Penguin Live Online Lecture – Rob Zabrecky
If you could ask ONE question to one of the world's most innovative professional magicians, what would it be?
Actor
As a television actor he has appeared on CSI: NY, The Mentalist, Brothers & Sisters and in several episodes of MTV's ROOM 401. In theater, he graduated from the Associate Program at Theatre West, where he has appeared in theatrical adaptations of the television classic, The Twilight Zone and other productions. In addition to television and theater, he has appeared in several short films and in a variety of commercials for a wide range of companies including Comcast, Denny's, the Humane Society, Kia, Oliver Peoples, Scion, Swedish Fish and Tanqueray.
Magician
After his music career ended Zabrecky has worked throughout the United States and Japan as a magician. He is best known for performances in which he combines irreverent dark humor and mentalism. Since 2002 he has been a regular performer at the Magic Castle. In 2003 he formed the off-beat magic trio, The Unholy Three in the basement of that establishment by presenting a provocative Dada-esque combination of wizardry, mentalism and off-beat humor. In 2008, 2009, and 2010 The Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle named him among the top five magicians for his performances inside the club's Parlour of Prestidigitation.
Was host of Who’s Hoo, an on-line interview talk show for members of the Academy Arts at the Magic Castle, which he co-created with his wife, Tommi Zabrecky. Since airing in 2008, Zabrecky interviewed over 85 Magic Castle luminaries and performing members including co-founder Milt Larsen. Additionally, he occasionally performs with the performance art group The Mums.
In February 2009 after returning from a string of magic appearances in Japan, Zabrecky performed for Michael Jackson, four months before Jackson's death. He was hired to perform for Blanket's 7th birthday at Jackson's Holmby Hills home (A juggler and a hula-hoop artist also performed; there were no other party guests.) Zabrecky was only a few minutes into his act when a paparazzi helicopter buzzed loudly overhead. "In a split second, they each pulled out cloths and placed them over their heads." Once the chopper flew off, so did the coverings. "They sat there smiling and waiting for me to continue," he said. "They looked like four peas in a pod. It wasn't exactly Norman Rockwell, but it sure felt close."
In 2010 he performed at New York’s longest-running Off-Broadway magic show, Monday Night Magic.
In 2011, Magic Magazine described him as, "A unique persona, highly reminiscent of Norman Bates, with a bit of Rod Serling in the mix — a psycho from the Twilight Zone, doing magic. Whether performing the Diminishing Cards while spasmodically “dancing” off beat to the music, getting electrocuted, cutting paper into two-headed dolls, or introducing his 95-year-old grandfather — who turns out to be ashes in an urn — the results are both mystifying and amusing, fascinating and entertaining. One cannot help but wonder, however, just how much of the strange fellow onstage is the real Rob and how much is acted by design." He currently serves as one of the primary Seance Mediums in the Houdini Seance Room at the Magic Castle.
Musician
As the front man for Possum Dixon, Zabrecky became a notable figure in the early 1990s emerging Silver Lake independent music scene. During those years he wrote, recorded and performed with several musicians and producers including Beck, Earle Mankey, Tom Rothrock, Pleasant Gehman, Carla Bozulich, Tim O'Heir and others. In 1998, Zabrecky, with Possum Dixon released New Sheets, which would be the last album by the band. The LP, produced by Ric Ocasek, featured co-written material with Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Dave Stewart and Pat MacDonald. Shortly after the breakup of Possum Dixon he spent time singing for the Los Angeles art rock band, Human Hands and played bass in a Gun Club tribute band alongside original members Ward Dotson and Terry Graham. In early 2010 he appeared on-stage with Maria McKee at a fund raiser in Hollywood. The pair sang a duet to Lou Reed's Satellite of Love.
Auctioneer
He is a skilled auctioneer, trained by Bonhams auction house (known then as Butterfield & Butterfield), during the late 1990s. He has played an auctioneer on several television shows including "Brothers & Sisters" and "The Mentalist."
Print
Zabrecky has appeared in magazine and print advertisements for Cymbalta, Flaunt, Vogue Italia, Mercedes Benz, UNICEF and Oliver Peoples among others.
If you’ve never been to a magic lecture, there’s never been a better time. Sunday December 30th at 7:00pm, we’re live-streaming Rob Zabrecky in a spectacular 2-hour interactive online lecture. Watch, ask questions and learn things you won't find in any book or DVD.
