Pendragons
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Jonathan and Charlotte Pendragon are an award-winning husband-and-wife team of American illusionists who call their work "physical grand illusion". They are widely known thanks to numerous national and international television appearances. The couple are distinguished from many other husband-and-wife magic acts in that Charlotte Pendragon is credited as an equal partner rather than an assistant. She has been honoured in her own right as a magician and has achieved notable firsts as a woman in the magic profession.
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[edit] Their act
The couple met at the University of California, Irvine, where Jonathon was studying theatre and Charlotte was studying dance under choreographer Eugene Loring.[1] Charlotte (born Charlotte Yarborough) is a former gymnast and amateur bodybuilder whose athleticism allowed the pair to develop a distinctive and graceful take on classic illusions such as levitation.[2] Their routine includes a number of standard illusions with which they have become particularly associated, including Metamorphosis, Impaled, Interlude, and Clearly Impossible (a variant on the classic "Sawing a woman in half" illusion, in which the box containing the woman is transparent). This last was designed by Jonathan Pendragon.[3] The Guinness Book of Records lists the duo as holders of the record for "Fastest Transformation Illusion" for their performance of Metamorphosis.
[edit] Notable appearances
The Pendragons have appeared on television in more than 50 countries and starred in 14 primetime specials on US networks, including their own Night of Magic show for Disney, severalWorld's Greatest Magic shows for NBC, and Champions of Magic for ABC. For PBS television they performed with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, presenting illusions to classical music. For Universal Studios they wrote, directed and starred in a nighttime magic spectacular, Illusions of the Night, which played to more than a million people. They are have also frequently been guests on programmes such as the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Paul Daniels Magic Show.
They have performed at presidential galas for US presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush. In Britain they appeared at the Royal Variety Performance. They also appeared in a Royal gala show in Monaco.
[edit] Awards and honours
Charlotte was the first woman to receive "The Magician of the Year Award" from the Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle) in the USA. Together The Pendragons have won the prestigious award twice, a feat that only four other living magicians have accomplished. In 1991, Charlotte Pendragon became the first woman to become a Member of the Inner Circle of the British Magic Circle. Jonathan was chosen by Magic magazine, as one of ten living magicians whose work shaped magic in the 20th and 21st centuries.
[edit] Accident
During a fall at his home in late September 2006, one of the arrows from Jonathan's archery collection pierced his lung, his heart, his stomach, and his liver. It happened while rehearsing a dangerous trick for his upcoming show involving a compound bow and arrow. He has since made a full recovery.
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Moehring, John (August 1999), “The Century: The Pendragons”, Magic Magazine Vol.8 (No.12)
