Conned
starring Tim Robbins, Richard Turner, Bob Arno, and Banachek
Opens at 8 p.m. Thu. Shows run Thu.-Sun. though Jan. 27.
CONNED, which is co-produced by Mills Entertainment and MagicSpace Entertainment, is the first show of its kind. The cast of con men, cheats and swindlers ’expose the secrets of the streets in a hilarious evening of schemes and scams”. Throughout the evening, volunteers from the audience will be invited on-stage to participate in the scams, and at times the entire audience will be conned.
The cast features four of the most renowned international con artists: Bob Arno, Banachek, Todd Robbins and Richard Turner. Bob Arno is the world's most famous pickpocket. Years of research and first-hand observation of real street crime have made him an authority frequently consulted by police, security experts and television producers. Bob artfully blends comedy and thievery in his outrageous performances. Bob has been featured on ABC's 20/20, CNN, the BBC, and National Public Radio, and he has been profiled in the New York Times and USA Today.
Banachek is a leading expert on psychological manipulation. At 18 he became a test subject at a university psychic research facility. For two years, scientists closely studied and tested his ’psychic” abilities. Using only his skills of deception, Banachek astounded the researchers and made them believe he truly was psychic. His live performance features demonstrations of subliminal influence and ’cold reading” that are at once hilarious, fascinating and, at times, disturbing.
A well-known authority on all things deceptive, Todd Robbins has been called the ’king of New York con men” by the New York Times. He has used his expertise, gained by walking down the shady streets of fraud, on numerous TV programs and has consulted on various articles, documentaries and films. In April, Bloomsbury Books released his book The Modern Con Man: How to Get Something for Nothing.
Richard Turner is an expert on card cheating and sleight of hand. He is regarded within the international casino industry as one of the most skilled cheaters ever, and travels the world demonstrating his ability to cheat with cards undetectably. Endless practice and years of training result in card table mastership that is unsurpassed, and which can now be shared in CONNED through the use of live video projection.