MASTERS OF MAGIC

Masters

of Magic Penn & Teller continue to amaze audiences with their hit Las Vegas residency

By Heather Turk

Twenty-one may be a lucky number while playing blackjack (saying, of course, the player is the one holding the cards), but luck had little to do with Penn & Teller recently celebrating 21 years at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

The longtime Las Vegas headliners are two of the hardest working magicians in the business, as proven by their hit production at the Rio. Performing inside the luxurious 1,475-seat Penn & Teller Theater, the show has constantly evolved over the decades. In addition to featuring classic selections from the duo’s extensive catalog of illusions, the production showcases innovative new bits that continue to challenge the pair — like when they learned how to make an African spotted pygmy elephant vanish onstage.

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True legends of magic, Penn & Teller have earned Emmy, Obie and Writers Guild Awards and have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Penn Jillette recently wrote a crime caper titled “Random,” available for purchase on Oct. 11.

Penn & Teller performed 10 sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House this past summer

“Most acts develop new material to keep working — we keep working to develop new material,” Penn Jillette, the more outspoken half of the “Bad Boys of Magic,” said. “We’re both over 60, so we have enough material to last the rest of our lives. Yet, we keep writing new stuff. The motivation is internal. The goal is to always keep challenging ourselves. We get the most excited now over the possibility of things we can’t do, many of which we actually can’t. We only want to do hard stuff.”

Las Vegas audiences will be treated to several new illusions when Penn & Teller perform this fall, as they are known for working in bits that they developed for their hit TV series, “Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” every time a new season premieres. Fans can catch the show’s ninth season when it debuts on The CW on Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. The show will feature a mix of new and returning contestants, including favorites Helen Coughlan and Jandro — both record holders for fooling Penn & Teller — and fellow Las Vegas magic headliners Piff the Magic Dragon and Mac King.

As if mesmerizing audiences with some of the most innovative tricks ever performed on a Las Vegas stage wasn’t enough, Jillette also captivates ticket holders before each show with his bass-playing skills. Joined by the production’s music director, jazz pianist Mike Jones, Jillette plays jazz onstage each night as ticket holders walk into the theater. Audiences are encouraged to arrive early to the show to enjoy the free preshow entertainment for as long as possible before Jillette heads backstage to start the production.

Penn & Teller perform Thursday through Sunday at 9 p.m., with select Monday and Tuesday performances. Tickets start at $75, plus taxes and fees. Even if you’ve seen them live before, Penn & Teller always have something new up their sleeves to keep fans entertained, so be sure to check them out during your Vegas getaway. caesars.com/rio-lasvegas/shows/penn-teller