Magic, at its essence, exists in that fleeting moment when reality bends just enough to leave us questioning what we thought we knew. David Shao has mastered this space between certainty and doubt, but with an unexpected twist—he makes you laugh while he’s at it. The celebrated illusionist has turned the traditional magic show on its head, eschewing storytelling for a rapid-fire comedic approach that leaves audiences simultaneously mystified by his sleight of hand and doubled over with his deliberately absurd humor. At Hollywood’s prestigious Magic Castle—where wonder and impossibility are currency—Shao has established himself as a unique voice in contemporary magic’s ongoing conversation.
“I combine magic with dry humor,” explains Shao, who still remembers being inspired by former Magic Castle junior magician Kyle Eschen. This distinctive approach hasn’t gone unnoticed—America’s Got Talent producers recently reached out to him about possibly appearing on the show’s upcoming 20th season. Not bad for someone who once described himself as “very shy.”
The magician’s philosophy remains refreshingly straightforward amid his rising profile: “To make people happy.” It’s a simple goal that somehow feels genuine coming from him. This core value extends beyond his performances at places like the Magic Castle—where he once shared the stage with Jaden Smith (yes, that Jaden Smith)—to the charitable events that keep him connected to magic’s emotional impact.
When asked about these philanthropic performances, Shao pauses briefly before saying, “It reinforces why I fell in love with magic in the first place.” He adds, almost as an afterthought, “If I can make someone smile, even for a moment, then my magic has served a greater purpose.” You can almost see him mentally shrugging off the profundity of his own statement.
Shao’s journey into magic began rather unexpectedly. After being captivated at age nine by Chinese magician Lu Chen during a Spring Festival Gala broadcast, he didn’t actually pursue the craft until joining his high school magic club at fifteen. “Magic changed me completely,” he reflects, with a hint of wonder still present in his voice after all these years.
While acknowledging technology’s growing influence on illusion arts (AI-generated magic, anyone?), Shao remains convinced of the irreplaceable nature of human connection in performance. “Magic is something that you feel in the moment,” he insists, with the certainty of someone who’s experienced both sides of the illusion. “AI will never be able to create that sensation.”
Beyond his appearances at TEDxUCIrvine and plans for a future magic tour, Shao represents a new generation of magicians who honor tradition while breaking conventional boundaries. His performances skip the usual “here’s how magic changed my life” narratives that have become almost cliché in the industry. Instead, he delivers deadpan one-liners that are so deliberately absurd—like “when I was a child, I was a kid”—they leave audiences laughing before they’ve even had time to wonder how he made that card disappear.
