Yesterday marked my first site visit to Carnegie Hall, where I am planning to present my new stage show at the end of 2011. This is a major paradigm shift for me – a close-up magician – to appear on the giant stage. Just look at this panorama view that I snapped on my camera yesterday (click to expand to full panorama view):

Isaac Stern Auditorium/Ronald O. Perelman Stage

The image seems a little off-center, but I did my best to capture the view from the stage, looking out over the sea of theater-goers. It’s pretty overwhelming: 2804 seats in total.

Here’s a view from the stage door (there’s only one entrance/exit). The stage was set for a full orchestra (led by Seiji Ozawa), so there are chairs and music stands in the way. However, this is what you see when walking out from backstage:

View from backstage door -- What you see when walking on stage at Carnegie Hall

I’ve actually performed at Carnegie Hall several times before — but backstage (and upstairs) in the Maestro’s Suite. Every time my friend Anne-Sophie Mutter, the German violinist, has come to play here, she’s invited me to bamboozle her guests after the concert.

Now that I’m planning a large stage show – what I deem to be the next artistic development of my career – I can only imagine the rush of standing on stage in front of over 2000 people. There are 28 rows of chairs on the main level. Each row is equivalent to roughly one full audience at my Chamber Magic shows!

Here’s a view of the seats on the main floor, looking out from the stage:

For those of you who have been asking, I do not have a date yet for this performance. We are working on scheduling with the fine folks at Carnegie Hall, but it is a slow process.

If you’re a reader of this blog, or follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll be among the first to know. Believe me, I won’t be shy when the date has been set. I’ll need as much help as I can muster, in order to fill this theater!

Can I rely on you to be there?