Transformations: Creating Magic Out of Tricks by Lawrence Hass

Transformations: Creating Magic Out of Tricks by Lawrence Hass is a thoughtful and performance-focused book that explores how magicians can elevate simple tricks into meaningful and engaging magical experiences. Drawing on more than fifteen years of performing and teaching magic at the university level, Dr. Hass focuses on the psychological and theatrical principles that turn method into real theatrical impact.

Rather than emphasizing an accumulation of tricks, the book highlights the importance of presentation, meaning, and audience connection. The central idea is that strong magic does not come from methods alone, but from how those methods are shaped into structured, emotionally engaging performances.

This 185-page hardbound edition combines theory and practice in a balanced way. It includes seven clear essays on magic performance theory, alongside eleven fully developed performance pieces from Larry Hass’s working repertoire. These routines are designed to illustrate how the concepts discussed in the essays can be applied directly in performance situations.

The book also features a previously unpublished routine by Eugene Burger, adding additional depth from one of magic’s most respected thinkers and performers. Forewords by Jeff McBride and Marc DeSouza further contextualize the work within modern performance magic and its evolving approach to meaning and presentation.

Transformations emphasizes clarity of presentation, emotional engagement, and structured performance thinking. It is aimed at magicians who want to move beyond mechanics and develop stronger, more theatrical presentations.

As Eugene Burger noted, the book contains “secrets… that will make you a better, more engaging magician,” highlighting its focus on performance depth rather than technical complexity alone.

Highlights:

• 185-page hardbound book
• Written by Lawrence Hass
• 7 essays on performance theory and presentation
• 11 fully developed performance routines
• Includes unpublished routine by Eugene Burger
• Forewords by Jeff McBride and Marc DeSouza
• Focus on theatrical presentation and audience engagement
• Emphasis on turning tricks into meaningful magic

Explore the deeper side of magic performance—add Transformations to your library and develop stronger, more meaningful magical presentations.