's early theater training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in , beginning at age 17, profoundly influences his adoption of non-linear narratives within magic routines, allowing him to structure performances as fragmented monologues that prioritize emotional resonance over sequential plotting. This training informs the episodic, associative flow in works like In & Of Itself, where stories unfold through thematic echoes rather than chronology, using illusions to bridge disparate personal reflections and audience interactions into a cohesive yet disorienting whole. The result is a theatrical framework that elevates magic beyond technical display, employing non-linearity to mimic the complexity of memory and self-perception, as noted in critiques of the show's format.

Reception and legacy

Critical acclaim

Derek DelGaudio's stage production In & Of Itself, which premiered in 2016 and ran for 560 performances in New York from 2017 to 2018, received widespread critical praise for its innovative blend of magic, storytelling, and emotional introspection. described it as a "stealthily entrancing solo show" that explores how individuals perceive themselves and others, highlighting DelGaudio's "sly and artful deceptions and effects" as setting him apart from conventional magicians. Critics lauded its emotional depth, particularly in segments addressing , such as DelGaudio's recounting of discovering his mother's secret life, which elicited tears from audiences by probing themes of absence and self-perception. The 2020 film adaptation of In & Of Itself, directed by Frank Oz and released on Hulu in 2021, was similarly acclaimed for preserving the show's surreal intimacy while amplifying its emotional resonance through edited audience reactions. The New York Times noted how the film reframes classic magic tropes—like card tricks and mentalism—into profound explorations of existential questions such as "Who am I?", with viewers reporting rare emotional overwhelm akin to a "why factor" beyond mere wow. Variety praised it as a "magic show that can send attendees back into the world with a re-centered sense of self," emphasizing its empowering message and success in transforming audience introspection even in a solitary viewing format. IndieWire called the adaptation a "dazzling and poignant achievement," appreciating how it navigates the challenges of translating interactive stage magic to screen while maintaining DelGaudio's conceptual depth. DelGaudio's 2021 memoir AMORALMAN: A True Story and Other Lies garnered acclaim for its honest dissection of and , structured as successive parables drawing on his experiences as a card cheat. The New York Times hailed it as a "masterly memoiristic account," commending its candid reflection on the cost of truth—exemplified by the line, "My mother had taught me the value of truth, but she neglected to teach me the cost"—and its use of Plato's cave allegory to illuminate moral awakening. praised its lively narrative style, noting the "vivid sense" of the underworld and DelGaudio's raw admission of initial guiltlessness in his deceptions, which adds authenticity to his journey toward ethical clarity. In Steven Soderbergh's 2022 thriller Kimi, DelGaudio portrayed the CEO of the fictional Amygdala Corporation, a role critics viewed as a fitting extension of his background in illusion and performance. highlighted the "extremely Soderberghian decision" to cast him, linking it to his prior work in In & Of Itself and noting how his character embodies the film's themes of fabricated corporate realities. Variety pointed to his "hypnotically cryptic exchanges" as contributing to the thriller's suspenseful corporate intrigue, underscoring the adaptability of his subtle, enigmatic presence to the genre.

Cultural impact

DelGaudio's work has significantly popularized a form of "" narrative magic that intertwines illusion with personal storytelling, particularly through the 2021 Hulu release of In & Of Itself. The special, which explores the fluidity of identity via interactive performances and psychological insights, reached a wide , fostering broad discussions on self-perception and authenticity in everyday life. This exposure elevated beyond traditional tricks, positioning it as a medium for emotional accessible to mainstream audiences. His innovative blending of and has inspired contemporary to adopt similar interdisciplinary techniques, emphasizing over mere . Media analyses have underscored how DelGaudio's focus on identity illusions has contributed to post-2021 artistic movements centered on , particularly amid societal shifts following the . Outlets have noted the special's resonance in prompting viewers to confront constructed personas, influencing a wave of performative arts that blend with illusion to address isolation and reinvention. For instance, discussions in cultural reviews highlight its role in encouraging hybrid storytelling forms that aid collective processing of personal s in a disrupted world.

Awards and honors

Magic community recognitions

DelGaudio has received multiple honors from the Academy of Magical Arts (AMA), a prestigious organization dedicated to preserving and advancing the art of magic. In 2011 and 2012, he was awarded the Close-up Magician of the Year, recognizing his exceptional skill in intimate, sleight-of-hand performances. In 2016, DelGaudio earned the AMA's highest accolade, Magician of the Year, presented at the 49th Annual AMA Awards Show in 2017, highlighting his innovative contributions to the field and making him one of the youngest recipients of this honor. In 2017, DelGaudio received the Allan Slaight Award for "Sharing Wonder." In 2018, he received the FISM Special Award for Creativity and Artistic Vision. Within magic circles, DelGaudio is widely recognized for his innovative routines that blend deception with narrative depth, earning praise from prominent figures such as Penn & Teller. This esteem stems in part from his early career as a magic consultant, including work on high-profile projects like the film The Prestige.

Theater and film accolades

DelGaudio's collaborative magic show Nothing to Hide, co-created with Hélder Guimarães and directed by , earned a nomination for the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience in 2014, recognizing its innovative blend of sleight-of-hand illusions and narrative storytelling during its run at the Pershing Square Signature Center. His solo theater piece In & Of Itself, which premiered in 2016 and ran for over 500 performances, was nominated for the Special Award from the United Solo Theatre Festival in 2018. The filmed adaptation, directed by and released on in 2021, won the SXSW Adam Yauch Hörnblowér Award for Innovation at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival and was nominated for the Jury Award at the 2020 Philadelphia Film Festival, highlighting its successful translation of live theater to screen while preserving audience engagement elements. In his debut, DelGaudio portrayed the enigmatic CEO Bradley Hasling in Steven Soderbergh's 2022 thriller Kimi, earning praise for his commanding and nuanced supporting performance that added depth to the corporate amid the film's tense narrative; critics noted his ability to convey subtle menace, with one review describing it as an "impressive" turn that left a strong impression despite the role's brevity.

References

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