Franz Harary
Encyclopedia
Franz Harary is an American magician
and inventor who has appeared on television shows such as the first episode of NBC
's The World's Greatest Magic
, where Harary vanished the Space Shuttle
.
While studying music at Eastern Michigan University
and aspiring to be a singer and dancer on Broadway
, Harary was designing illusions as a hobby. He began performing publicly after convincing the university's marching band leader to let him appear as part of the halftime show. Between 1982 and 1984, Harary's Odyssey In Illusion team designed and executed illusions for ballet troupes, ice revues, marching bands and symphony orchestras. It was featured on ABC-TV's live telecast of the 1983 Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. At the end of 1983, Harary sent Michael Jackson
a videotape of Odyssey In Illusions greatest-hits tape and, within a week, was invited to perform as part of the Jacksons' "Victory Tour" in 1984 Harary made Jackson levitate and disappear on one side of the stage to reappear with his brothers on the other side.
Among other music acts he has designed illusions for are N*SYNC, Cher, Snoop Dog, Tupac Shakur, Tone Loc, Styx, Dr. Dre, Usher, Boyz II Men, Queen Latifah, Hammer, Tina Turner, Reba McEntire and Missy Elliott.
In 1996 Harary created all the magic segments for the Broadway production Ragtime which had Houdini as one of its main characters.
Harary's own touring show is especially popular in Asia and the Far East. In the U.S. he is most often seen in Atlantic City.
Franz Harary recently appeared as a technical advisor for the Magic Challenges during seasons 3 and 5 of America's Best Dance Crew
.This was highly rated and critically acclaimed in the industry.
In 2010, Franz Harary was the principal judge in a magical T.V series called India's Magic Star
which is being telecast on the Indian channel Star One
. In addition to acting as judge and "magic guru," Harary designed over 90 original new effects, performed by himself as well as the other magicians on the show. The program is presently being shown in the UK.
In 2011, he also performed in India between 21 January to 21 April at the Kingdom of Dreams
in Gurgaon, India.
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
and inventor who has appeared on television shows such as the first episode of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The World's Greatest Magic
The World's Greatest Magic
The World's Greatest Magic was a series of American television specials showcasing magic acts.The first of five shows was broadcast by NBC in 1994, and continued with annual editions through 1998. These shows were most often first telecast during the Thanksgiving holidays when special programming...
, where Harary vanished the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
.
While studying music at Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
and aspiring to be a singer and dancer on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, Harary was designing illusions as a hobby. He began performing publicly after convincing the university's marching band leader to let him appear as part of the halftime show. Between 1982 and 1984, Harary's Odyssey In Illusion team designed and executed illusions for ballet troupes, ice revues, marching bands and symphony orchestras. It was featured on ABC-TV's live telecast of the 1983 Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit. At the end of 1983, Harary sent Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
a videotape of Odyssey In Illusions greatest-hits tape and, within a week, was invited to perform as part of the Jacksons' "Victory Tour" in 1984 Harary made Jackson levitate and disappear on one side of the stage to reappear with his brothers on the other side.
Among other music acts he has designed illusions for are N*SYNC, Cher, Snoop Dog, Tupac Shakur, Tone Loc, Styx, Dr. Dre, Usher, Boyz II Men, Queen Latifah, Hammer, Tina Turner, Reba McEntire and Missy Elliott.
In 1996 Harary created all the magic segments for the Broadway production Ragtime which had Houdini as one of its main characters.
Harary's own touring show is especially popular in Asia and the Far East. In the U.S. he is most often seen in Atlantic City.
Franz Harary recently appeared as a technical advisor for the Magic Challenges during seasons 3 and 5 of America's Best Dance Crew
America's Best Dance Crew
America's Best Dance Crew, often abbreviated as ABDC, is an American competitive dance reality television series that features street dance crews from the United States and around the world. It is produced by American Idol judge Randy Jackson and airs on MTV...
.This was highly rated and critically acclaimed in the industry.
In 2010, Franz Harary was the principal judge in a magical T.V series called India's Magic Star
India's Magic Star
India's Magic Star was an Indian reality show that aired on STAR One. It was hosted by Karishma Tanna. Every participant performed several magic tricks in this game show.The winner of this series was Tejas.-Concept:...
which is being telecast on the Indian channel Star One
STAR One
STAR One is an Indian television channel that primarily broadcasts Hindi entertainment based in Mumbai. Launched on 1 November 2004 with its show, Remix, the channel gained in popularity with television shows such as Remix, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Nach Baliye, Sarabhai vs Sarabhai,...
. In addition to acting as judge and "magic guru," Harary designed over 90 original new effects, performed by himself as well as the other magicians on the show. The program is presently being shown in the UK.
In 2011, he also performed in India between 21 January to 21 April at the Kingdom of Dreams
Kingdom of Dreams
Kingdom of Dreams is India's first live entertainment, theatre and leisure destination , and is located in Sector 29, Gurgaon in NCR Delhi, near the Leisure Valley Park...
in Gurgaon, India.