Lewis magician performs for Penn and Teller

LEWIS | Lewis resident and professional magician Alyx Hilshey starred in season 10 episode 18 of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, April 5. The CW show is judged by legendary magician duo Penn and Teller, who have been performing together for more than 30 years. They still perform most nights at The RIO in Las Vegas. Magicians from across the country come on their show to perform a trick that even Penn and Teller can't figure out, while also putting on an entertaining show for the live audience. Hilshey's performance was based on hiding snacks from her children, so she used Ritz crackers for a sleight-of-hand trick she has been working on for about 20 years. "It was 20 years in the making and hundreds of dollars in Ritz crackers," Hilshey said. Hilshey started magic as a child, performing at libraries and birthday parties. Then she moved to street performing on Church St. in Burlington in her 20s. "I did 1,000s of shows out on the street," she said. "That really helped me to become a great entertainer." Hilshey said it helped her understand people and comedy and gave her the opportunity to do the same tricks 1,000s of times. Now, Hilshey is a corporate magician. She is hired by companies to perform at conferences, holiday parties and summer family events. Essex County residents may recognize her as Alyx Frost, the former resident magician at Santa's Workshop in Wilmington. Her favorite memory from filming was more of a non-memory. "In this crazy state of adrenaline rush, Penn walks backstage, and he's a tower of a man, he stood there and he shook my hand and he's talking to me about my act and I don't remember any of it," Hilshey said. She remembers what he looked like and the sound of his voice, but nothing he said. "With all the adrenaline rush my brain just didn't log any words that this hero of mine told me and I would love to know what he said," she said. And then out came Teller. "He doesn't speak during the show, he's silent," Hilshey said. "But he started talking to me, and I remember the quality of his voice was so beautiful. But I don't remember anything he said." It's been eight months since she filmed and Hilshey is still trying to remember what they might have said. However she does remember the excitement she felt. "For a magician to go on that stage……It's the stage that Penn and Teller perform on every night, and to be able to perform in front of your heroes and in front of this amazing audience, it was incredible," Hilshey said.

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Lewis magician performs for Penn and Teller

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