Comedian‑magician Justin Willman has played stages across the country, but Phoenix holds a particular draw. The St. Louis native says stepping in front of Valley audiences feels uncannily familiar — almost like performing for people he grew up with.
“It almost feels like a hometown crowd, even though I’m not from Phoenix,” Willman says. “I have so many friends and family who have ended up in Phoenix. Phoenix always feels like the perfect cross‑section of America.”
That comfort — and the city’s reliably enthusiastic audiences — is why Willman chose Phoenix’s historic Celebrity Theatre as the site of his next comedy‑magic special, taping Friday, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Oct. 10. The venue’s in‑the‑round layout, he says, is both a challenge and an opportunity.
“It felt like the perfect place to shoot a special, plus the Celebrity Theatre is historic in the comedy world,” he said. “It’s in the round and there’s really no other venue like it. As a magician, it’s risky with the in‑the‑round stage. It’s so intimate, and my show leans on the audience being a part of it.”
Audience participation is central to Willman’s act. Each night, five or six people are pulled into the show by catching frisbees he tosses into the crowd. Those volunteers often become unexpected scene partners.
“I have to go out of my way to make sure everyone is aware that I don’t know anybody who’s coming up on stage, just because people are suspicious when amazing stuff happens,” he said. “Those people really become co‑stars in the show. It’s a little daunting — it all comes down to who catches the first frisbee that night. But Phoenix never disappoints.”
Willman’s path to magic began with an accident. At 12, he broke both arms in a bike crash. His doctor suggested card tricks as physical therapy. That was, indeed, a strange prescription that changed his life.
“If it didn’t turn out right, it’s grounds for malpractice for sure,” he said with a laugh. “But it was one of those early life lessons that everything happens for a reason. What might seem like a speed bump could be exactly what you needed.”
Growing up in St. Louis, Willman was surrounded by a robust magic community. He saw Harry Blackstone Jr. perform at the Fox Theater as a child, followed by David Copperfield and Penn & Teller. Local magicians like Randy Kalin and Harry Monti became early mentors.
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